By Alex Christodoulides
Police from the 107th Precinct busted 15-year-old “Zing,” who lives in the area but whose real name was not released because of his age Jan. 9 on 51 counts of criminal mischief after he allegedly graffiti-tagged a swath up and down Main Street from 72nd Avenue to Union Turnpike, the precinct said.”In the last two weeks he really ran amok,” said a spokesman for the 107th Precinct.”Zing is probably responsible for about 100 incidents of graffiti” in the area, said the 107th Precinct's commanding officer, Capt. Stephen Cirabisi, told the Community Board 8 meeting Jan. 10 “Because he's a juvenile, he was released on probation the next day,” Cirabisi added.Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association President Pat Dolan said graffiti “makes the neighborhood appear unsafe and sends a message that it's okay to come in and do this.”Last year, Dolan and City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) arranged for existing graffiti along Main Street to be power-washed away or painted over by the Doe Fund, a nonprofit organization that employs and rehabilitates formerly homeless people. Dolan was angry that “Zing” was let go. “He was brought into Family Court, and by Thursday he was back out on the street. For those who think this is art, our civic has raised funds to clean the graffiti scribbles off of Main Street. Main Street was clean of graffiti for six weeks before this kid struck. Now what we have to do is go back to the Doe Fund with more money and ask them to clean it up again. I wish Family Court had made him clean it up.”Last year's cleanup effort cost $3,000 and lasted more than three months, Dolan said. “It will cost us at least another $1,000 to clean it up. It's not as simple as going out and covering it up,” she said.”Zing,” who also uses the tags “NPA” and “Z,” is believed to have left much more graffiti throughout the neighborhood, police said, but they could only charge him for the 51 tags residents reported to the precinct or the graffiti hotline.To report graffiti to the police, call 311 to provide information or 911 for vandalism in progress. There is a reward of up to $500 for the arrest and conviction of anyone who commits graffiti vandalism.Reach reporter Alex Christodoulides by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
