YOUR COMMENTS

It is not funny to vandalize property, personal or public, but I have to admit, even at 32 years old it makes me chuckle when I drive by a graffiti targeted Canal St. Tell me though, what do you do with Palm and Temple?
- Sarah, Dalton

In addition to restitution and cleaning what they painted, they should have to stand during rush hour at different exit ramps each day with a sign reading "I SPRAY PAINTED YOUR BUILDINGS"
- Timm Fives, Bedford

I agree with Brian that these two should have to clean up all of the graffiti. A small toothbrush would be the appropriate thing to use. The legislature should change the law so that a 16-year-old can be identified if they are charged with any crime.
- Gordon, Laconia

They like to paint? Give them a can brush and put them on city projects.
- Paul, Milford

Many, many years ago as a teenager I wrote on a brick building in the town I was raised in. When asked by the police if I did it I honestly said Yes. ( Back then you never lied to the police or your elders).

I was promply brought home to my parents by the police.

My "Punishment" was to clean every building in town with writing on it, with a brass brush and bucket of soap. It took me most of the summer.

I actualy told every kid in high school, if i caught them writing on a wall I would deal with them. This was due to I not only had to clean what I did but what everybody else did. The kids listened and I finaly finished after two months of my summer vacation, everyday but Sunday ( Because I was made to go to church on Sundays) to clean all the buildings.

I certanly learned my lesson. My parents also agreed with the police to take this action, insted of saying they would pay for it.

maybee these kids need a long summer of cleaning buildings in Nashua, it certainly worked for me.
- RManyob, Amherst

Melanie, I bet you can't say that with a straight face. Sally, when times are this tough, all the services have the abilty to pick and choose who they will or will not accept in the service. I agree with most post, make them clean all the graffetti, make them or their parents pay a fine, and maybe, just maybe they will learn from this.
- C Mac, Allenstown

Frank Kelly...EXCELLENT POST and great parental reaction to the situation when it was in your home.

This is what I was talking about when I said that the kids have to take responsibility for their actions.

It amazes me every time there is a kid in trouble that the parents are blamed. Kids make mistakes and do stupid things regardless of how they are raised.

And A in Rochester...parents who are not home 24/7 are not necessarily trying to "climb the corporate ladder" or "be juveniles themselves." Some of us actually have to work and provide a home and food and other such necessities for our children. Single parents don't always glean bad children. I have two great kids that aren't in trouble with the police and they're the product of a single mother home. Your post is ludicrous, insulting and patently untrue.
- Melanie, Manchester, NH

A wise person once said that "a child doesn't need 2 parents, just 1 good one..............." Even the best parent can end up with a child that gets into trouble and has no respect for people or property.....go figure.
- J Gordon, Haines City FL

A minor? NOT a problem. For any graffiti to any highway or street signs, charge them under RSA 265:15 - Interference With Traffic Devices, Signs, or Signals for each offense. EACH one would show up on their driving record as "other" which means... points! Cumulative "points" means suspensions, revocations, increased insurance costs.. Isn't life just wonderful? The "private" property? Get some professional estimates to repair the damage. Professionals get top dollar. In a "scheme or course of conduct", the police can "aggregate" the amounts, which means they can tally up ALL of the dollar amounts into one grand total. See RSA 634:2 (V)(Criminal Mischief, aggregated. At that rate, they should be getting hit with felonies. New "good" people come through the area and see all the graffiti, and then choose to settle elsewhere. It's nothing more than a "welcome" sign for the gangbanger types. It attracts them. Graffiti needs to be coming off before the paint is even dry. Tagging is an investment in time, paint, and risk for these degenerates. We have to make it so it's just not worth it. Pass it on.
- Jon H, Hooksett

Melanie form Jaffery...I hope your tongue was planted firmly into your cheek when you posted. These are people are not "misguided" or "artists"; they're punks!
- RJ, Concord

"I'll put my money on this behavior being directly related to these kids being raised by a single mother."

Hey Andy...newsflash, buddy...single parent of either sex, male or female, raising children doesn't amount to the children being punks. I was raised my entire life by my mother and while I had a couple minor brushes with the law at the age of 16, I'm a productive member of society...work, pay my bills, act responsibly. Your arguement is very short-sighted and you'd lose your money if you made the bet. A single parent can be just as effective, if not sometimes more effective, than 2 parents.
- Bill, Manchester

Many years ago, my son and two of his friends defaced many business in our community, including the brand new, never occupied, middle school. They were caught and here is how I handled it after consulting with the police and the other parents:

1) The kids went to each businessowner and building owner, identified themselves as the vandals, and apologized.
2) Arrangements were made to have all areas defaced re-painted to the original color by the kids, at their expense. This included the paint, brushes, rollers, etc.
3) Each parent shared the responsibility of supervising the boys while the damage was repaired.
4) The only building the kids were not allowed to touch was the school, so in exchange, the kids spent two weeks working in the school from 7AM to 3PM preparing the school for opening day. They were not provided transpostation to the school and HAD to walk each and every day.

My son, and his friends, have never defaced a building since and have all become responsible, married w/children, grownups. They learned their lesson from us, the parents. The police and the courts have enough to do without having to deal with these "boys-will-be-boys" situations. Tough love worked in this situation.

Because of these positive actions, the police allowed the boys to continue their lives with NO POLICE RECORD and all was forgiven.
- Fran Kelly, Nashua

I often read the Union Leader online, since I have relocated to NC 8 years ago. I enjoy reading the comments, but have yet to submit one. However, I must say that I fully agree with Brian - these kids will end of costing the tax payers a lot of money to replace the signs, etc. So, if they had to clean the mess they made, perhaps it would be a good lesson for them as well as prevent future graffiti - especially if it posted that they had to do this! After working with juveniles for several years - putting the responsibility back on them will have more of an effect than slapping them with a fine!!
- A.D., Mebane, NC

"not providing quality parent/child time. "

Ever consider that these kids are from broken homes where their father's parental rights have stomped on by the corrupt NH family Court System that exploits children for money. I'll put my money on this behavior being directly related to these kids being raised by a single mother.
- Andy, Northwood

"not providing quality parent/child time. "

Ever consider that these kids are from broken homes where their father's parental rights have stomped on by the corrupt NH family Court System that exploits children for money. I'll put my money on this behavior being directly related to these kids being raised by a single mother.
- Andy, Northwood

Send them to prison for a couple of years and they may learn to respect the law. If they do go to jail the idiot in the pic should get a haircut or he might have a problem behind bars.
- Tom, Manchester

Personnally it is the parents fault these kids are punks! Todays parents are more concerned with their own lives than their kids.....climbing the coorporate ladder or being juvenille still themselves with not providing quality parent/child time. Too many latchkey kids out their. Spent time to be a parent, teach good values, be a parent instead of a teens "buddy" you'll get much more respect from your child!
- A., Rochester

Russell has an excellent point, but does not go all the way. Bring back the concept of giving them a choice- clean up your mess or go into the MARINES. The Corp will fix them!
- sally, candia, nh

Hey Melanie, you want to personally FUND these safe, enriching teen after school programs??? Misguided? How about vandals???
- Mari, Bedford

Mr. Lerma should move to Mass., he'll get a free college education there.
- Shackelford, Plaistow

Melanie, that is flat out the funniest thing I have read this week, you should write for SNL. Hysterical!
- Warren Gerlowski, Nashua, NH

I agree w/Brian make THEM clean it up; their "work" and others. Cities budgets are already tight as is, so make these "artists" clean it up themselves and everytime more shows up they should have to continue to clean it up until what would have been their jail sentence is up.
- T, Manchester

Restitution by their parents????No. The kids should make restitution, work it off through community service. Make them clean it up and then when they're done cleaning up their own mess, less them work on cleaning up some of the other graffiti around the city. They learn nothing when someone else is held responsible for their actions.

As for harnessing their artistic creativity...give me a break. It's stops being artistic when it causes damage to someone else's property. This isn't about art to these kids, it's about vandalism and making a nuisance of themselves.
- Melanie, Manchester, NH

I'm not sure which is more amusing, the fact that Nashua PD has a Special Unit named POPU or Melanie's Post. Maybe you, Melanie, can have them come by your house and deface your property as they create thier art....
- Bill, Ashland

Oh...yes, Melanie. These kids are just misguided and misunderstood souls crying out to have enriching after-school programs. If only they had a doodle pad to draw on. If they could only attend an art class. How about "If only they weren't juvenile delinquents" Well, one is a juvenile. They are criminals that committed property crimes that cost untold money to repair/paint over. They are like dogs marking their territory except they use paint instead of urine.
I'm sure that you are a kind person but the reality of the matter is that these "kids" aren't saints.
- Jim Powers, Bedford

Kudos for the restitution response. Yeah, I see a lot of artistic potential in these dopes. NOT!

If their acts were so artistic, I don't think folks would be complaining too much. These kids have way too much time on their hands. How about doing the homework that was given? How about chores? These kids should have to fix every sign, every piece of property, or replacement of such items. If they do no have the money, then the parents should be ordered to pay. If the parents have problem with this idea, then I guess the parents should take the punishment as a lesson learned and develop better parenting skills.
- Gail L., Manchester

In the Corps they would be both handed a box of tooth brushes and told go clean till it is like new. It never killed anybody in the Corps, and I'll bet these two clowns won't do it again. Have pictures of them doing it and placed in schools or where other young aspiring artists congregate. Object Lesson: You mess it up, you clean it up. "And It Will Shine"
- Russell, Manchester,

I think these young punks should have to remove all the graffiti they did. This guy should get a haircut too.
- KGB, North Hampton

Full restitution by their parents. Why should property owners have to pay to clean up the damage?
- Mike R., Bedford

or.... we could harness the creativity of these young misguided artists and provide them with safe, enriching, teen programs after school.
- Melanie, jaffrey, NH

Maybe getting rid of the "who police did not identify because he is a juvenile" junk will deter at least some of the minor crimes. Release the names of kids high school age and up
- Paul, Manchester

graffiti removal and 20 speeches at public schools about how ignorant this behaviour is, and how it affects the property owners and well as tax payers, and steals resources from important community programs/improvements as well as defocus the police force away from violent crime.
- phil, raymond

Both of these kids should be ordered to remove every speck of graffiti they're responsible for. That would be better than any fine or other slap on the wrist.
- Brian, Farmington