From the Daily News:A graffiti vandal needs two things that appear at first to be polar opposites - a secluded spot to throw up his tag, but then a parade of eyeballs to admire his work.
That seems to be the case for some of Queens' hottest spots for graffiti.
The corner of Queens Blvd. and 33rd St. by the elevated 7 train in Sunnyside was one such spot, logging 20 graffiti complaints last year, according to the NYPD's latest GraffitiStat report.
The 104th Precinct, which covers Ridgewood, Glendale and Middle Village, got the most number of graffiti gripes last year in the city: 800, up from 262 in 2009, even though spray paint complaints were down overall in the five boroughs.
Citywide, there were 9,850 graffiti complaints last year - an overall decline of 3% from the 10,162 of 2009.
The corner of Queens Blvd. and 33rd St., an industrial area in the 108th Precinct, suggests the kind of canvass that taggers prefer.
Vjay Ramgulan, 43, of Richmond Hill, is the superintendent of a beige-colored warehouse that takes up about 100 feet along both Queens Blvd. and 33rd St.
He came by the warehouse Sunday and found a fresh batch of tags on one of the warehouse walls. It wasn't the first time that it has been the target of vandals, he said.
"It's crazy. I don't know who does this," Ramgulan said. "Every time they come, I have to clean it. They have nothing to do so they spray paint the wall."
9 comments:
This is a ripe area as it is very quiet at night here and the biggest canvass walls to dirty up. Woodside off the # 7 in the 50s - every roof is tagged - this is serious vandalism and reflect badly on the Administration's efforts to provide crime and property protection against this in Queens. In LIC there is a warehouse property that is completely covered in graffiti - but I think the owners allow it but we should have ordnances against this on the exterior of buildings. In fact we should bus the taggers when release from jail onto 79th St block where Bloomberg lives!
they have time to advertise drug sales and gang activities. graffiti is mere advertising for illegal drug sales people.
at the end of the day, it's pathetic and tragic.
the worst crime is that it is ugly.
who is doing the graffiti in Woodside? gangs who come in from other areas, aided and abetted by a few who live in the area.
there was an anti graffiti unit called the Vandals. where did they go? bring back the Vandals.
People steal because they want something. People hurt other people because they're angry, or crazy. Vandalism make no sense.
@anon 3: Tagging makes a bunch of sense. Gangs do it to claim territory. Kids do it to seem tough. Urban artists tag for art and eventual sales.
There are 2 different kinds of graffiti; poorly done spray paint sprawls and graffiti as art. There's a big difference between someones nickname written in swirls or balloon letters and art done by artists like Banksy, Sheppard Fairy or some of NY's own up and coming artists.
Unless permission was obtained from the building owner, then it's all graffiti no matter how artistic it may look. I wish people would get that through their heads already.
"graffiti is mere advertising for illegal drug sales people."
I'm not sure where you came up with this, but you are way off the mark.
I never wrote graffiti myself, but I grew up with plenty of kids who did. What many ordinary people fail to realize is the "rush" that graffiti vandals get while bombing (slang for a graffiti writing expedition). The rush experienced by taggers (graffiti writers) seems very similar to the rush experienced by shoplifters. There is a thrill in doing something illegal and not getting caught. To the graffiti vandal, a bombing mission is an exciting adventure, not just vandalism for its own sake. This rush is why old time graffiti vandals will still go bombing in their 30's 40's and probably even 50's.
The #7 line rooftops has always been a hot spot for graffiti vandals because they can ride the train and see their "work", and many other graffiti vandals will do the same.
I'm not condoning graffiti or justifying it in any way. I just want to make others aware of one of the main motivations behind graffiti writing. It seems that ordinary people are not aware of this aspect of why people write graffiti.
As soon as they throw up,you clean it. Paint is expensive (and not as easy to steal )and after a few times they'll go somewhere else.Good lighting never hurt.And don't forget, if you call 911 and they get caught,you get $$$$!
"ordinary people"?
Is that code for "tax-paying people with jobs and families"?
As opposed to "shit bag"? (graffiti artist)?
Keith Richards daughter was just busted for graffiti in NYC
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/keith-richardss-daughter-charged-with-graffiti-tagging/?ref=nyregion
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