City Hall tags Dean for using graffiti

[stickdog]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/112999p-102044c.html

City Hall tags
Dean for using graffiti


By MICHAEL SAUL
and CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS


Presidential candidate Howard Dean speaks at rally Tuesday night at Bryant Park in front of wall he arranged to have decorated by New York graffiti painter.

City Hall sandblasted Howard Dean yesterday for making his presidential pitch in front a graffiti-covered backdrop at his Bryant Park rally.

A Mayor Bloomberg spokesman said it was outrageous for Dean to glorify graffiti after the city spent millions cleaning up the spray-painted scrawls of vandals who fancy themselves urban Vincent Van Goghs.

"It's unfortunate that Mr. Dean would promote and romanticize a form of vandalism, especially considering this city's success in eliminating this urban blight," said Ed Skyler, the mayor's press secretary.

Dean's campaign staff had a New York graffiti artist known as KEO paint the backdrop live in front of thousands who waited Tuesday night for the candidate to arrive.