Patch Watch: Los Gatos Creek Trail Overpass Graffiti Still There And Growing!
Graffiti on the Los Gatos Creek Trail overpass that crosses Highway 17, also known as the Forbes Mill Footbridge, has been on Patch Watch for more than 1½ months.
Photos
It's still there and growing! Graffiti on the Los Gatos Creek Trail overpass has gone uncleaned for a total of 55 days. It was originally spotted and reported in this column on Dec. 19, but now there's more.
You can't miss it as you're driving southbound on Highway 17, after you pass the Highway 9 exit. The original ugly jibberish is scribbled on the left of north side of the bridge with the additional tagging on the right.
LOCATION: Los Gatos Creek Trail overpass, also known as the Forbes Mill Footbridge, that crosses Highway 17.
PROBLEM: Graffiti has been spray-painted in two spots on the north side of the overpass.
RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES: California Department of Transportation, or [Caltrans].
CONTACT: Caltrans, 916-654-5266; or Caltrans' public information officer Bernard Walik at bernard_walik@dot.ca.gov, or 510-286-5705. You may also report graffiti around town to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department's graffiti hotline number, 408-354-6863.
DATE REPORTED: Dec. 19 first time, revisited Feb. 11
DAYS ON WATCH: 55, or more than 1½ months.
In This article
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Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department
110 E Main St, Los Gatos, CA
Ellen Simon Pifer
1:15 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
This isn't graffiti. It's "tagging". Graffiti is an artform. This is simple vandalism.
Sheila Sanchez
1:37 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Hum ... graffiti an art form? This might be a good poll question.
Gary Kolegraff
4:21 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sheila
Wish there were some way we could use our Twitter power to stop this grafitti - maybe those with iphone could tweet new tags and we could somehow alert Los Gatos Police, when and where it happens. I am in tears when I see it around this beautiful city:(
Mike Calahan
1:41 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
There are forms of street art where the person responsible can be called an artist (ex: Banksy) The graffiti here is just tagging by someone whose only value is in their incredible dexterity.
Sandra Vaurs
2:17 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Graffiti breeds more graffiti and needs to be eradicated ASAP. Thank you Sheila, for bringing this to our attention.
Sheila Sanchez
4:41 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Gary, not a bad idea. Maybe someone can design an app that we can install in our iPhones to report graffiti or illegal activity to the police? Not sure if there's such a thing. It would need to be customized to the Town of Los Gatos so that it's connected to the town's graffiti hotline number. Thanks for the comment.
Melissa Pugh
5:57 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
So the DPT is responsible for the clean up? Oh man. It really is distracting to see this eyesore blocking our beautiful mountains. Hopefully they will clean it up soon.
Gwen Reandeau
8:38 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Caltrans Dispatch needs to be called for this at 408-436-0930. Someone at Caltrans will be dispatched to take care of it if the graffiti is on a freeway. This information was obtained from Bud Courtney, a local retired citizen, who got an award for his efforts about two years ago.
MichaelJ
10:14 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
So maybe the solution is to use this space before the taggers do. What I mean is that if we filled the space with some type of a message or drawing that would discourage taggers from being able to use the space. reminds me of the story of the 7-Eleven that would play classical music on the outside loudspeakers and keep troublemakers away.
David Akers
2:01 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
It s art when you own the medium, It is vandalism when you do not.
It has nothing to do with the skill of the person - it has to do with a lack of character.
Cari Shaw
9:53 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
your right ellen that is "tagging". I am looking for a really good Graffiti artist to do some work for me for my daughter Shea Shaw. i can be reached at Krush Hair Salon in los gatos. thank you,Cari Shaw