Graffiti: The Last Word

Thanks to the many people who left comments on our post Wallyhood Endorses Vandalism this past Saturday. Hearing your points of view helped us clarify our own thinking. Jonah, this constitutes our "official response" (and the last we'll post on this for some time, we promise): We stand by our original position that while "tagging"-type graffiti is nasty and should be a punished crime, the artfully altered signs by Bagley and 39th were not nasty and should have been left for…

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News From Our Neighboring ‘Hoods

Here are some highlights of last week's haps beyond Wallingford: I can’t help but share two interesting pieces of information from Fremont Universe: First, the building which houses the Dubliner Restaurant and Pub has sold for an impressive $4.05 million. While there is no official word as to the fate of the Irish pub, it was rumored that the apartments above might be converted into a hotel. The second piece of news is a bit more bizarre: On Saturday morning, a man…

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Wallyhood Endorses Vandalism?

Folks, we need your help. Some time ago, we left some strong words over at the SeattleCrime blog expressing an opinion that we think most of our readers share: graffiti vandalism sucks. Fast forward to earlier this week, when Patrick wrote a story for Wallyhood expressing appreciation for a bit of whimsical art here in Wallingford: Wallingford's Best Traffic Circle. The problem is, that artfully decorated traffic sign belonged to the city, and the anonymous artist who did the decorating didn't…

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Graffiti Survey

Graffiti seems to be a guaranteed comment generator on local blogs: is it a blight on our community or free expression of rogue artists? What's the difference between a "graffiti artist" and a "tagger"? Well, if you want to voice your opinion, you're welcome to leave it here in the comments field, or, better still, fill out this survey from the City of Seattle Office of City Auditor on the city's response to graffiti. Just don't tag my garbage can. Again.…

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Burgled!

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Oh dear, another reason for my mother to fret, and just days before Mother's Day, no less. This note went out yesterday to concerned neighbors: [M and N] on the corner of 43 and Sunnyside were burgled last night between midnight and 3:AM.  They used a key that was hidden near the door and took money, keys, etc and his pickup truck.  [M] may have interrupted them when he got up around 3.  If you have an alarm ,  it might…

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Checking Out Of The Isabella

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The saga of the crime trap motels along Aurora continues, but perhaps we're in the final act. You may remember that several Wallingford and Green Lake motels along Aurora have distinguished themselves as wretched hives of scum and villainy (see Motel Crackdown, More Trouble at the Italia Motel, Wallingford Inn Madness, Wrong Police Raid, Police Looking for Bank Robber at Marco Polo, but also BBQ at the Marco Polo for the background). When we left our heroes, the city had taken…

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Crime scene

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A reader asks: What's going on between 39th and 40th on Sunnyside?  There's lots of cops, dogs and crime scene tape. They were blocking off 40th and when the cop asked me to turn around, he said "we're working on something here." What's the neighborhood buzz?

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