This morning, I heard that Borst Tire and Borst Oil's buildings and some of their vehicles were hit with graffiti. The police were called so maybe we will read more details in the gazette in the next few days.
ROTTERDAM Vandals spray paint businesses Site near tracks tagged before with graffiti BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Vandals struck an area from South Thompson Street to the Mariaville Road bridge, tagging several businesses with spray paint graffiti between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Lt. Michael Brown of the Rotterdam Police Department said most of the graffiti was concentrated in the area of the Borst Oil and Tire Center off South Thompson Street, but extended to the abutments of the railroad overpass. “They spent some time there doing what they did,” he said. “It wasn’t quick.” Brown said the graffiti was the second instance of vandalism to strike businesses near the tracks this week. Buildings at Schenectady Steel off Old Mariaville Road were also tagged recently. Schenectady Steel President Anthony Tebano estimated the graffiti caused roughly $1,000 worth of damage. He said the graffiti has been showing up in various spots around the steel yard with increasing frequency as of late. “It’s almost like a daily thing now,” he said. The hardest hit was Borst, which had almost the entire front of a garage building covered in spray painted letters and figures. Vandals also painted the side of an oil truck in the parking lot. “It’s all over the place,” said Scott Fontaine, a manager at Borst. “It looks like the side of a train coming up from New York City.” Fontaine said he’s never had a problem with vandals before, even though his business isn’t clearly visible from any well-trafficked roads. He was unsure how much damage was done, but speculated the graffiti would be difficult to clean from its cement and aluminum walls. “We’re just lucky they didn’t get any of our customers’ cars,” he said. The incident is the second significant burst of graffiti vandalism over the last year. Between September and October, vandals struck the Rotterdam Softball League’s concession stand in Eunice Esposito Park, the Babe Ruth buildings and dugouts at Memorial Park, as well as on a wall at the Rotterdam Boys and Girls Club. Graffiti was also discovered on the Hamburg Street bridge, a Hamburg Street business and the Mariaville Road bridge. Police later arrested three teenage boys, who were accused of causing damage in excess of $10,000. Brown said the level of vandalism around Rotterdam does appear to be rising. “Over the past couple of years it has become more of a problem,” he said. “For a week or two we’ll get a rash of it, and then there’s nothing.”
BARRY SLOAN/FOR THE DAILY GAZETTE Steve Rowley, of Borst Oil and Tire Center, points out some graffiti at the business in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
And the best thing about it is that the "artists" did it to get attention. Good thing the Gazette didn't go so far as putting a picture of the graffiti in the paper. Oops, sorry, they did that. Let's see how soon it happens again. At least you're not hearing about this sort of problem in Schenectady, since they have the ban on sales. Maybe we need a countywide ban...but that would hurt the already ailing sales tax issues, the fact that we're not collecting any because people can't afford to shop here after paying their taxes on their homes.
I was talking to a 19 year old kid today who said that there are 2 'groups' that 'tag'. And this kid told me that they can distinguish the 'groups' by their 'artistic' work. Go figure!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Being that this is small town Rotterdam, I wouldn't be surprised that the victims end up knowing the 'taggers' and they will not press charges. Just an assumption.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Welcome back rollarama. Been a while since you've been hre. Just wanted to compliment you and yours, as the car wash is still looking great over there. Too bad nothing's happened with the flippers over at Grand Union.
Thank you. Been busy busy trying to keep the garbage picked up at the carwash...it's always something! Still working on putting up the new sign. Not sure what is happening at the G Union...
Yes, welcome back and the website was great and very informative. Thank you!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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