Smear, MTA Crew, More Arrested ~ Los Angeles
The LATimes has an update on the “tagging” arrests that people started talking about this morning:
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies today arrested at least eight alleged members of the notorious Metro Transit Assassins tagging crew, some of whom are believed to be responsible for a several-blocks-long “MTA” tag in the concrete Los Angeles River bed that authorities say will cost millions of dollars to remove.
The arrests occurred during a series of early-morning raids centered in the Hollywood area. Among those detained for a parole violations is a famous tagger whose work “SMEAR” has has won acclaim in the art community.
Those arrested were booked on suspicion of vandalism, drug possession, narcotics for sales, weapons possession and other parole violations, officials said
“These individuals are responsible for tags not only in Los Angeles but Las Vegas and San Francisco,” said Sheriff’s Cmdr. Dan Finkelstein, who is chief of the Metropolitan Transit Authority police. “The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that removing the “MTA” tag from the riverbed alone will cost $3.7 million.
Cleaning graffiti from the river is far more expensive than cleaning other areas. Officials use high-pressure water spray to remove the toxic paint.
But hazardous-materials crews must then dam and capture all the paint and water runoff to prevent it from getting into the river. The crew did an additional $20,000 worth of damage to transit vehicles and facilities. Finkelstein said the Los Angeles River “MTA” tag, in a vast industrial district east of downtown between two rail yards, took about 400 gallons of paint — 300 gallons white and 100 gallons black. “It took them four nights to do it,” he said.
The three block letters cover a three-story-high wall and run the length of several blocks between the 4th Street and 1st Street bridges. The tagging crew, which is also known as “Melting Toys Away” and “Must Take All,” began about the time the transportation agency began using the MTA letters. Investigators say they have statements, including some on video, that implicate some of the crew members in the enormous tag.
bill wrote:
Isn’t it great that punk ass pussy SMEAR got arrested. I’d love to beat the shit out of that cocksucker.
Posted on 28-Jan-09 at 2:59 pm | Permalink
Hadley wrote:
SMEAR is a talented artist and has not done graffiti or tagging for a very long time as far as I heard.
I am sorry to see anybody lose a second of freedom, no less for painting gray walls with some color.
No wonder our economy is fucked if it costs $3.7 million to clean up that piece. Sounds like the $500 hammers at The Pentagon. I call bullshit. I’d rather they leave it there, and cut $3.7 million from the school system’s half-billion dollar budget cut.
Posted on 28-Jan-09 at 8:30 pm | Permalink
WALT! wrote:
Insane. This may be the best place to begin the fabled LA River restoration we keep being promised. Replace the concrete with a terraced soft riverbed and…. I don’t know… natural vegetation!
Posted on 28-Jan-09 at 9:06 pm | Permalink
Hadley wrote:
Thanks Walt! Sounds cheaper than $3.7 mil, as do most things.
Posted on 28-Jan-09 at 10:22 pm | Permalink
LoveGalo wrote:
damn – give me a million and i will blast it. OH and out of those million I will give LATACO some cash for the site – oh yeaaaaah!
but seriously – if it costs 3.7 mil to blast that off why would they not accept a proposal to do it for way less? Ima call tomorrow.
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 4:32 am | Permalink
euthanasia wrote:
The whole thing reeks of bullshit. Smear is being implicated despite having nothing to do with the MTA roller, and the 3.7 million dollar figure is ludicrous. “It took four nights and 400 gallons of paint” – I know the city loves to raise the price of graffiti removal to bank on those tax dollars, but anyone can tell you it would be cheaper to simply paint over it with grey pain –
likely well under $5,000 dollars. Besides, the idea of contaminating the L.A. river with paint run off is a farce to begin with. We wouldn’t want that pristine, unfiltered source of water being tampered with would we?
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 11:01 am | Permalink
Chaka wrote:
interview here:
http://www.50mmlosangeles.com/viewStory.php?storyId=731
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 12:47 pm | Permalink
ryan wrote:
wow, when I drove by this piece for the first time, I was in awe! I mean if they’re going to clean this up, is the Saber piece next? With every change Los Angeles is making, I still can’t see this place without graffiti whether we like it or not. Just get some high end artist to bust a mural over it, saves money and looks nice..! Why make this seem worse than it is? They add financial quotes and prices for the materials they need to clean up, yet, the MTA’s probably came up on most of the paint, and payed a few $100 bucks! As for buses, freeway walls, businesses, I can see where $3.7 MILLION comes in if they’re cleaning the whole city itself. They’re just tyring to put this dudes in hard.
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 1:45 pm | Permalink
Poise wrote:
3.7 million for paint removal? Come on, you can probably cement over that for 10 grand…
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
JTS wrote:
pure bullshit…FREE SMEAR!
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 5:28 pm | Permalink
wiseone wrote:
Wow! For something that’s been there over 5 years, now the stupid pigs, oh! I mean the Sherrifs want to bust these guys for something they actually have no proof of. What a waste our tax dollars go to, busting taggers. Why don’t you go bust some real trouble makers you fucking pussies, like some gang bangers, you fucking bitch ass pigs… The L.A. river is a lost cause and haven for all kinds of trouble than just graffiti. I don’t see the cops all the dope dealing and abusing going on the river walk, and the gang activity that goes along as well. I believe these crimes are much worst. I forget this is LA law enforcement. Who cowardly and corruptly pick on the innocent and less dangerous, as for the real criminals get away with shit. Good work LASD you fucking fagots!
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 6:25 pm | Permalink
Mario wrote:
If you do graff, you can get arrested. Everyone knows this.
But it’s a sign of the times that these dudes, who arguably make the city more beautiful are behind bars, while the jackasses who are making millions from illegal billboards that pollute the city are just cashing in big $$$ with no threat of jail.
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 6:48 pm | Permalink
Branded wrote:
Smear had nothing to do with this. Free him! And to the fuck that wants to fight him. Show up to one of his shows. I know he will handle. But you won’t cause you are just another toy internet banger.
Posted on 29-Jan-09 at 8:08 pm | Permalink
A Friend wrote:
This is bullshit. Smear hasn’t been apart of MTA for years. Left them long ago. And he wasn’t apart of that MTA river roller either. The LA Times kept talking about Smear as if he was the ringleader or some shit. Shit made me laugh because they don’t know what they’re talking about. Smear should get off. Then he should sue the LA Times for defamation of character.
Posted on 30-Jan-09 at 2:49 pm | Permalink
BRAN ONE wrote:
THAT FUCKED UP, BUT YEAH THAT DUDE WASN’T ONE OF THE GUYS THAT DID THAT PIECE.
Posted on 30-Jan-09 at 3:45 pm | Permalink
T.K.T.B.C wrote:
Sounds like there was some snitching going on & they got the wrong dude or dudes. Yet they are being prosecuted by the media before they even have their day in court. I wonder if the opening date of the East LA extension coming soon has anything with this so called cleaning up of that part of the river?
Posted on 30-Jan-09 at 7:14 pm | Permalink
Hadley wrote:
There’s also at least one major editorial mistake in there, which is typical of the Times and their bad to mediocre coverage. Apparently they proof-read and fact-check at the same level.
Posted on 31-Jan-09 at 3:49 am | Permalink
arturo wrote:
The reason this would be removed is that over time because of wind, rain, etc. the paint from the MTA eventually leeches into the water. It probably wouldn’t make a huge impact because the water quality is already so poor… and the figure they give for removing is it ridiculous and a waste of precious resources.
Posted on 31-Jan-09 at 11:31 pm | Permalink
Grafnoitall wrote:
Anyone who knows about the LA graff scene knows SMEAR pushes RTH Crew, not MTA. But cops only know what snitches tell them.
Posted on 03-Feb-09 at 10:58 pm | Permalink
Zach wrote:
Does anybody else think its hilarious that the cop is named Finkelstein?
Posted on 04-Feb-09 at 10:41 am | Permalink
ZOSO wrote:
its common knowledge among those who read the writing on the walls that SMEAR had nothing to do with MTA. why don’t they mention the other 7 guys that they swooped up that probably did do the piece? they’re trying to make an example out of him because people heard of him.
if they really plan on spending that much money to clean it up, whats next, buff the entire river? its not like that’s the only mural down there, the entire place is covered in paint. if you leave it up it would have no more environmental impact than a painted building or the millions of gallons of gray buff paint the city slaps up every year. the entire thing reeks of old school politics and out of touch bureaucracy. it was done for the benefit of the press as a PR stunt.
I’ve never been the biggest fan of SMEAR’s work but he’s a cool kid and totally didn’t deserve this. i hope he makes it out of this.
FREE SMEAR!
Posted on 07-Feb-09 at 5:17 pm | Permalink
Inessa wrote:
Hey, where can I find this in los angeles? streets? specific city? i would love to take a picture.
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 11:00 pm | Permalink
villamara wrote:
dam that is sum bull that there just puttin smear up on blast for something he had no part in,fuck the law and finkelstein viva el puro desmadre si el lo que cieren estos chapetes!!
Posted on 09-May-09 at 2:15 pm | Permalink
jayne wrote:
i haven’t seen this piece but that fact that other posters describe being in awe of it leads me to believe that it wasn’t smear. if there any is redeeming artistic quality then you can count that loser out. he should be arrested for uglying up other parts of the city. it will cost less to house those losers in jail than it would be to clean up the mess after them so i sau arrest them all.
Posted on 12-May-09 at 4:33 pm | Permalink
koolguy wrote:
la mara
Posted on 15-Jun-09 at 10:47 am | Permalink
BUSKOE2 wrote:
i was locked up with that fool NOMAS. That kid had gotten like 2 years for all that bullshit, but he told me it was like 14 fools that did that whole river he said them fools were working like 14 hours a day daily.
Posted on 19-Jul-09 at 2:46 am | Permalink
BilS wrote:
I agree with grafnoitall, snitches rat on anyone to save their own asses. besides it looks good on the department… Soon they will arrest writers before they commit these so-called acts of vandalism.
Posted on 20-Jul-09 at 3:47 pm | Permalink
KING VRM wrote:
Fuckin crazy shit free smear all day last time I check rth didn’t look anything like mta…………I say they let the roller bang gives you something too look at on the 101!!!
Posted on 09-Aug-09 at 7:04 am | Permalink
FAR602 wrote:
Free Smear!
Posted on 13-Aug-09 at 3:36 pm | Permalink
asa wrote:
Damn datz da bigest roler ever damn mta iz hella down shoutz out 2 all da mta taggers dat did dat yall got so much fame fo diz roll up
Posted on 20-Aug-09 at 7:27 pm | Permalink
frank burns wrote:
It took them four nights to do 3.7 million dollars worth of damage, and no one was waiting for them on the second third and fourth nights?
Posted on 14-Sep-09 at 10:00 am | Permalink
Jahn wrote:
No wonder you folks in the US are suffering from tough economic times. Can’t even get your priorities right. You people need to start standing up for yourselves soon. Stop letting the corrupt rule.
Posted on 12-Oct-09 at 12:27 pm | Permalink
SMEAR wrote:
Sexy time!
Posted on 20-Oct-09 at 6:33 pm | Permalink
Pol75 wrote:
The organization of learning. ,
Posted on 22-Oct-09 at 6:50 pm | Permalink
NO/FI wrote:
I hope you’re at least selling some more paintings because of this, hermano!
Posted on 16-Dec-09 at 4:04 pm | Permalink
Big FosL wrote:
How is it that 8 men can buy $200 dollars worth of paint and cause 3.7 million dollars worth of damage? Its impossible- much like getting a warrant ro raid a guys how on the suspicion of vandalism and then coming up with drug and gun charges. If somebody cant smell a rat here then you obviously dont have a head on your shoulders.
All you would need to do is fill the black in with a few more gallons of white and it would be over with. What kind of pristine world do we live in where we can throw men in prison for the rest of their life for painting something.
Posted on 25-Jul-10 at 10:46 am | Permalink
M1.posse wrote:
madd fucken props to the MTAcrew
Making Them Alleged Criminals
M1 posse
lynwood !
la2thebay !
stencilin !
Posted on 25-Nov-10 at 12:03 pm | Permalink