SCHENECTADY Stratton eyes graffiti-proof paint Slick walls, bridges would repel gang tagging BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The gang tags, racial slurs and epithets that have defaced seemingly every public building in Schenectady could take just seconds to wash away, courtesy of chemistry. Mayor Brian U. Stratton is considering buying a special anti-graffiti paint that could coat every building that vandals regularly target. The paint, a silicone polyester mixture, is so smooth that nothing will stick to it. According to vendors, a firefighter with a high-pressure water hose could clean graffiti off the paint in moments. “We’re talking about testing it in some areas to see if it works,” Stratton said. If it performs as promised, he’d like to coat all of the railroad underpasses, which are almost always covered with graffiti. He would also like to make the paint a requirement for new buildings downtown, as well as for all new facades funded through the Metroplex Development Authority facade program. “You can take the preventative measure of at least putting a sealant on new bricks,” Stratton said. “Unfortunately it’s something we’ve got to be aware of. It’s sad. It seems to be everywhere — even the gates at the Central Park entrance have been hit.” Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said the anti-graffiti paint could be a lasting solution. “It does work. On subway cars and buses, it works great. I’ve never seen it on buildings,” he said. A vendor will soon meet with Metroplex and the city to discuss the product, he added. “We look forward to learning more about the technology as it applies to buildings, facades, etc.,” Gillen said. Meanwhile, Stockade neighborhood residents have formed a new group to fight the graffi ti that has now spread from their railroad underpasses to their historic houses. They plan to ask the Crime Victims Board for money to buy paint to cover over the graffiti. They also plan to apply to the Center for Community Justice, which supervises criminals sentenced to community service. “I’ll supervise them while they paint off the graffiti,” said resident Martin Manley, adding that the criminals would pay in sweat if they have to wash off graffiti painted on brick. Residents scrub off the paint rather than risk damaging old bricks by sandblasting them, and several veterans of that cleaning process grinned broadly at the thought of criminals doing the work instead. “It’s extremely difficult to remove graffiti with solvents and a wire brush,” Manley said. They briefly discussed covering the railroad underpasses with murals to discourage graffiti — a deterrent that had been considered by the city as well — but resident Valerie Ackerman said it wouldn’t work. “We do not have a graffiti problem. It’s gang-tagging,” she said. “Graffiti artists are drawn to any blank canvas. These are drug sellers marking territory. A mural probably won’t have any impact, in fact they’ll probably vandalize it.” The vandals have not been impressed by the residents’ efforts to paint over their tags as soon as the paint is dry. Just days before the Stockade’s annual sidewalk art show, vandals wrote a nasty message in foot-tall letters on the side of the railroad bridge that many would have passed on their way to the show. Resident Carmella Ruscitto painted over the words herself just before the show. She used primer, which is expensive — it costs about $100 to cover an entire underpass. But using the anti-graffiti paint would cost much more. Primer and paint for just 500 square feet costs $219, according to US Coating Solutions, a company in Florida. Each railroad bridge is roughly 1,500 square feet, including both the concrete tunnel walls and the bridge itself. That means it would cost nearly $700 to coat just one of the bridges — the same cost as painting it seven times over the course of a year. The city ran out of paint months ago, but covered each bridge at least twice this year.
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Salvatore
September 20, 2008, 10:07am
Guest User
maybe they ought to thrwo the book at the cavones who do this stuff in the first place
" Mayor Brian U. Stratton is considering buying a special anti-graffiti paint that could coat every building that vandals regularly target. "
EVERY building? Including private residences / businesses? What about the railroad bridges - those are not owned by the City - they're PRIVATE PROPERTY!
Quoted Text
The vandals have not been impressed by the residents’ efforts to paint over their tags as soon as the paint is dry. Just days before the Stockade’s annual sidewalk art show, vandals wrote a nasty message in foot-tall letters on the side of the railroad bridge that many would have passed on their way to the show. Resident Carmella Ruscitto painted over the words herself just before the show.
Sorry Carmella - this is TRESPASSING - no matter how good your intentions, it's no better than the original vandals. You trespassed on private property to further your own ambitions/desires.
Since Stratton was first elected, straight through his new raise.....what is it that he has done? Is this the best he could do was find some slick paint? He says next to nothing at the city council meetings. And I don't know if that is do to his speech impediment or he just has NOTHING to say.
What does he actually do? Does he work?
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
The anti-graffiti paint that the city wants to use is a little expensive and it still won't stop the vandals from writing over the paint. The paint is graffiti resistant not graffiti proof.
The city might just as well hand out bullet proof vests too while they are at it. Just more nonsense!
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
Re Sept. 20 article, “Stratton eyes graffiti-proof paint”: Thank you, Mayor Stratton, for taking seriously, the growing concerns of gang tagging throughout our city. This is a quality-of-life issue that must be addressed. The persistent problem should be met with zero tolerance. It is reassuring to have the city backing the neighborhoods.
How dare you be so disrespectful Sal of a person's disability. His parents would have been so upset with you by making fun of their son like that over there. I thought you were above that. Not to mention he is one of the best dems in Schenectady County. Now the rest should follow his lead. (CHOKE)
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
Sour notes mar park's Music Haven Graffiti vandals deface sections of Agnes McDonald theater in Schenectady's Central Park By Paul Nelson Staff writer Published 12:00 a.m., Thursday, August 4, 2011
SCHENECTADY -- For most people, the Agnes McDonald Music Haven is a place to soak up the sun and enjoy good music.
For graffiti artists, the showpiece stage at Central Park serves as a palette for their handiwork.
For city officials, it's a vexing problem and costly to clean up.
Acting Mayor Gary McCarthy has enlisted the help of the police department's Office of Field Intelligence and urges park patrons to call the police when they see the spray-painting in action anywhere in the Electric City.
"We are aware of it and trying to utilize police to identify kids or individuals doing it," McCarthy said.
On one side of the stage near the top of the stairs, the tag "BAM" was scrawled on the stonework near a broken light.
The surface of the stage was marred with what appeared to be bubble script drawings, a sprinkling of obscenities, and other esoteric images.
"A lot of it means something to somebody, but nobody (else) knows what," said a city parks and recreations employee rearranging overturned forest-green resin lawn chairs in front of the stage. He declined to give his name.
On Tuesday, Jeanne Lowe didn't seemed bothered by the graffiti as she and her granddaughter, Briana Carter, 8, walked a dog near the children's playground.
"I wouldn't look at it and say I'm not coming back to the park," the city woman said.
Why doesn't Acting McCarthy, who's a County investigator, nose around Central Park in his off time? Ridiculous that he wants to waste SPD time on this. They have murders and robberies to solve not some moron gang wannabe with a can of spray paint.
The working together plan of Stratton did not work out. What a shocker! Nothing these DEMS announce gets implemented or actually works. They can't even deal with litter or graffiti in the parks. Tim Conway should announce another trash and graffiti removal day.
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Why doesn't Acting McCarthy, who's a County investigator, nose around Central Park in his off time? Ridiculous that he wants to waste SPD time on this. They have murders and robberies to solve not some moron gang wannabe with a can of spray paint. 
