Graffiti upsets Sunnyside

When graffiti vandals tagged the Sunnyside Reformed Church and the Islamic Center right across the street on Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside, community members had had enough.
“That was what really upset many people,” said Tony Rohling, president of the Sunnyside United Neighborhood Network (SUNN), formed to combat graffiti in the area.
In addition, what began in 2002 as a group to keep a watchful eye over two blocks in the neighborhood, soon grew to take responsibility for a 40-block radius in Sunnyside.
“One of the great things about doing what we do is that - except for vandals themselves - everyone loves us. They’ve all thanked us immensely for what we do,” Rohling said.
SUNN follows an Australian theory, now widely practiced to deter graffiti vandals, to simply paint over graffiti.
“The solution to graffiti is to remove graffiti,” Rohling said, adding that those who vandalize with graffiti get tired of re-tagging an area. “Vandals stop doing what they are doing because their message won’t be tolerated.”
“Fortunately we have not had too many forms of repeat offenses on houses of worship,” Rohling said.
However, to keep a 40-block area free from graffiti takes time and effort, so the group gathered last weekend in a massive effort, complete with power-washers, paintbrushes, and the helping hands of neighborhood kids.
About 80 Sunnyside residents in total met at the corner of 48th Street and Skillman Avenue for the event. The supplies - including two power-washers to clean graffiti off brick surfaces - were bought with donations from community members and local politicians. Funds from Councilman Eric Gioia’s office also helped SUNN buy a small van to transport suppliers and members to clean-up sites.