Local
In city vs. taggers, Garcia park, pool latest victims
By Barbara Ramirez (Contact)
Originally published 12:00 a.m., July 24, 2007
Updated 04:08 a.m., July 24, 2007
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Before the paint dries in one place, taggers have moved to another, officials with the city's Streets and Solid Waste Services Department said Monday.
At least 80 percent of the 18 parks previously eradicated of graffiti earlier this year have been targeted again, said Lawrence Mikolajczyk, assistant director of Corpus Christi's Solid Waste Services.
"We wash it up and they come back three or four days later and tag it again," Mikolajczyk said. "It's a never-ending process."
The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Park on Greenwood was tagged this weekend. The gazebo and concrete slab of the pool and its building had been tagged. The cost of damage had not been calculated late Monday.
Last week, a Vietnam War memorial on Bloomington Street in Molina Veterans Park was tagged. The taggers used shoe polish to deface the marble slate, costing the city a minimum of $300 to clean, Mikolajczyk said. City crews also are working to clean the bayfront Selena statue, which also was vandalized last week.
Juvenile Enforcement Team Officer B. Teed said recent graffiti has come from several tagging crews.
As of last month, the police department knew of 32 tagging crews, with an estimated 100 members, Teed said. The tagging seems to be from rival crews, looking to outdo one another and claim domain, Teed added.
"Obviously it's going to be a never-ending process until some of these taggers get the message," Mikolajczyk said.
Contact Barbara Ramirez at 886-3792 or ramirezb@caller.com
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Posted by meaalmeida on July 24, 2007 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they deserve to be caned, and chop their hands off,and! no welfare!
Posted by thadaeus on July 24, 2007 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's bad enough that money was spent on that pathetic statue of a mildly famous local celebrity - now the city has to spend money cleaning it up. I say take down the statue of the "great" Selena. It was erected solely as a symbol of and for the benefit of her father's money grubbing conquests. With the statue gone, the city wont have to worry about spending money cleaning a needless statue and they will be able to spend money on more worthwhile endeavors - like feeding the homeless.
Posted by whoop97 on July 24, 2007 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those caught tagging should be publicly flogged then forced into 6-months of scrubbing graffiti off of city and private property with a toothbrush-sized wire brush and lye soap while at the same time wearing specially-made bright pink prison overalls. If they do it again, they should be taken to the marina for a proper keel hauling.
Posted by knoy on July 24, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How seriously can the city be taking this? They have one officer who oversees the tagging which occurs in our city. I've telephoned to report graffitti inside a rental home(which eliminates the suspects to three who reside there.....I'm still waiting for a return phone call from Officer Teed. He has to be overwhelmed. We now have wireless networking installed throughout the city and wireless internet cameras as low as $250.00(cost of clean up of Veteran's Memorial on Bloomington) we could simply review captured video of these people who find glory in destruction and pay them a visit around lunch time while they're sleeping.
Posted by rsanchez on July 24, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Thadaeus, any relation to Strom Thurmond or David Duke? You should move to greener pastures, maybe where hillbillies kick it and pump Garth Brooks. That statue will bring in more praise and adoration to it than u have ever gotten in your consumer driven life. Whats pathetic is not the statue, it's the fact that you live in that "go no where town" and actually expect more from it and it's hypocritical "conservative "leaders. You probably voted for Bush and still back him and the war.
Posted by arodriguez on July 24, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with whoop97 those kids need to be punished to the full extent. It is ugly and degrading for us as a society what these little punks are doing. The city needs to monitor the areas that are tagged the most with cameras and catch these kids. And when these kids are caught I also think the parents should pay a fine as well if they are under the age of 17. I have two teens and I wonder how these parents dont know where their children are in the middle of the night. I always check on my children and if I ever found one of them doing that I would definitely turn them in and then make them scrub every single sign or fence that has graffiti on it within our neighborhood.
Posted by sgran77482 on July 24, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thadeus, you obviously were not a fan of Selena and not Hipanic. I live in the "great northwest" and you would never think she was revered here, but guess what she is well known here and her music still popular. Having witnessed the international news media response to her death at the police department, calls from Spain, England,and South American countries jammed the lines clammoring for informationon of her death.
The taggers who today are tagging her statue are not gang members or least the gang members of 1995 who practically worshipped Selena. I would imagine that generation of gang members would kill the taggers who defaced the statue. they used to allow signing her mesages on the pedestal, but the statue was untouchable.
Posted by jpr110902 on July 24, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What needs to be done is parents need to start being more assertive with their children. My husband goes to work at 4am in the morning and he sees young boys riding their bikes. He calls the non emergency number to report it because they are probably up to no good. My question is where are their parents? The parents of the young men and women (not all grafitti is done by minors) should pay for the cleaning because the should know what their children are up to. As, for the adults causing property damage they should clean it themselves and all the other graffiti that is done in our area. They need to get a life and a job !!!!!
Posted by corpusbeach2 on July 24, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, in the end parents are responsible for this behavior. People in this town have children because it's the macho thing to do. These kids grow into their teen years feeling insignificant. They fail in school and wonder how they fit into this individualistic power struggle that this country promotes. Crime empowers these kids with little to no effort so that's the path they take.
Posted by lemosf on July 24, 2007 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Selena's statue on the bayfront was not erected by her father but by a generous Philanthropist. And guess what? He is of Caucasian origin. So get your facts straight.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Graffiti is Graffiti regardless of where it is, or what the target is...
It doesn't matter if it's a Quaker statue that got tagged!!
So this is news? Keep racism OUT of this! The guy just made a statement about selena doesn't mean he is a biggot or hillbilly. I myself am tired about hearing of Selena...SO Thadeus is not a fan. I am Not a fan myself, and I am of mexican descent. Not everyone that is latino is a fan you know. I was a fan in her early years with the Dinos and then her father tried to cash out. I lost interest when the radio started playing her music to the bone...Now I go nuts when I hear a Selena song, just tired of all the hoopla and overplay... Just quit with the stereotypes. let her Rest in Peace.
Posted by jpr110902 on July 24, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The bottom line is Corpus Christi can not be a sparkling city by the sea with such ugly display of trying to claim ownership of property. If the taggers would work and pay taxes then they would think twice before destroying the City's property. Shame on you taggers and eventually you will get caught!!!!
Posted by tjcox on July 24, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We live in a beautiful city, and one that has so much potential. I often agree that the people running this city do not want to change in a forward moving direction, they want to keep it status quo. This has much to do with everyone saying, blah blah there's nothing to do here blah blah. I agree! Which brings me to my point...
The taggers have nothing to do with how the city is run
(it's the fact that you live in that "go no where town" and actually expect more from it and it's hypocritical "conservative "leaders),
they are little criminals who are defacing private and public property because they haven't been taught the value of hard work and respecting the property of others. People should not be sterotyped, criminal behavior knows no race, it is what it is. These criminals should be charged and made to work off their debt first by scrubbing up the graffiti, and second by volunteering with less fortunate people.
Posted by fresacrema65 on July 24, 2007 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't want to criticize the police because I am sure there may be some reasonable explanation as to why the taggers are not being caught. But why not guard the areas that are being hit over and over again?
"We wash it up and they come back three or four days later and tag it again," Mikolajczyk said. "It's a never-ending process."
Is the pd trying to catch these taggers in the act - that is what I want to know.
Posted by jimd on July 24, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I had to bet, 90% of the taggers are hispanic bangers.....as groups like LULAC, GI Forum, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce sit back and don't take a leading role in trying to install etiquette, consideration of other's property and just plain good ole wholesome values in their brown brothers. It's a cycle that will never be broken....kids breeding kids.
Need to set up a free vasectomy clinic for the 18 year old macho men who get their chulas pregnant and then take off only to repeat the act again.
Posted by racerrick22 on July 24, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JimD you hit the nail squarely on the head. Those groups do nothing but promote racism. It's been going on for thirty years or more. They are taught to poke the eyes of the white man starting at birth. Sad but true. Why? I don't know. This town is 70% hispanic yet all we here is how the hispanics are miss treated, blah, blah, blah. The song hasn't changed for three decades. If you want a real eye operner, go the the Social Security Office anytime of day and look around. You'd expect to see gray hair folks there yet all I see is young hispanics covered in gang tatoos, male and female, with several small kids running around terrorizing the other citizens. Why? Because when a gang member is shot or stabbed, the tax payers have to pay for them and there kids for the rest of there life because they aren't able to work. What a joke. That's why SS is going broke but, you never hear a word about it in the news. A great lie is being laid on the American people...is it ever going to stop? And you ask, where are the parents....smoking crack and teaching the kids all the bad stuff that we see in the streets of CC. It's terrible whats happened to Corpus Christi (the body of Christ) in the last 30 years. It hasn't always been this way as the old folks know. Very sad.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with what jimd said. It's about time LULAC and GIFORUM got into this and spoke out to the public about the young hispanic population getting these (chulas) pregnant then NOT being responsible for their actions. They are bangers alright...Bang and leave...and bang again. More awareness is needed.
Posted by rhdj on July 24, 2007 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does it really matter what race the taggers were.... No way! For years I heard about how the hispanic was treated like a second class citizen, I was young.. I said , nah this town is a hispanic majority, no way. Then I entered the work force and found out the hard way, it is true. Even with a college education I was treated badly. The stories I can tell you! The main problem is people make assumption based on race without even knowing the person. Think about it ..are hispanics the only ones that have the problems pointed out in the posts above, the answer is NO. My dad was in the GI forum, never did I here a racist word out of his mouth, but you assume the worst. My parents taught me respect for everyboby, yet you assume. I have been to the SS office with my mother several times, seems diverisity is alive and well there, you see want you want to see and ignore the big picture to fit your view. Odds are the taggers were hispanic, I do have eyes and see what is going on in this town. I disagree with the idea that hispanics are breed to hate. Do not let the action of a few define our hispanic population, the same can be done for everybody if you really wanted. It bothers me when thugs give hispanics a bad name, but it bothers me when the assumption is made we are all thugs. It bring tears to my eyes to read the hate in some of these posts. Why?!
Posted by rhdj on July 24, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taggers disrespected everybody with their action. Everyboby should be be up in arms against them. The police can not do it alone, we need to get involved and watch our streets, this is happening in every part of town. If we work together, this can be stopped. The people in our block watch and listen for trouble and try to stop it if possible. It started with minor problems, but we got together and stopped before it was a major problem. We outnumber them(taggers) this can work.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rhdj,
No hate from me brother...We are all brothers here. Every man is a brother to another. I just think it's time to get along and work together.
Posted by kennymc69 on July 24, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I never knew racism was so strong in Corpus Christi. It doesnt matter what race these taggers are, the fact of the matter is, what they are doing is NOT ART!!! By population numbers hispanics definitely outnumber any race in our city, but to make racist remarks and say hispanic organizations should control their people is just dispicable. Its people like you that give this city a bad name. The hispanic population is strong in Corpus Christi, but not all hispanics are pregnant chulas, or gangbangers, and to suggest otherwise is disgusting. Why don't you take a look at yourself, and figure out what you can do to help with the problem. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look around and see...It's sad.
too bad...can't do anything on my part but pray.
Posted by arthur6889 on July 24, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am part of the tagger problem, yessiree, bobby, sure am. And, I'm staying that way.
Why? Because at one time I was surrounded by gang members called the "Ace of Spades". Left their mark all over the neighborhood.
Being a neighbor and being friendly, I endured myself to them.
I asked the father also a gang member (40 year old plus) what the point was for tagging. He wouldnt answer. I wanted him to talk.
Basically it's "their territory". To rob, steal, smoke dope, sell dope, protect their sisters, mothers and themselves. An Hispanic man had erected a long wooden fence. Next morning completely covered with their "messages".
A garage at the intersection of two streets tagged so often it probably has 20 coats of cover-up paint.
A friend told me when school lets out, they will sleep until noon, boredom will set it, then it starts breaking out., when school starts back up the hard core will be dodging the truant officers.
In my neighborhood they like empty houses to smoke blunts and plan.
The Selena statue was a gift to the citizens of Corpus Christi. Some people have contrary opinions about its location. And, depending on visual impressions what defines vandalism. When the statue first went up the city had to erect a barrier to protect the site from writing on the brick flooring and statue.
It must be some kind of human necessity to express grief by writing and disrespect for oneself by tagging.
When you sincerely ask them why they do the things they do, they have a similiar sincere response, "because that's the way we are".
Posted by ord2001mike on July 24, 2007 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
taggers.... ??... is it really cool to call yourself a "tagger" now? how lame is that... what should really be done is a look into the life of a tagger.... then look at the older taggers and show the world what losers they really are, and maybe then, kids will see the light...
also, for those who don't like this city.... get the f**k out then... whats stopping you? this city could do with less of your crappy attitude...
Posted by jimd on July 24, 2007 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When tagging is considered cool, and LULAC does not take an active role against it, you best know it's time to get out, which I did. Mama didn't raise no fool.
Enjoy your "art", pander to your criminals.
Posted by natasofthedeepestpitofhell on July 24, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If only they had not shot the guy with the machete...
If we could have redrected his anger and machete toward the taggers our problems would be solved...somewhat.
Where is Karl Childers when you need him?
Posted by thadaeus on July 25, 2007 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1) no – im not related to Duke or Thurmond, and I HAVE moved to MUCH “greener” pastures…I was born and bred in Sparkling City by the Sea, but I currently reside in Washington DC. Question for you, though…what “praise” and “adulation” does the statue bring to CC? My conservatism has nothing to do with latinos who have nothing to hold them up other than the memory of a MILDLY famous celebrity. Let’s all just hope that Eva Longoria doesn’t bite the dust…if, God forbid, that ever happened, there would sightings of her likeness in tortillas all over South Texas for years to come. And yes – I DO support President Bush, and I DO back the war (Ive served in it twice so far). As a 14 year veteran STILL serving in our military, I PROUDLY support the war and our great President.
2) YES, I was a fan of Selena (albeit not a “huge” one), and I AM Latino. I danced many a night to her music at Hollywood Nights back in the ‘90s, and I had her first 2 CDs. I don’t deny Selena’s celebrity. But I don’t pretend it was greater than it was. Im sure the story caught the attention of international media – but im also sure it wasn’t as “huge” a story as you remember it being. I was HERE in the US – stationed in North Carolina, and I DISTINCTLY remember the story being a “news tidbit” on NC tv stations.
3) I admit – I’m uneducated as to the origins of the statue – and the ethnic persuasion of said philanthropist is irrelevant. The fact still remains – Selenas father exploits her existence. The fact still remains – were it not for the movie on her life, she would have faded away into obscurity. The fact remains - the city is SPENDING MONEY cleaning up graffiti on that statue…and the fact still remains – that is money that could be better spent by the city.
Posted by jimd on July 25, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The graffiti is bad enough, but one of the most despicable acts is when Selena's adorers steal flowers from others graves at Seaside Memorial to place on her grave. What scum, what disrespect! This (inconsiderate) culture has no respect for others' property or feelings.
Posted by thadaeus on July 25, 2007 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL at selena addorers stealing flowers from other graves at Seaside Memorial park to place on her grave.
Posted by narc on July 25, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't the term hispanic or latino referring to ethnicity and not race? Is there a hispanic race, and if so, who is winning?
Posted by arthur6889 on July 25, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
narc: now that's interesting enough to respond to.
In my opinion there is no such thing as a Latino. I'm not even sure Hispanic is correct.
At one time in human history there was a thing called the Roman Empire that spread its influence like any good Empire.
It seems to me they spoke a language called LATIN, I might be wrong?
From them came the so-called ROMANance languages. As I barely remember, I think they were SPANISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN, and ROMANian.
Sometime or another the ROMAN Catholic Church started and began their own religious influence.
Along comes somebody named Columbus a ROMANance language speaker who heads out over the deep blue sea to parts unknown. He "finds/discovers" a virgin country already "found" a hundred times before.
His second or third trip he is accompanied by Catholic priests who condon stealing anybody's gold because after all he's not paying for the voyage. Queen Isabella is. And, also condoned is the burning of "savages" accumulations of mother-earth knowledge and understandings.
So, these ROMANance languages priests began teaching the savages a ritual called, "Holy Mass", spoken not in savagery but a new language for them called, LATIN.
Well, time went on and the Catholic religion grew in leaps and bounds. After a while this "virgin" land who had never been discovered was called, "LATIN AMERICA".
Then to add insult to injury. Christopher Columbus began calling the savages "Indio". And, from that day forward all the savages in South and North America were called "Indians" , because he thought they were from the continent INDIA.
Ask an old timer "savage/indian" what he is and he will say, not indian and certainly not savage, but something like Apache, or Dakota, or flat-nose, or Nez-Pierce or something like that. What does Eskimo mean? PEOPLE.
And, what happened to ROMANance speaker Columbo? They got mad at him and when died they buried him in an unmarked grave, until it was time to be cool and erect a statue for him
I really don't thing any HISPANIC or LATINO can speak low, middle or high LATIN. Well, maybe some Catholic Priest at high and Holy Mass.
Posted by jimd on July 26, 2007 at 8:27 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by josegutz on July 26, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's laughing now? Hmm? Not all are chulas but a HECK of a lot (majority) are...
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/jul/25/t...
And sadly the highest rate is among latinas, which is what was all over the news these past few days.
So this is why we fail...because of irresponsible mentality and denial of failure. Keep it up and see where this society takes you.
I know we all have choices and we all start by raising our children responsibly.
Posted by louie_8201 on July 26, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thadaeus and the rest of you HATERS no one cares about your racial comments. Keep your pie hole shut and deal with LIFE. If unhappy do us ALL a favor and crawl back under the rock you came from. Blah, blah, blah.
Posted by louie_8201 on July 26, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thadaeus what a pathetic name.
Posted by changemost256 on July 26, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is this city so whack w/ art ideas for the youth in your city??
Why cant this city be more like San Antonio and support local artist?
Build something that allows local artist to show there creativity and exression, "real artist"!!! I'm not talking about the kid who just created his/her first throw-up last week!!!! I'm talking about the real dedicated artist out there who have been doing this for a decade+ now, it would really be good for the city to support the youth down there as opposed to what ya'll are doing to them by locking them up for a weekend until Mom or Dad gets a hold of them. A program will bring a lot of the youth together plus if it starts around the city again "in an illegal manner" well all the cops would have to do is go to the "local artist spot provided by the city" and find the same artist name there and bam, you will have your suspect. Simple!
-proud artist
LOVE ART NOT HATE!
Posted by craney106 on July 26, 2007 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Officer B. Teed said he knows of 32 tagging crews with 100 members. Well, the job is not finished is it ? I am not a cop, but I think next comes 100 warrents. Then Judge, Your Honer, sir..I suggest 200 hours community service for each tagger and no more than 30 days to do the time. This tagging could be under control with-in a week. By the way, one officer? Gee, why can"t the others help???
Posted by arthur6889 on July 26, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not naming which HEB (we are talking about art?), but there is a young Hispanic girl who is absolutely and stunningly beautiful.
I saw her today, just glanced, didnt want to stare, and thought, OMG what art is this?
They move her around the store, so she disappears for a time. The face of pure innocence. It almost like you want to fall into her and love her soul.
Posted by baircub on July 27, 2007 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
changemost256, uhm, not that I'm against art, but I don't consider graffiti and tagging art. I call it vandalism. which is a crime. This is not about supporting art, or not supporting art....this is about going after thugs and criminals...and I don't care what their race, ethnicity, or background, or socioeconomic status is. I don't care if they're misunderstood youth, or angry youth, or troubled youth. They committed a crime, and we need to stop it. There is nothing racist about it. if the taggers were white, or asian, or whatever, I'd say the same thing to them as I would to anyone else. "You do the crime, you pay the consequences." No second chances, no leniency. no slap on the wrist. No, you commit vandalism, you don't get probation, where all that happens is that you get a stern talking to by a judge. Nor should you even go to a juvenile detention facility to sit on your butt and feel sorry for yourself. I don't care if you're some stupid runt of a 14 year old, or even a 12 year old, or a 26 year old, or whatever the age. Here's what you get. You get to face the people who's property you damaged. You get to face the music, and yeah, even have your name published in the paper, along with your photograph even. Maybe a little humiliation would be good for you. Then you get to go out, and pay off your debt to society by cleaning up not only the mess you made, but what other thug brats like yourself have committed. Get hot, get sweat soaked, get sore and exhausted doing a lot of hard work. I hope your arms are sore, and your back aches, and your head pounds. Because that's what the property owners have to put up with cleaning after the mess you brats have made. And these gangbanger thugs talk about how they demand respect...they deserve no respect at all, until they've EARNED respect HONORABLY! And that's by being a good and decent citizen, not some stupid punk thug.
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 2:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't y'all build a WALL for them ?
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 3:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
U could call it the taggers wall of fame or frame.
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 3:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jimd and ricko are bred to hate......they are the problem with "workforce/source" issues.
They hate because it is the "macho" thing to do where they come from and I would be surprised if they even have kids.
This is the reason they want to throw away education.
I especially believe they do not care about anyone in the Body of Christ except themselves.
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