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Vandalism at Neighborhood Office and SkatePark Issues
By Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske | November 11, 2008
If you have been by my neighborhood office at Barrios and Studebaker (Parks, Recreation and Marine Admin Building) you might have noticed that my sign, the Parks, Recreation and Marine sign and the bicycle art that all were in front of the building are gone. I understand the two signs were destroyed (kicked and broken) and am trying to find out what happened with the art work.
Late one night I caught some kids sitting on the bicycle art and trying to rock it off its foundation. They left when I confronted them.
Other than these instances the area has been free of problems.
After working with my staff tonight at the neighborhood office (we had been meeting with the Traffic Engineer and City Attorney’s office about traffic issues) my chief of staff and I walked over to the skatepark to talk with two LBPD officers who were out talking with some of the skaters and “keeping our eyes on some of the skaters we know that have had some problems.” The skatepark was filled to capacity.
During our conversation, one of the officers remarked that the skaters are not just kids. He had just talked with a skater who was in his 30’s who said he skateboarded “because it kept him out of the bars.”
Sadly, no one in the skatepark was wearing the required protective gear — which would have required the officers to issue about 200 tickets. The City needs to put up signage which skaters can read –the current signs are very difficult to read –that reminds skateboarders they need to wear protective gear.
Topics: Public Safety, City Council, Skate park, LB Police, Neighborhood Office |
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