I find our town’s continuing obsession with the sporadic vandalism allegedly done by our young as the pot calling the kettle black.
Damages repeatedly occurring to several park fixtures, such as lights, are all crimes of opportunity. They will continue as long as we make the opportunities available and accessible.
The failure of both our police officers and the newly formed anti-vandalism task force to catch those responsible further increases the thrill level for the perpetrators. It is basic Psychology 101 — to egg on minors by amping up the rhetoric of catching and severely punishing them.
Vandalism is the deliberate act of defacing and/or destroying property. While I do not condone the behavior of the vandals, I can understand their frustrations. Our town offers little for them to do and nowhere for them to do it. Our public-safety enforcers chase skateboarders from public parking lots onto busy roads such as Violet Terrace. Skateboarding is not a crime, right? Equipment such as helmets and pads offer no defense against moving vehicles.
Offer teenagers who are not interested in team sports somewhere safe to play. By chasing them out of highly visible locations like parking lots, we just encourage them to find more private alternatives. If I were their parents, I’d be more concerned with their activities in those private locations.
Children are products of their environment — they learn what to think and how to act from the examples shown them. If Milltown wishes for its young to take pride in their community and not deface or destroy property, then we should lead by example. Too bad we aren’t.
Our failure to recognize and cherish our community has led to the destruction of too much of our heritage. While the kids’ behavior can be attributed to their inexperience and boredom, what is the excuse of our elected and appointed officials? Can they chalk up our losses to youthful indiscretions? Sadly, no. Our forever-gone farms, barns, and now our industrial past, are all victims of greed.
If Milltown can justify the total eradication of its past in return for a contribution from a developer, then who are we to condemn these youngsters? If historic Ford Avenue doesn’t deserve our protection, then why should ill-chosen park fixtures?
I suppose if the kids offered money to campaign funds, they, too, might get carte blanche for their destructive habits.
Michael Lewycky
Milltown