2 July—A graffitist has been at work adding decorative artwork to Litchfield’s Community Field. Like virtually all contemporary graffitists, the Litchfield phantom is handy with canned spray-paint. I envy that. Moreover, he, she, it, or they have demonstrated not only skill, but some artistic talent as well. I really envy that.

But the Litchfield graffitist’s chosen canvas, while obvious and thus maximally tempting—while being minimally defaced—is none the less clearly inappropriate. The graffitist’s stealth confirms his, her, its, or their awareness of that. (It’s also likely a good part of the appeal to non-commercial graffitists.)

The Park and Recreation Commission (PARC) wants to install security cameras with the intention—make that the hope—of directing graffitists’ talent (as well, presumably, as other vandalism) elsewhere. Three cameras at $1,200 apiece plus $200 a year to have their data downloaded and processed. Chicken feed. Petty cash.

Waste of money. I don’t know too much about how those things work, but is downloading and processing data really required for closed-circuit TV cameras? Wouldn’t the data simply be fed and downloaded to a computer at a town office, to be viewed by whomever in the event of whatever?

More to the point, though, the cameras aren’t likely to scare off any artistically motivated graffitists or other determined vandals. That’s why they park their vehicles remotely and wear hoodies and N95 masks. And do other things they’ll have picked up online or on television.

Just for the fun of it, how high would the cameras be mounted? Would the cameras’ resolution be high enough to identify perps? Would they have infra-red sensors or be illuminated by motion-activated floodlights? Silly questions. Because the vandals will do their dirty (or artistic) deeds and get away with their misdemeanors one way or the other. We all know that.

On the other hand, is it mere coincidence that the latest graffiti were applied to an inviting wall just a few nights after PARC had discussed purchasing “video cameras to catch the culprits in action,” as the PARC director put it?