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Message |
    
kevin
Citizen
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 50
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 11:29 am: | 
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I have noticed that in the past couple of months, there has been a rash of unsightly grafitti being painted on many walls in the village. I specifically noticed new art in the past couple of days.
I am aware that the police cannot really prevent this from happening unless they catch someone with paraphernalia, paint on their hands, or being caught in the act - hopefully they will.
It seems to me that this is one individual that is doing this. The reason why I say this is that all of the 'art' is very similar and it is always the same greenish colored spray paint.
Does South Orange have zero tolerance or any laws specifically aimed at grafitti? I would hate to see us lose businesses if this continues and gets out of hand.
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mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 239
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 1:48 pm: |
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As you said, one has to catch them in the act, or find a witness that would be willing to testify.
The problem is not limited to S. Orange, as I know the county has had numerous complaints.
There are actually at least two individuals/groups that are painting the grafitti. We try to have it cleaned up as quickly as possible. I don't think a business will leave because of grafitte, but it certainly does not help attract new businesses or customers.
I will ask that this be put on the agenda for the next public safety committee so I can find out what the village is doing to combat the problem.
Trustee election is on May 13th.
Vote Line A
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 2916
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 4:09 am: |
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We in Maplewood have had some similar problems. This sort of thing may be indicative of gang activity and the police should be alterted and photograph the "art" before it is removed and show the pictures to the county gang officers.
I am not one to find a Bloor or a Crip under every rock. However, this is a common sense approach. |
Brian O'Leary
Citizen
Username: Brianoleary
Post Number: 1253
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 1:14 pm: |
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Bobk... Bloor?  No posting before 5 a.m., I say.
There are two USPS mailboxes (one blue, one green) at the corner of College and Wilden that have been tagged for more than a month. I walk by them every morning on the way to the bus with my youngest. Can I paint them myself? |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 2922
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 5:23 pm: |
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LOL Brian, I am trying to avoid posting before the coffee kicks in, but I am an addict, both to caffine and to MOL. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 242
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 3:51 pm: |
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Brian: I will supply you with the paint.
Trustee election is on May 13th.
Vote Line A
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David Lackey
Citizen
Username: Davidlackey
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 3:53 pm: |
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Graffiti is a problem that we need to take much more seriously. Not only is it an eyesore to village residents, it screams out to potential shopkeepers, "This is not a good place for you to come and open a business."
I agree that catching the criminals in the act is almost impossible. The solution is to make sure the markings disappear as quickly as they appear, to discourage more of the same. I spoke to our Code Enforcement department today, and was told that building owners are notified of new graffiti and told to have it removed within five days or face a fine.
Why then has the "Stop Bush" graffiti been on the side of the South Mountain Jeans/Blockbuster building for a month? If we do not already have one, we should institute an escalating fine schedule that penalizes landlords that do not clean it up quickly. It is, after all, in their own best interest to do so. The graffiti problem has been much worse lately, and more must be done to stop it.
_________________________
www.opensouthorange.com
Vote Line B on May 13 |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 270
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 4:13 pm: |
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We know that it is part of an intitation thing with some groups. The police are trying to "catch someone in the act".
Trustee election is on May 13th.
www.leadershipwithvision.org
Vote Line A
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argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 49
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 2:55 pm: |
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Who wants to "Stop Bush," the Bloods or the Crips? |
Brian O'Leary
Citizen
Username: Brianoleary
Post Number: 1281
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2003 - 3:19 pm: |
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I think it was the Bloors. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 17
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 5:54 pm: |
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Regarding the five-days-or-face-a-fine rule, Hasn't the graffiti of the sad-looking man (showing up all over S.Orange Village) been up there for more than five days in several places? In fact, the "artist" even took the time to spray a nice background for his tag before drawing it on one building. Seems to me the town should just go ahead and cover those up. |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 660
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 7:55 pm: |
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You should see the underpass at the Maplewood NJT station. The tunnel that runs from the Ricalton parking lot to the park side of the station is riddled with fresh graffiti over the murals.
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newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 19
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 10:30 am: |
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That's awful about the new grafitti in Maplewood. And there was a new "sad man" tag I saw today, along with commentary this time. It was in yellow on a wall of the South Orange train platform that heads to NYC. I find it hard to believe the towns don't have someone who can go out and quickly take that stuff off. It's a security concern the longer it sits there.... |
kevin
Citizen
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 54
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 10:55 am: |
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More new stuff in South Orange that I suspect can only be seen from the train. I'll have to look later, but it looked like two large colorful tags on the side of the empty Shoprite building on South Orange Ave.
There are also a lot of fresh markings that have been showing up on dumpsters and walls throughout the village this week.
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doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 62
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 11:59 am: |
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I saw the tags on the Shoprite building and thought maybe they had always been there and I just missed them. Guess not. Pretty remarkable view coming down So. Orange Ave. heading east. |
Brian O'Leary
Citizen
Username: Brianoleary
Post Number: 1317
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 3:14 pm: |
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The USPS came by and painted one of the two tagged mailboxes (the green one) by my house. Still waiting on the blue letterbox.
www.opensouthorange.com
Vote Line B on May 13th
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doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 63
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 4:26 pm: |
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Around 3:30pm today I saw South Orange municipal emplyees using an aerial bucket to get up to the Shop Rite grafitti and were painting over it. Congragulations - that was fast work. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 20
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 5:36 pm: |
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Who do we contact to see what's being done about the grafitti? Wish the rest of SOrange village responded like Shoprite folks. When I lived in Brooklyn, building owners erased grafitti as soon as it showed up. |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 64
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 6:19 pm: |
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newtoallthis: Based upon what I saw was involved in the Shoprite incident, a large amount of time and expense was involved. I know Mark Rosner reads
these messages, and maybe he has some suggestions. Maybe there could be a cooperative town/property owner effort of some type, or if the property owner doesn't remove the grafitti, the town would do it and charge the property owner for it. The only problem with this it could be time consuming before the town got through giving all the notices that might be required. I think the reason the town could do the Shoprite site so fast is the it was municipal property. As far as who to contact, probably the Town Administrator, John Gross.
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kevin
Citizen
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 55
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 8:47 pm: |
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I noticed from the train this afternoon that the grafitti on the abandoned Shop-Rite building was covered.
A lot of the new tags are also being left right on places that were freshly covered up. How annoying.
I'd be happy to volunteer to spend an hour a day to paint over the tags in the village when they happen - just supply me with the materials. Maybe if we keep on top of it, they will eventually subside - or the person(s) who keep re-tagging will eventually get caught.
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doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 65
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 9:17 pm: |
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I know Mark Rosner is pretty busy these days(no dig intended;he knows that I appreciate his effort), but maybe he could point those who are interested in helping get rid of the grafitti in the right direction. After clearing any legal problems, perhaps a supply of anti-grafitti paint could be stored at the Public Works yard, avail
able to volunteers. Maybe something could be posted on the South Orange.org site or on MOL "Official South Orange."
As a start, it would probably help to know what the current ordinances say and what can or can't be done by volunteers.
It seems like grafitti is becoming or already is a big problem and something should be done quickly. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 328
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 10:00 am: |
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We do have a river clean-up day, so I guess maybe we can figure out how to do a grafitti cover-up day. Some of the grafitti is on private property and I don't think we can paint over those.
I will ask for the item to be put on the next conference agenda so the board can discuss and we will see if main street can spear head the project.
Trustee election is on May 13th.
www.leadershipwithvision.org
Vote Line A
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doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 66
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 10:42 am: |
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Mark: A grafitti cover-up day would be good, but in addition what I think some of the posters are suggesting is that there be some procedure to allow volunteers to do it on an ad hoc basis, since grafitti is something that should be taken care of immediately. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 21
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 10:58 am: |
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I'm glad to see so many ppl upset by the rash of grafitti. I, too, would volunteer time to paint it over (or whatever else is involved). If the criminals see that their work is erased quickly they will hopefully get tired of SOrange and move on. The fact that we leave their "art" up for so long makes us a great place for tags (something I don't think anyone wants o be known for.) |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 67
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 10:59 am: |
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As a related matter, several years ago the State of New Jersey had a "Clean Communities" program which provided municipalities funds for things like litter abatement, etc. This program was discontinued a few years ago, but it might have been reinstituted. I'm not sure whether South Orange was ever a member of the "Clean Communities" program, but if in fact it was reintroduced South Orange should definitely look at it. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 22
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 11:40 am: |
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Sent the following to Mr Gross today:
To: jgross@southorange.org
cc:
Subject: South Orange and grafitti
Mr Gross,
I am told you may be the person to speak to about the increasing number of grafitti tags in South Orange Village. Many of the tags have been up for over a week without being covered. I was wondering what the town is doing to alleviate the problem, which creates a security risk for residents and could affect local businesses.
Many of the tags have been on buildings for quite some time and more are appearing everyday.
Is there anything concerned citizens can do about it?
You'll find a discussion on the matter by local residents at: /discus/messages/3133/16933.html?1051887578
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 68
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 11:49 am: |
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Thanks newtoallthis. This board is great. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 23
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 12:22 pm: |
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Mr Gross called me back very quickly and assured me the town has noticed the increase in tags and is trying to do something about it. At this point, they have started giving 24-hour summonses to South Orange businesses to get rid of the tags (usually give a week). Unfortunately, if a building owner ignores the summons, it has to go to the courts which adds another few weeks to the whole process. One thing residents can do, said Gross, is alert him to new tags they see. He said the town would love to sponsor a volunteer group that could go out within 24 hours to cover up tags, but it would have to be a sure thing, with people ready to act quickly on behalf of the businesses. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 24
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 5:18 pm: |
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Mr Gross just updated me. He said as of today only five grafitti sites were not yet covered, out of 33 sites identified on privately owned buildings. Unfortunately, NJ transit is another story. Seems like only bad press in the local papers can move them to action.... |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 69
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 7:07 pm: |
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Thanks again newtoallthis. Now if I could just get Mr. Gross to respond to me about the house on my street that is in complete disrepair. No response from code enforcement either. |
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