More city vandalism reported

By JOE LoTEMPLIO
Staff Writer

May 06, 2008 04:00 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- Another wave of vandalism in the Center City has Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak fuming.
"It is apparent that there is an element in this city that is disrespectful to other people's property, and that is unacceptable," he said Monday.
A dozen street signs were either taken or knocked down this past weekend, causing more than $1,000 worth of damage.
It's the second straight weekend that more than $1,000 worth of damage to street signs was done.
Most of the destruction occurred in the Center City area, which is heavily populated by students from Plattsburgh State.
No-parking signs and street-name signs were ripped up in the Couch, Brinkerhoff and Oak streets area as well as around Court, William, Lafayette, Champlain and Cornelia streets.
"This is the second weekend in a row that this has happened, and we are urging anyone with any information about this to contact our Police Department," Kasprzak said.
In addition to the street-sign vandalism, graffiti was splayed on the dugouts at South Acres Park, and a 10-by-15-foot flag was taken from the flag pole on the oval of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.
"Not only are these actions disrespectful to city property, but they are disrespectful to the symbol of our nation, and that's terrible," the mayor said.
Kasprzak said city workers installed a lock on the flag pole to prevent further thefts.
jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com