East Village Parents Respond

Back in December of 2016, I was walking down First Avenue, when I saw this graffiti message:

Graffiti message.

Well, East Village parents beg to differ!

East Village parents know that no matter what else anyone might think about it, it's illegal. They don't want to have to go pick up their kid from the police precinct, or the morgue!, for something like doodling on a wall.

East Village parents also know that most graffiti is like the stuff above: scribbles — it looks bad.

Most importantly, East Village parents know that the propellants in spray cans, and the compounds in paint pens, are toxic. One of the biggest problems graffitiers face is becoming addicted to the fumes, and later, when the fumes no longer do the job, to stronger drugs like heroin.

In conclusion, East Village parents do understand street art, and say: "You kids be safe — and don't make a mess!"

#eastvillage #firstavenue #graffiti #heroin #paintpens #propellants #spraycans #graffitiwall

The Dark Side of the East Village

This past Sunday, I was walking down East 7th Street, past Tompkins Square Park. I saw a group of people standing beside the new gimp-tree, and I was wondering if something was going on there.

As I approached, I saw that they were park-cleaning volunteers, raking leaves.

I thought to myself "Why are they raking the leaves? Why not just leave them there? They make such a nice Fall-smell, especially on rainy days!"

Then I thought "Still, a clean park is a pleasant park!"

Then I saw it:

Needles in the leaf pile.

East Villagers love their heroin!

Of course, they might have been discarded by careless diabetics. Diabetes is on the rise nationwide!

#eastvillage #7thstreet #heroin #tompkinssquarepark