24 THE COURIER SUN • JUNE 11, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com Footbridge in Hamilton Beach vandalized again BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected]/@AngelaMatua Vandals in Hamilton Beach have struck again. Police on Saturday stopped a group of individuals loitering on the footbridge that connects Hamilton Beach to Howard Beach around 7:30 p.m. During their investigation, police determined that a member Police apprehended seven individuals for scrawling graffi ti on the footbridge that connects Hamilton Beach to Howard Beach. JUN E 12-14 14 vs . THE COURIER/File photo THIS SUNDAY • 1:10 pm CAP GIVEAWAY presented by Nathan’s Famous FIRST 15,000 FANS THIS SATURDAY • 4:10 pm WRIGHT REPLICA JERSEY presented by Hospital for Special Surgery FIRST 15,000 FANS of the group, an 18-year-old Howard Beach resident, scrawled a lewd image on the crossing moments earlier; a paint marker was found in his possession. Reportedly, three of the suspects were taken into police custody. Two were issued criminal court summonses and released, while the Howard Beach teenager was charged with making graffi ti and criminal mischief. Hamilton Beach Civic Association President Roger Gendron said graffi ti has been a problem on the blue bridge for decades. “It has its high moments and its low times,” Gendron said. “There will be a lot of it and it’ll really peter out. These kids happened to get caught, which is good.” Two Hamilton Beach residents became fed up with the graffi ti last year and painted one side of the bridge dark green to deter vandals. But Gendron said that people just used lighter spray paint colors to make the graffi ti visible. Gendron said the civic association is looking to purchase anti-graffi ti coating and would ultimately like for the Department of Transportation to coat the entire bridge. Though the coating is expensive, Gendron said it lasts for 10 years and would make it much easier for the graffi ti to be washed away. Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder said he has worked THIS FRIDAY • 7:10 pm JUAN LAGARES T-SHIRT presented by NYC Vision Zero Initiative ALL FANS IN ATTENDANCE with the civic association and auxiliary police to clean up graffi ti and has discussed purchasing antigraffi ti coating and putting up security cameras near the bridge. But the biggest problem, he said, is the lack of resources for the Police Department. “I don’t think there are enough resources in the Police Department to be able to stay on top of quality of-life issues,” Goldfeder said. “Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff and the 106th are doing an amazing job. I just think they need more resources. We’re going to keep doing everything we can to clean graffi ti once it’s painted and prevent it in the future.” Gendron said the graffi ti brings down the quality of the community and is another headache for residents who are trying to build back their neighborhood after Hurricane Sandy. “Some people call it art, some people call it graffi ti. While some of it is beautiful, it shouldn’t be done unless it’s allowed,” Gendron said.
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