Why is this shit still here?

meh.

Waaaay back on November 17, 2010, I spotted this bit of graffiti painted in the crosswalk at 6th and Spring.

What is it? Who are the Destroyers, a new gang of stencil artists? Or just low-rent taggers, bound for juvenile hall?

A raging band of Nike advertising execs, it seems.

Hmm, I see there was one on Fifth and spring, too.

So Nike spray painted "LA DESTROYERS" on our beloved streets, and then photographed it for an ad campaign. How edgy. It's delightful when multinational corporations earn the "Street creds".

So here it is, four months later, and this crap is still on the street. Faded, sure, but not due to any efforts of Nike Corp.

So, let me get this straight.

Our Mayor Villaraigosa,  Councilmember Huizar, City Attorney Trutanich, LAPD et. al. have announced  a graffiti tracking program aimed at eliminating graffiti and apprehending vandals. Graffiti artists are routinely arrested and prosecuted. Guys like "Buket" get three years in prison, "Trigz" gets six years. And four months after pooping on the streets of downtown,  Nike reports strong fiscal 2011 third-quarter earnings of $1.08 per share, up 7% from the year-ago earnings of $1.01 per share. See kids? Break the law and suffer the consequences!

Because I like banging my head on hard objects, I'm going to ask Nike about this. I'll let you know what they say.

UPDATE: Not a damn thing is what Nike had to say. No answer to my inquiry.

Oh never a dull moment. (liveblogging the crime)

 So, I guess somebody shot someone? In the Jewelry Center building at 610 S. Broadway?

I overheard the radio of the undercover dude standing next to me say that the guard at the Hayward said the guy may have run in there...

Then some guy who looked like Gary Oldman yelled "Bring me EVERYBODY!", and more cops showed up and expanded the perimeter another block out.

The swat team was lining up to run into the Hayward, but I needed to get the milk in the fridge, so I went upstairs at that point.

   -- MB