Question: Is Graffiti Vandalism in Town Getting Out of Control?
The Town Board thinks so — how about you?
Photos
Members of the Southold Town Board suggested at Tuesday's work session that Southold Town police officers install surveillance cameras at hot spots for chronic graffiti vandals in town.
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell showed board members pictures of the graffiti-covered Mattituck train trestle at the work session, saying that whoever is the culprit of the graffiti is "not cool."
"You're an idiot with a spray paint can, that's all you are," he said.
Councilman Al Krupski said that he didn't understand why surveillance was not a part of a consistent problem in town. Though he was not at the meeting, Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said that surveillance is always a good idea in cases like these.
"Chronic locations in Town are usually on commercial buildings, shopping centers, bridges, train stations, etc.," he said. "It's always a good strategy to use video surveillance to attempt to identify the subjects involved in this type of crime, and in turn, to prevent future graffiti being applied."
Do you think graffiti vandalism is out of control and if so, should the police department invest in video surveillance to catch those who are guilty of it? Let us know in the comments below.
In This article
-
Town of Southold
53095 Route 25, Southold, NY -
Southold Town Police Department
41405 Route 25, Peconic, NY -
Randy Campbell
6:58 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
It is easy to do if you use those graffiti cameras from Tripwire systems, they let you know a tagging is happening by sending you a message along with photos, directly to your cell phone. Immediate notification of a tagging crime in progress, what could be better....
Vin Ricciardi
7:58 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Whats to prevent them from spraying the camera, or from wearing a ski mask? I like the idea of the tripwire system. Catch them with their hand in the cookie jar.
Mike Burke
10:25 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Graffiti is like a cancer. If you allow it to remain it only gets worse. Tagging their sign is usually followed by other taggers crossing out and tagging over the first marking. Once an area starts to display graffiiti it draws other "artists" to join in the display. As soon as it is seen it should be painted over. Business groups and private citizens should combine their efforts to clean up this scourge on our township. One method not tried as yet is a reward for information leading to the arrest of the persons involved in this distruction of others property.
Matthew J. Ritter
11:18 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Now that's a good idea. Money always talks!
New York Artists Rights
6:53 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
heres a idea. most graffiti artists are just kids with no formal way of artistic expression or atleast any what they can think of to make their art be seen by others. maybe if we give them a designated place to display their work they wont mark up the town. im sure a cheap concrete wall could be put up with a sign up sheet when artist can come down and work on their pieces and actually benefit the town with beautiful works of art. the graffiti around here is poor because of the artist fear of legal troubles but if you give them a worry free zone to paint on you can see some amazing art produced. but thats just from a graphic designers view.
dont stunt artistic creativity, guide it.
John
8:43 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Or, maybe they could just buy some paper or canvas and make a smaller "work of art", perhaps the New York Artist Rights org. could supply it for them. Some of your organizations more successful graffiti artist could fund it from their art sale proceeds.