By Samantha Bailey and Zena Taher
Residents of Sagecrest Way and Valley Glen Street woke up on the morning of Monday, May 17 to graffiti letters and symbols spray painted throughout their usually quiet neighborhood.
“BLM” and “RACIST” were spray painted in large letters on sidewalks, mailboxes and walls on the two streets. Phallic images were also rendered throughout the neighborhood.
“My friend who lives on the street up on the top texted me and she said she saw a bunch of houses that got graffitied,” said Christine, a resident whose home was vandalized. “I went outside and then I saw that just our houses got done.”
A graffiti removal service came and worked to remove the spray paint. Some of those living in the area removed the paint themselves.
“There was stuff on that wall right there and my neighbor didn’t have the time to do it right now so I just went over and painted it for him,” said Justin, a resident of the vandalized neighborhood, with a paint roller in hand. “That’s the thing… our neighborhood is not like that. We kind of stick to ourselves, we help each other out here.”
Residents expressed concern and confusion regarding the situation.
“It’s just frustrating,” said Justin, who, along with Christine, asked his last name be withheld for privacy reasons. “We’re just regular people not causing anyone harm. Then something like this comes about, comes around and finds you, it’s just really disrespectful.”
Those living in the neighborhood are unsure of exactly why they were targeted.
“I don’t know, like, why pick this street,” said Justin. “I think it was more of a random act of someone upset or frustrated and feeling like this is the way to make their thoughts heard.”
This is the first incident of its kind in the community, and homeowners expressed hope that it would be the last.
“It is a little disturbing, I don’t want bad stuff to start happening up here,” said Christine. “That’s why we moved here, for the quiet.”
There were no reports of anything being stolen or anyone being harmed as a result of the event. However, police advise residents to continue to look out for any suspicious activity.
“I’ll worry more if it happens again but as of now, I’m OK” said Christine.
