The wooden peace sign stolen from the Lombardro’s Fence overnight Aug. 28. The sign was bolted to the fence. Courtesy image.
During the late hours of the night on August 28, more petty vandalism occurred in the city of Salida, this time targeting a wooden Peace sign.
Ark Valley Voice has already reported on vandalism of yard signs this past week in Salida, and this latest incident may indicate the escalation of activity targeting yard signs on private property.
Megan Lombardo reported Saturday morning that a two-foot by four-foot wooden sign depicting a peace symbol, that had been securely screwed onto her fence, was forcibly stolen overnight.
This is not the first time that the family’s signs have been vandalized. Over the course of this summer in Salida, the Lombardo family has had a pride flag damaged, yard signs have been run over by bicycles and they have experienced outright theft of their yard signs.
This comes after the previously-reported night of vandalism on August 23. The signs stolen or damaged from yards around town held various messages. Some supported the Black Lives Matter movement, along with other highly politicized social issues. Lombardo noted that in some cases the signs stolen have been made by children, making the incidents all the more concerning
This targeting would appear to highlight a biased underbelly of the community. Ark Valley Voice will be continuing to report on what is behind the incidents.
In reply to Over it.
Friend and fellow resident,
I am saddened to see our informative and potentially productive dialogue apparently already coming to an end. However, before you go a couple of things:
First: We should all stop using great American’s words and ideas without context and great explanation. For example, Dr King also said, “Rioting is the language of the unheard.” Like all of us, Dr. King was a complicated and unique human being with powerful ideas and complex emotions. Using select phrases or ideas from these Americans without context does a disservice to their legacy. Not only that, it further muddies an already murky information ecosphere full of disinformation. I am just as guilty of it and hope we start using their words and ideas more as examples than solutions to our problems. We are the only ones that can solve our problems.
Second: Before the Black Lives Matter movement was coopted by many, many nefarious actors both here and abroad, it was simple and to the point. “Black lives matter, too.” No more and no less. It was the culmination of decades of mounting factual evidence showing millions of Americans, the majority of whom happen to be Black, were and are racially biased against. It’s no one’s fault per se and most Americans who have contributed to the systemic racism are not racists or white supremacists either. It is just something that we have allowed to happen for far too long. Hopefully we can at least agree on that part.
With that, I bid you ado.
I saw this sign in the Arkansas River today, on the west side, upstream from Two Rivers neighborhood. Whoever stole it ditched it in the river.
The sign says PACE not PEACE. What is PACE? Regardless, sad to see anyone steal or vandalize property in our beautiful community.
Carlos –PACE is italian for Peace— Lombardo is Italian name, teaching kids Italian heritage. Good stuff!
Going onto private property and stealing or vandalizing anything is a crime (Or several crimes). Wether the sign is an LGTBQ+ sign, a Trump 2020 sign, or a sign made by children, or purchased – it is still a crime to remove or vandalize them. These acts are probably not a “biased underbelly” as much as they are just like any other crime. They are committed by a small minority of morally corrupt individuals with no respect for others or the law.
Instead of reporting what’s behind these crimes, what about looking at the seeming increase in crime overall? A week doesn’t go by with a post about stolen bikes, reports of vandalized property, or other crime. Are these crimes increasing due to increased population, or increased tourist traffic, or an increase in illicit drug use? Who knows?! But I don’t think there is a biased underbelly problem….a few biased criminals, sure.
Thank you for your comment, you are correct in your assessment that the city of Salida says there has been an increase in vandalism and crime this summer. Ark Valley Voice is planning to take a look at this summer’s rates of crime overall in the city and county.
I agree, I as well am a law abiding citizen, and am shocked by what Salida has turned into over the last 10 years. Rampant crime, which seems at least in part tied to the unsupervised, undisciplined children and teens in the area. All of the highly overpoliticized BLM nonsense seems to be creating racism where none existed previously, at least in Chaffee County,
I’m surprised (although thankful) that the rioting, looting and general disrespect of others hasn’t shown its ugly face here, save for some signage vandalism, so far anyway. One would have thought that the novel coronavirus would have drawn the community together in solidarity, but with all the BLM nonsense, both have served to create nothing more than divisiveness, hate and discontent.
A very sad commentary on our community, and the USA at large. As the group War wrote in a 70’s song, “Why can’t we be friends?”
I disagree, and definitely believe there is a biased underbelly here in Salida. These are hate crimes, and need to be called out as such.
It is a hate crime to target individuals based on sexual orientation or skin color. People have gone to jail for destroying Pride flags.
To deny that this vandalism is an intentional act targeted at this specific home, and to paint it with the broad brush of “crime” is to deny it’s true nature. It was meant to intimidate the family living in that home, no less.
Greetings, law abiding citizens and thank you for reading.
The Crew of Ark Valley Voice are law-abiding citizens. AS Rejporter Stephen Halls has indicated in this response: “Even as a teenager in Salida,I personally was very thankful for the open and less restricted atmosphere that Salida provided while I was growing up. We did get unruly at times but the small-town atmosphere kept us in check and safe. Between everyone knowing everyone and the occasional talk from the police, trust me, discipline was instilled. Most of us have been pretty successful since then so I am not sure where the correlation between “unsupervised, undisciplined children” and crime is but we will look into it.
We are concerned, however about the belief you appear to share with some of the local population that Black Lives Matter (BLM) is “over-politicized” and particularly, that you believe that people are “creating racism where none existed” in Chaffee County. Empirical evidence shows — and very few scholars refute — systemic racism exists throughout America.
Would Chaffee County be the one exception to the entire United States?
One of the main reasons for the BLM movement is to bring awareness to that systemic racism and create positive, meaningful change. Is our local criminal justice system separate and somehow better than the rest of the country? Are our social programs, what few we have, in some way different and better than the rest of Colorado’s systmes or the United States?
A majority of the citizens who now live in Chaffee County are transplants. Where did they come from? It’s highly likely that a large portion came from cities where they know systemic racism existed. What would make Chaffee County immune from that?
Let’s say, for the sake of argument that because Chaffee County is more than 90 percent white, that you are right and systemic racism does not exist here.But it does in America; didn’t tens of thousands of our fellow Americans–of all different races and backgrounds–take to the streets in every corner of our great nation in support of the BLM movement? It seems they were all saying, “Something is wrong with the system.”
Now, a few of our local citizens simply want to send their “friendship” and support for their fellow AMERICAN citizens in the BLM Movement. Under the First Amendment of the U.S.they have a right to express their beliefs.
You appear to represent some portion of the local population that calls this “overpoliticized”. By definition that IS systemic racism.”
Let me get this right….
Rioting, looting, assaulting others and a general disrespect for the laws, personal and property rights of others is man honorable just path to positive meaningful change !?!?! You think this is acceptable ? You champion this behavior? If so, I’ll pass the word and stop visiting your publication…
Sorry, I disagree. These folks aren’t walking in the steps of Dr. Martin Luther King. Most of them likely don’t know who he is, and many others have long forgotten, or chose to ignore his message. I’ve never argued that these folks don’t have a right to express their beliefs, I’d fight to my death to defend that right. I have a problem with HOW they are expressing themselves. They do NOT have Dr. Kings dream. They, not I, choose to sensationalize, radicalize, politicize and send their message in a dishonorable fashion. Telling that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton aren’t on this bandwagon.. I’d bet they wouldn’t touch this with a 10 foot pole and they are the kings of civil unrest. But not once have they furthered the idea that violence and lawlessness was a path to victory.
I do believe our local criminal justice system is separate and heads and heels above better than most of the country. Our social programs, what few we have, are absolutely different and better than the rest of Colorado’s systems. Why? They aren’t overwhelmed, and teaching, and educating instead of jailing and forcing retribution down peoples throats. The folks that work in these programs actually care, cause they can, I know a few of them and they would be aghast that you think they don’t or are inept, just going thru the motions till quitting time.
Letting ultra radical highly destructive movements such as BLM bring rioting, lawlessness and general chaos to our small town isn’t what we need. I have not seen one instance, not one, in this or any other local news source of anything racially promulgated in a negative way in our area before BLM, and even at that, other than signage and “art” being defaced. This is not the big city, yet…
Let’s work to bring the community together, not divide it, which is EXACTLY what this is doing. There’s nothing positive, or meaningful about this at all. It’s polarizing and divisive, neither of which are conducive to anything positive and meaningful.
Dividing us. This local “Racially motivated” crime isn’t something that would exist without the BLM movement. Again, nothing positive or meaningful, but it has change, and not in a good way, hence the vandalism that wouldn’t exist without the “movement” if you can call it that.
No, Chaffee county is not the ONE exception, there are many small towns scattered around the US where the broad sweeping template you choose to paint people with doesn’t fit. Big cities, sure, I’ll give ya that, but not here, and not yet. Let’s keep it that way and let “yet” never materialize. Also, it would seem that you are saying the transplants are bringing racism to our county? Where is your data, past supposition and innuendo? I haven’t seen it, and neither has anyone I’ve spoken said to me, “the damn transplants are bringing racism to us”.
I resent you insinuating that I’m a racist, I’ve been fire and EMS all my life, never once has the thought of treating someone different than me with anything other than the highest level of care I can possibly provide crossed my mind. The main difference between us I think, is I choose to use my mind to think, and generate my positions based on what I see, hear and feel, not what’s happening in someone else’s alternate reality. You choose to jump on someone else’s bandwagon and sing their song, you must think that’s a popular thing to do. I do not. I make up my own mind, which doesn’t make me bigoted, or racist.
Racism = Bad. Rioting, looting, lawlessness and disrespect for others and their property, creating civil unrest, all in the questionable name of “doing a good thing” = even worse. Reprehensible. I’d have a lot more respect for these folks if they did their thing, and sent their message in a peaceful, reasonable and rational way like Dr. King, which they aren’t doing. Not even close. These aren’t peaceful marches, they are out and out riots.
Interesting that you printed a reply to my comment, and not the comment. Says a lot about fair and honest journalism from your outlet
Good day to you Madam.
Poncha dude, (for you have not identified yourself) I did not write the response.
The response to which you refer was written by our public safety and justice reporter, Stephen Hall, who was born and grew up here and he lives in Poncha Springs. He is a former Marine, former Border Patrol, former Colorado State Patrol, and has a degree in criminal justice. I posted the response for him and we are sorry that that was not clear. I must ask: If you had known it came from him and not me, would your attitude be the same, or is it so because you think you are responding to me? If so, I should point out that is sexist.
Replies to the general article are posted in the order in which they come in — any replies out there are to the article itself, not to your comment.
That said, Your attitude is representative of the very attitudes that Stephen has pointed out:
Lack of understanding of democratic ideals: Understanding that this country stands as much for justice and free expression as it does for “law and order” is a civics challenge for us all. Understanding the entire constitution, rather than bits and pieces of it is necessary. By making a claim that the “Chaffee County justice system is head and shoulders above the rest of the country”, we are allowing you your free expression by printing your comments (which by the way do not contain claims substantiation that is required of anyone writing a letter to the editor).
Blaming the victims: You said “This local “Racially motivated” crime isn’t something that would exist without the BLM movement.” Really? The racist attitude would be there, even if the act was not, so what exactly are you saying? That people should keep their opinions to themselves? Or just other people should keep their opinions to themselves? If that were the case, then we would not be publishing your response, however inaccurate it is. But we are.
Marginalizing: by referring to “these people” and “these folks”, you are labeling those who do not agree with you. The mark of a democratic civil society is coexistence with others who may not believe as we do.
We are not labeling you. We are allowing you to be heard.