Clock vandals tick off downtown merchants
Business owners say repairs time consuming, costly
It’s time to stop the vandalism of the Downtown Auburn clocktower, a local business owner says. Ben Asgharzadeh, owner of The Golden Swann Jewelers in Downtown Auburn, is pleading with clock vandals to stop destroying a local fixture. Asgharzadeh said the tower is vandalized on a daily basis. He said the clock hands are purposefully moved forward, which damages the motor and bends the hands. Asgharzadeh volunteers his time to repair the clock each time. “I took her apart last night and I worked until almost 10 o’clock at night,” Asgharzadeh said Thursday. Asgharzadeh believes the vandals have anonymously called his shop before. He said he’s fielded calls from angry males using foul language as they criticize Asgharzadeh and the clock, saying, “It’s good for the junk yard.” Asgharzadeh said he is evaluating whether to purchase surveillance cameras for the clock area or a type of Plexiglas cover. He said he is comparing prices to see which option will cost less. Last year, local business owners and community members rallied to raise about $15,000 to restore the clock’s motors and its chiming sound. Jason Lee, who owns Lee Photo and is a member of the Downtown Auburn Business Association, said it’s a shame that someone is vandalizing the clock. He said he knows the Auburn Police Department has made “many good attempts to try and watch (the clock), but they can’t watch everything all the time.” “I think that as a community the people who are vandalizing it should all out stop,” Lee said. “They need to show some pride for their community. To vandalize the clock is just disrespectful.” Asgharzadeh said he encourages the vandals to come talk to him or other merchants to hash out any differences. “Vandalizing is not going to solve any problem except now every merchant has to come up with a little money,” Asgharzadeh said. “Under this tight situation at this time, nobody has the money to maintain it — please just stop doing this.” The Journal’s Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.
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hmmm, does it chime all night? If it does, my guess would be that it isnt a vandal, but rather a very close neighbor that is kept awake? Just a guess. Maybe try turning off the chimes for a week and see what happens?
I concur, please stop vandalizing this work of art.
Maybe the Auburn Journal could do a survey to see what people think about the clock?
Thank you, Mr. Asgharzadeh, for doing a very frustrating and thankless job. It is a beautiful clock and you are saving the community money by giving so much of your time.
To The person(s) involved- what is the problem? why do you do this? Maybe if you explained yourself instead of damaging property a solution could be found. Mr. Asgharzadeh. Mr Lee, and others are willing to talk. They are responding with a kind offer.
Time to quit pussy-footing around with the clock vandal(s). Install a camera, nail the criminal(s), and get on with it.
Continual pleading with anonymous vandal(s) to stop being bad is pathetic. Apprehend and punish. Do it. Now!
I just hope the next vandal that scales the clock at night falls off & breaks his/her neck.
bad steelybob !
Then they'd sue the city for damages.
How about a bug zapper ?
have a web cam on the clock and record, there used to be one across the street and put some constantine wire around the thing!
CanyonRat: Bug zapper is a great idea--it would be effective as well as an aptly named solution--it would probably still make them fall off though.
To Raiderdave 7
It is painfully obvious that you have no information on the Clock Tower. So here is your education. The Clock Chimes stop at 8P.M
and don't come on until 9 A.M. Also the chimes are turned down so low that you can only here them when you are at the clock Tower. Many people in Downtown would like to see the chimes louder so they can be heard through the district - alas we have people like you in Downtown that makes that impossible. I would like to know who sleeps past 9A.M?
Vandals, regardless of their motive, are lawbreakers and jerks. If you want something changed, follow the proper procedures. I work two blocks from the clocktower and cannot hear it unless I am out walking. Ben's comment on the hours of operation of the chimes makes it clear that the vandal cannot, and should not, be sided with.
Replace the chime with a tazer. Ya know? The spark of midnight?
fuhrsg: I like the tazer suggestion--these ideas just keep getting better.
M.R. ex21--no I don't blame Bush for this one--just for starting an unjustified war where 10s of thousands have died.
Thank you Ben for your service to the community. We love the clock tower, the roses, the sitting area. It's one of the defining features of our downtown. Vandals: get a life. A webcam would nail these idiots.
to Benasgharzadeh, I made no statement about my personel opinion of the clock. I also stated I didnt know If they chimed at night. I am all for the clock. I too am tired of the vandalizm. I was only starting the brainstorm that needs to take place to find a solution to this problem. Chill, if I liked heights better I would help you fix it!
auburnlite: that would be CONCERTINA wire, not constantine
I almost hate to say it, but... I agree with Lant on this one.
He said he’s fielded calls from angry males using foul language as they criticize Asgharzadeh and the clock, saying, “It’s good for the junk yard Hmmm! Could it be that the Clock Tower is somehow impeding the stree scape project. The people behind the street scape are definitely of the rogue element enough to be doing this.
rabidog - uh, that's not what you have said on numerous occasions, some of us pay attention to things like that, puppy, is this a change of heart, or sarcasm, or CYA? Just kidding on the cya part :)
vandal(s) let it be known, you will be caught, and you will be publicly humiliated, and you will pay fines and if you don't have a record of lawbreaking you will have one, which isn't so great to have in this economy. My suggestion would be to invest in some ear plugs if that is the problem, it's a lot cheaper.
ChuxxR if you are right, that would put the entire project in question for me, even if it is a rogue element as you state, so I hope you are wrong.
Hi CHxxR
It is not the people from the Streetscape it is truley a vandal. The City and Streetscape are helping us a lot.
Thanks to all of you for your positive comments it relly helps with the spirit.
Thanks Ben
Ben, set up the camera already.
BTW, thanks for your time and effort.
Ben, I am not siding with vandals, but some people do work different shifts, 3-11 or 11-7. Those people might sleep past 9AM. They aren't lazy, just tired. Install a camera, it will save $$ in the long run.
security camera. problem solved.
Is it possible it could be birds? Or raccoons?
birds? that is halarious, but good call. I say put up the camera...and if it tunrs out to be the birds, put it on america's funniest home video's. ha ha. But most likely it's some idiot teenager thinking they are cool.
Action. Camera.