Apathy & Atrophy.  Might have to use that as the title for a post about the city.

This is some the new graffiti. The only other one I am sure was new is not going to be published here. It had no artistic effort at all. The Tribune guy evidently only took one picture while he was there, because they don’t know what is new. I however, have lots, from several visits, so I can compare.

Here is the damage to the roof. You can see the cameras pointing up to watch for UFO’s.

Looks like roof access to me.

Here is the pole for the lights and two cameras on one side is the park. Wonder if it works.

 And another pole with lights and camera’s.

And another. That is seven camera’s I counted, there is another one under the eves above the water fountain.

This is the piece the guy in the Tribune picture was working on. I took this a couple days after that story was published.

Speaking of the Trib, some of those folks are getting smarter. Look what they have been saying.

“I think we should fence the park (with some of that spiffy prison wire at the top, and only allow supervised skating. I hope they catch these little bas#@*ds and hang them high! It only takes a few to spoil it for many.”

Oh, wait, not him. Regarding this, I have looked at this camera system the city put in. These cameras really do cover the whole place. I think it would be tough to not be on one of them if you were in the park.  Well, if they worked. But so many people are ready to fence the whole park, and what, forget there is a system already in place and paid for, that could work? If it worked.

“now vandalism could be solved with a more active patrol of the park in the evening and late night hours, as no vandal in there right mind will attack in broad daylight.” Or under lights, & cameras…

“but quite frankly… it’s a skate park… who cares about the graffiti??”

“Maybe the city should allow graffiti at the skate park (inside the bowls) as long as it is not gang-related or if it has offensive language. ”

“Sounds like $ 35,000 worth of cameras was another great investment by the City.”

“Hold a contest for artists (like graffiti and tag artists)
the top 10 or whatever get the privelige of creating a graffiti mural for the bowls and rails area. It would need to be a planned out tag with theme, but I think if the city can paint sunflowers on the walking tunnels a competition like this should be considered art as well. After all it’s what these kids consider art. So get the best to do a planned out mural and see what they can do. ”
(FYI, the definition of aphotic: Having no light. Of or relating to the region of a body of water that is not reached by sunlight and in which photosynthesis is unable to occur.)

“Survelliance cameras? Are we sure they’re not just phony cameras?
I’m not seeing anything written that the police have a picture of the perps.”

Some very good points. I think we can all agree, the cameras obviously do not work. There is some support for “community art”. Aaron had this idea last fall, and I believe She Who no Longer Comes Here heard about it.

This is a place for our kids to go, something for them to do. Fencing it is going to cost more money. Why not spend the money to fix the cameras and lights, get some paint over the bad graffiti, and monitor the cameras. A couple kids get fines or community service for vandalism, others will hear about it and if they know they can be caught, it could actually work.

At least its worth a try. (by the way, my main objection to the graffiti is the City not following its own ordinance. Again.)

18 August 2007 | Life | Comments