FRED RADTKE SPEAKS OUT on the City Business Article 10/24/08: Is This the End of the Road for the Grey Ghost?

In the article, Richard Webster made the statement, I painted over a “commissioned mural”, but Mr. Webster first, doesn’t understand the word, commissioned.  If he did look it up under city ordinances, rather than get his information from here-say, or a blogger, or even verified his statements, he would understand, you need a mural permit from the city of New Orleans, which is handled through a committee.

The property owner gave permission to the “muralist”, but the property owner did not get permission from the city.   So all you folks that can’t get a mural permit from the city, contact Mr. Webster, he’s an expert on that subject, by accusing myself, and Operation Clean Sweep for painting out a “sanctioned mural”.

Also, take notice that Mr. Webster plays to the “Mob”, when he shows no respect to myself, or Operation Clean Sweep by using the tabloid statement “is this the end of the Grey Ghost “, as a headline.  Also in the article, he says ,”the charge represents a victory for many private property owners, who have complained for years, that Radtke operates as a vigilante, routinely trespassing on their property to “smear” grey paint over graffiti on houses and businesses without permission”.

That’s an interesting statement…where’s the proof Mr. Webster, or is it more here-say from your bloggers. Pre-Katrina, if myself or any volunteers made a mistake, first I would take full responsibility, second, correct it.  The graffiti hotline has been in service for 10 years, and if we did get calls, we corrected the problem, immediately.  If people called police, and complained, all they had to do is call us.  Post-Katrina same thing, no difference, except, 5-7 thousand new abandon properties are now in the city; and by the way Mr. Webster, we paint out graffiti, we don’t “smear” it out.

In the article, Mr. Webster relates, Michelle Gallodoro, owner of Southern Waterproofing, granted permission, to “local artist” Clayton Nepreux, to paint the “mural” statement, “this is the third time Nepreux is going to have to paint the “mural” due to Radtke’s actions.

Well, Miss Gallodoro, did you apply for a mural permit three times? The answer is no, because you never did.  It’s illegal, and subject to a $500 fine.  Why can you get away with it, and other people in this city have to pay for it?

In the article, Miss Gallodoro said she sent a letter, saying not to paint on the wall. Where did you send it?  We did not receive any letter.  All you had to do is call the 5th district police station, and ask them to contact us or ask for our telephone number and request it.  But the reason you did not was because you know it’s illegal.  We had permission from the previous owners, Pre-Katrina, to paint that wall for years.  Again, we make mistakes, and I will take full responsibility.

In the article, when Nepreux’s team was first painting the Southern Waterproofing “mural”, he said several NOPD officers arrived at the scene and threaten to throw then in jail. It was only after they produced their “certificate of permission” that the police backed off.

This one is a good one…”certificate of permission”….Mr. Webster, was this piece of paper notarized or signed by the chief of police?  No, it’s a piece of paper by the property owner giving the “muralists” permission to paint on their property, but no permission from the city of New Orleans for murals. The other side of the coin is, graffiti taggers ask unknowing property owners to do graphics or a design on their property, and the owner gives them that permission. what happens is the graphic or design starts to change after-wards, where other taggers put things up from nasty words, to guns, etc. and when police catch these guys in the act, the taggers pass the permission paper to one another, so they don’t get caught…on this wall the design has changed at least four times.  Are there nasty words, are there guns?  No, but look around the neighborhood, graffiti has tripled since this “mural” has been up.  Signs, warehouses, buildings 6 stories high, covered with graffiti and rooftop buildings 50 yards long.

The neighborhood is being held captive by this kind of action. You may not like me personally, you may not like the grey.  What I am giving you is fact…more graffiti, more crime. I didn’t say this, the professionals say it.  Look around your neighborhood and say to yourself, do I feel safe?

In the article, we spend our time and money creating art, something people want, and then to have this come and destroy it, and then get preferential treatment, it’s a kick in the pants.  If I was out there painting someone’s building without permission, I’d be in jail right now.

Statement was from Mr. Nepreux…the number one graffiti tagger in the city, AKA known as “Harsh”.  He has done over $500,000 worth of damage to the city, in ten years, using the word “Topmob,” to terrorize the community, affecting tourism and economic development, by creating the perception of crime, along with his” team, AKA “Meek”, 40/40 and KBT;  And by the way, if someone does more than $500 worth of damage to a building, they can go to jail for two years…new law.  There is a city ordinance that states, any property owner with graffiti on their building more then thirty days is liable with a $500 fine.   So Operation Clean Sweep will report it to the city, which needs the money, and not paint over it, unless requested, which has always been a free service, to protect the property owner.