For the second time in two years, some of the valley’s public roadways have been spray painted. This time the phrases “Let Levi Ride.com,” “Allez Vous,” and “Go Mario Go,” with hearts, have been spray painted in red and white on both sides of Baseline Avenue in Santa Ynez.

Amgem graffiti found on Baseline Avenue

 

The graffiti covers at least 20 feet of roadway. Because of the timing of the appearance as well as the messages painted on the street, the vandalism is thought to be associated with the 2007 Amgen Tour of California, which came to the valley in February.

“It’s a European cycling tradition to write words in chalk that has come over to this country,” said Laura Kath, media representative for the Amgen Tour of California Local Organizing Committee. “Those phrases are clearly related to the tour, those are both names of people who participated in the tour.”

 

Though Kath couldn’t answer whether the local committee would participate in cost sharing of the cleanup, both she and Carol Petersen, co-chair for the committee, said the organization would do what it could to help settle community concerns.

“We need to first know how to clean and repair the road,” Kath said.

The same thing happened on Ballard Canyon Road last year, Petersen said. So this time the committee bought chalk and made signs for both ends of Baseline Avenue, Alisal Road and Ballard Canyon Road, in the attempt to avoid permanent marking.

Petersen said she didn’t associate the marking with the word graffiti because she didn’t feel that it was done maliciously.

 

“They were just out there having a good time and didn’t have the good sense to notice that these are people’s roads,” she said. “We have bent over backwards to accommodate and address every problem and issue that could possibly come up during this bike ride and make it as easy as possible for the community.”

County officials could not be reached to ask whether the county would be removing the graffiti and the costs associated with cleanup, but Kath said she would be contacting everyone on the committee and county officials to see what could be done about the markings.

“Let’s get the ball rolling and see what can be done,” she said.

 

Petersen seconded Kath’s sentiment.

“We by no means are sticking our heads in the ground,” she said.

Petersen added that the committee welcomes any community concerns or complaints. To file a complaint contact Carol Petersen at (805) 688-8617.