Arrests made in Miracle League vandalism

**Vic_doucette** · September-15-11, 02:50 PM

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...seball-diamond

If the court allows our input, I would hope that the vandals be required to spend a season working with us. If they could meet our kids and our families, see what we do and learn that there is a better way to spend their time, maybe we could get them on to a better road than the one they are on now.

**gazhekwe** · September-15-11, 03:39 PM

I heard that today also. I agree with your suggestion, these kids need a way to exercise their responsibility for this outrage.

ferntruth · September-15-11, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Vic_doucette

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...seball-diamond

If the court allows our input, I would hope that the vandals be required to spend a season working with us. If they could meet our kids and our families, see what we do and learn that there is a better way to spend their time, maybe we could get them on to a better road than the one they are on now.

That's a brilliant idea! I hope the courts consider that.
I'm glad to hear that those apparently responsible have been apprehended.

**oldredfordette** · September-15-11, 07:56 PM

You're a very nice man, Vic Doucette.

**Vic_doucette** · September-15-11, 08:26 PM

Actually, ORF, I don't feel especially nice. But I am trying to be realistic.

Each kid has been charged with two felonies. The damage they did will cost about $60,000 to repair. Last I knew, generous folks [[some from this board; thanks to you all) donated $40,000. Can we get $60,000, or $20,000, from the kids or their families? I don't think so. What can we do?

They're 15, painting graffiti and stealing backpacks. Where do they end up if they stay on this path? We all know the answer.

If we can get through to them that there are better ways to spend their time, if they can meet our kids and our families, learn what we do, see who we help and how they hurt us, maybe we can get them going in a positive direction. Were it up to me, that's what I would ask to have done.

OTOH, if this is part of the sentence and they don't keep up their end of the bargain, I wash my hands of it.

**stromberg2** · September-16-11, 12:44 PM

That is very big of you, Vic. I'm on the fence on this...I see your point, but a part of me says this is only the beginning. They may be on to bigger things. They need good parenting. It all starts at home.

Stromberg2

**Whitehouse** · September-16-11, 06:58 PM

Good that they've been caught, but come on! $60.000 for the repairs?? That's a lot of cash for a pint of paint! I don't know the full extend of the damage causes. All I saw was some profanities written on the tarmac. Was there more damage that wasn't shown?

**Vic_doucette** · September-17-11, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Whitehouse

Good that they've been caught, but come on! $60.000 for the repairs?? That's a lot of cash for a pint of paint! I don't know the full extend of the damage causes. All I saw was some profanities written on the tarmac. Was there more damage that wasn't shown?

I wish it were that simple.

We can't just paint over the damage. To do so screws up the drainage in that portion of the field, leaving us with the possibility of frost heave damage caused by winter weather. [[Our rubberized field is designed to drain quickly and not let water pool on the surface.) Such damage would require replacement of the entire field, as well as the asphalt substrate. The cost for all that would be in excess of $130,000.

In addition, the manufacturer tells us that it is likely that merely painting over the surface would, over time, allow the obscenity to "ghost" through the paint, leaving us in the same situation we're in now.

We had a couple of specialists in graffiti removal out to the field. They tried to remove the paint, with little success. The [[and the manufacturer) agree that there isn't anything they know of that can remove the paint that won't further damage the surface. If we want the obscenity gone, the surface has to go as well.

At first, we thought that we could simply cut out the area where the graffiti was and flow in new rubber to replace it, at a cost of about $6,000. We learned that by doing that, we would create seams that would be a trip and fall hazard to our kids.

This defeats the entire purpose of the field -- it was created as a place for kids with physical and developmental disabilities to play baseball safely. The rubberized field has its bases and pitching rubber flush with the surface. There's nothing that can cause a child using a walker, canes, crutches or braces to trip and fall. To do a repair that creates seams defeats the purpose of what the field was built to do.

Believe me, we don't like having to do this, to spend all the money when we have other needs that these funds could help meet. But we've gone around and around with this problem since we discovered it in May, and we are always led to the same conclusion: We have to replace the entire red/brown rubber in the infield in order for it to be safe. That's $60,000, any way you slice it.

There are two videos available at this link. Click on the thumbnail photos to see them.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/money/consum...-miracle-field

**Whitehouse** · September-17-11, 04:59 PM

Okay, that's a good and thorough explanation.Thanks.

**Vic_doucette** · September-17-11, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

I heard that today also. I agree with your suggestion, these kids need a way to exercise their responsibility for this outrage.

Gazhekwe, check your inbox for a private message.

**Vic_doucette** · September-18-11, 02:10 PM

A story from the South Oakland Eccentric that includes an interview with the league President, Steve Peck. His thoughts generally mirror mine.

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/...th%20Oakland|s