(Sept. 18, 2006, updated Sept. 19) -- Children and their parents arriving at ELB's Newcomb Academy (K-8 school) in the El Dorado Estates area (east of the San Gabriel river between Wardlow Rd. and Spring St.) arrived on Monday morning Sept. 18 to find graffiti marring parts of the well-kept school campus. The school has some of the District's highest academic performance results and is widely considered a neighborhood asset,
Parents stared...and children asked who did it and why.
We've pixeled the graffiti to avoid giving the vandal(s) publicity.
The graffiti defaced several areas, including the entry quad...
The south auditorium wall...
...and in a storage area...
...and along a rooftop...
And in a brazenly scornful act, the vandal(s) defaced a hand-made welcoming poster which read "Newcomb Welcomes You; Dress to Impress."
LBPD was apparently investigating the vandalism in the afternoon; LBUSD's policy is to remove graffiti as promptly as possible when it appears.
Earlier this year, ELB residents began seeing increasing graffiti, with scattered areas near the 405 and Lakewood Blvd., Los Coyotoes Diagonal near Wardlow Rd. and ELB areas north and south of the 405 affected.
LBReport.com has separately learned that last week a homeowner in the immediate area of Newcomb Academy had a vehicle burglarized while it was parked and locked in the driveway of their home. LBPD acknowledged that crime...but said crime statistics in the reporting district didn't indicate a rash of car burglaries.
[Sept. 19 update] Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's office emailed us at dawn Tuesday: "My staff is responding on this issue today. We will get the graffiti removed, the banner replaced and organize a Public Safety Town Hall for 2nd week in October to discuss what can be done and to help set up a Neighborhood Watch in that area."
