Comments on: Howsabout A Little Follow-Up Regarding Those 4th Street Swastikas…

By: Burns!

Burns! — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:45:26 +0000

Big ups to Councilman LaBonge and his staff not only for being proactive in getting this done quickly, but also returning here for follow-up. Thanks!

By: Case Closed: Hancock Park Swastikas Are History | Los Angeles Metblogs

Case Closed: Hancock Park Swastikas Are History | Los Angeles Metblogs — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:47:25 +0000

[...] you’ve seen the comment thread of my follow-up post Tuesday on the matter of the two swastikas scratched into the concrete roadbed of 4th Street in [...]

By: Eric Davidson

Eric Davidson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:58:53 +0000

SWASTIKAMAN!
by Eric Davidson 1993/104

As the world spins around the sun
… and darkness settles upon the land,
a lone werewolf is on maneuvers
… with a spray can in his hand.

In his wake a trail of paintings,
… length increasing with mobility.
Unless it’s practice, he’s always sure
… of their broadest visibility.

Most of his targets are preselected,
…on impulse he strikes others.
This guy is real quick of course
… his footgear’s soled with rubber.

One thing never varies
… in his steady paced routine,
it’s the symbol found at sunrise
… to the Jews it’s quite obscene.

It’s the swastika he loves to paint
… forget the krinklejammers*
He’s very cautious on his missions
… he can’t paint ‘em from the slammer.

What drives a man to paint such things
… did he start when he as young?
Sometimes included are racial slogans
… which are easily read and sung.

“Enjoy the Struggle” is our hero’s motto
… he lives by it night and day.
He’s motivated by love for his race
… not by hatred or lust for pay.

Occasionally a Semitic shopkeeper
… will paint a swastika on his door,
then break his cheapest window crying
… “They’ve vandalized my store!”

The rabbi in the synagogue
… has been known to do it too.
The kosher media portrays him as
… “The poor tormented Jew.”

Our graffiti artist laughs the hardest
… when he sees this on the news.
Crooked arms being rendered backwards
… in tropically exotic hues.

The Swastikaman, he moves around
… he’s held many part time jobs.
Diggin’ ditches, washin’ dishes,
… cuttin’ lumber out of logs

You can’t predict where he’ll strike next
… he always works alone.
As long as he’s equipped with paint
… he delays in going home.

Could there be dozens like him
… out painting on their own?
I’ve seen the markings everywhere
… whilst the artist remains unknown.

Somewhere out there he’s workin’ late
… in the pitch-black of the night.
Armed with paint and determination
… he’ll be gone before it’s light.

* “Krinklejammer” is old school lingo used to describe a swastika substitute being used by National Socialists.

By: discarted

discarted — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:18:28 +0000

Tom Labonge

There’s two more on Highland Ave just north of Santa Monica on the east side of the street adjacent to the school. Send your guys to cover them up.

http://discarted.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/are-those-swastikas/

By: WILL CAMPBELL

WILL CAMPBELL — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:01:04 +0000

I look forward (with crossed fingers) to finding that both swastikas have been removed.

By: Matt Mason

Matt Mason — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:55:08 +0000

I have to disagree a bit with Paul’s explanation. If a graffiti removal contractor was dispatched to remove something that, according to Will’s request, is not graffiti but rather a permanent etching or carving on concrete, then either the graffiti contractors were indeed unprepared, or whoever sent them sent the wrong contractor. There isn’t another alternative. Prematurely closing the request was a secondary problem that occurred after the first, more fundamental, error.

In any event, it sounds like a fix is at hand, and that’s great news.

By: Tom LaBonge

Tom LaBonge — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:52:46 +0000

I just received word that a Bureau of Street Services crew covered both offensive symbols.
Again, thanks for letting us know it was there.
Sincerely,
Tom LaBonge

By: Tom LaBonge

Tom LaBonge — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:41:50 +0000

Will, please send your phone number to my email address. I’ve been on the phone with the street services folks. They are on 4th Street looking for the location. Thank you.

By: Paul Racs

Paul Racs — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:19:43 +0000

Just to be clear, the graffiti removal contractors do not possess the machinery required to grind out concrete. It was not a case that they came out improperly prepared. The fault of the contractor was that they closed the request, rather than cancel and refer it back to OCB. Sorry for any confusion. Councilman LaBonge has followed up with Public Works on this item and Bureau of Street Services should be sending out crews today to grind out or patch the concrete.

Paul Racs, Director
Office of Community Beautification

By: WILL CAMPBELL

WILL CAMPBELL — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:47:51 +0000

Spencer, I agree that its unintentional stupidity rather than intentional deception. The explanation I have since received from the OCB director was that the contractor arrived without the ideal equipment to remove the symbol and incorrectly closed the removal order (which generated the email) rather than refer it back to HQ for follow-up and reassignment.

I find it rather disheartening that the contractor rolled to the job without the proper tools, given that I explained in my removal request that the swastikas are scratched in the concrete roadbed.