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March 4, 2008
What Does Graffiti Say About Airport Security?
Photo by Andrew at Here in Van Nuys
A couple weeks ago, Andrew Hurvitz at the Here in Van Nuys blog snapped this photo of the Sherman Way tunnel under the Van Nuys Airport and questioned the state of security. "Is it just my foolish and suspicious imagination that sees this tagged up tunnel as something which raises questions about security at Van Nuys Airport?" he asked. "This is evidence that security right on airport property needs to be stepped up again."
Since then, taggers in the tunnel have been arrested by Van Nuys Division officers of the LAPD according to Captain Fitzpatrick of the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department (LAWAPD).
But what about 24/7 security? According to Diana Sanchez, Public & Community Relations Director for the airport, anytime there is a stalled/stopped vehicle or someone taking shelter, they are immediately removed by police, whether that be the LAPD or LAWAPD, who work closely together on all security matters around the airport. Sanchez had no comment on whether or not there were cameras in the tunnel.
According to LAPD officers at the Van Nuys Division, if the action of graffiti is happening, it is a 9-1-1 call. Surely, if there were cameras, all taggers in the tunnel would be caught, right?
What's going on at the federal level with the Valley airport? "Van Nuys is a general aviation airport, there is no TSA presense," explained Mico Melendez, Los Angeles Spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration. He added that at LAX, the Sepulveda Blvd. tunnel under the runway is monitored by uniformed police
As for Van Nuys, community members like Hurvitz ask good questions that can lead to improved results. For those who live in the area, there is an airport watch program.
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Are you afraid someone is going to sabotage the runway used for Lear jets, Cessna 172s, and the occasional newschopper 5/7/11?
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Have you ever flown in/out of these little regional airports, of which there are probably thousands throughout the US? There is no security, ever.
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The Sepulveda tunnel under LAX used to ALWAYS be tagged. I haven't driven it lately, so I don;t know it;s current state.
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Yes, the LAist Lear Jet must be kept safe. Thanks for asking.
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Thanks for that Elise. It is completely unacceptable to have graffiti still there in the Sepulveda tunnel, whether it is fresh or years old.
If it is fresh, that means that tunnel is not secure.
It if is old, that's a complete slap in the face to LAPD Chief Bratton and his broken windows theory. A criminal can tell where there is resistance to crime and where there is not. Graffiti is a huge sign.
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so kids have more motivation to tag than authorities have to secure their location?
is that the point of this post?
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I'm not so sure if taggers post a real big risk to security as some of the other elements out there, but we should really step up on the distribution of the Is Your Child a Tagger? flyers.
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Well, I think it's like a cop having a "kick me" sign on his back. Would you really feel secure with him around? If taggers can run rampant under our airports, can't anyone? How much longer does it take to plant a bomb than to tag?
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LIke Elise said, if a tagger, who is considered a 9-1-1 call, can easily tag a secure area and get away with it, then the possibility of worse crimes is a definite reality.
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There are taggers who hang upside down off of freeway overpasses in order to write their name on them. This wall near the airport only requires that you drive or walk up to it.
There is no "security risk".
The idea of "security" in American minds is so out of whack with reality.
I'll interpret what this graffitti means: someone walked or drove up to this wall, and painted something on it. Nobody gives a damn about this area, so what was painted has been left up.
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"Nobody gives a damn about this area, so what was painted has been left up."
That is the whole point. When nobody gives a damn about an area, that's when drugs get dealt and people get raped and murdered while bystanders turn the other way.
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Cameras are only so effective - you know if you see one that you *might* have someone watching you or that you *might* be taped for review later but if you're fast enough to get away before a cop gets there (and a 5 foot long 1 foot tall tag takes only about a minute) or you have a mask, it doesn't matter.