There has been a marked increase in the amount and type of graffiti on the Strong school in the last few weeks. In addition, other destructive behaviors have increased.

Rubber ground cover from the playground has been torn out and thrown around the playground and out on to the street. This causes a safety risk for children, adds to the rubbish on the street, and clogs street drainage with negative environmental consequences (it is essentially small bits of car tire).

Yesterday, a rock was thrown and landed about 10 feet inside my home. If the door had not been open, it would have broken the glass. When I went outside, there was no one to be seen. This indicates that it was probably a young person(s), old enough to realize that what they had done would draw attention but not wise enough to realize the possible consequences.

City property is being defaced and destroyed and it will have to be repaired at taxpayer expense. The market position of this property in relation to a sale the city wants to do is also being compromised.

We need help with removal of the graffiti and short-term, intense police presence to deal with the destruction of the playground. We also need the school system on our side advocating for immediate action.

This description of the problem we face will be emailed to the Mayor, our alderperson, the superintendent of schools, the district police manager and LCI.

Neighbors; please follow up, click on "I want this fixed too" and send this or your own message to one or more of the authorities mentioned above. We need to get on top of this now.