Citizen comes forward to help stop graffiti

Local business owner, Norbert Tuseo, told Historic City News Editor Michael Gold that he is fed up with the continuing graffiti that is occurring around the city and he has made a commitment to “put my money where my mouth is.”

Community Affairs Officer Barbara Stevens reported that Tuseo has offered assistance to the St. Augustine Police Department by offering to post a $1,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the graffiti.

Tuseo, who owns and manages numerous properties throughout downtown and the Lincolnville area, says that, some time ago, he instructed his maintenance man to paint over graffiti to discourage further vandalism, however, the problem has gotten too big for him to handle alone.

“I talked to Chief Loran Lueders about the problem,” Tuseo said. “The police have increased their presence and officers have been assigned to catch the vandals responsible for the property damage caused by the graffiti.”

Various tags and symbols have been reported on 46 different properties throughout the Downtown and Lincolnville areas.

Tuseo told us that the city public works department has been doing the same as he has — but the repainting is getting too big for them, as well.

“Most of the graffiti is painted over within a few days and arrests have been made but the vandalism continues,” Stevens observed. “This type of crime is upsetting, demoralizing and even offensive.”

The police department and Tuseo are concerned that, left unaddressed, graffiti is not just an eyesore; it can be seen as an invitation for criminal behavior and tends to portray the message to tourist that the citizens do not care about the city.

“But, even if no one comes forward to claim a reward, the offer alone may make them think twice before defacing historic buildings,” Tuseo told us. “They’ve got a bounty on their heads, now.”

In talking with Tuseo this morning, we agreed that the only possible gain for graffiti vandals has to be “bragging rights”, but, in today’s economy, with a $1,000 reward for turning the culprits names over to police, bragging will likely be too dangerous.

Tuseo, originally from New York, explained, “I saw what graffiti did to New York City and I don’t want the same thing to happen in St. Augustine. Therefore, I am willing to put up my own money to help put an end to the problem.”

Citizens with information that would aid the police investigation please call the St Augustine police department’s non emergency number 904-825-1070 or the St Augustine Crime Stopper Tip Line 904-209-3482 and help create an environment where crime will not flourish.