Unpopular New Castle ordinance answered with vandalism

Streaks of blue were all the petty political revenge a vandal could muster in New Castle on Monday.

Or so think the owners of two historic homes tagged with paint in the hours that followed a raucous City Council meeting about a parking ordinance. The homeowners, both councilwomen, are two of the four who voted in favor of the ordinance that establishes a procedure for creating more parking in the historic district.

The ordinance drew harsh criticism from community members in attendance, and police were called during the meeting.

Councilwoman Valarie Leary woke up Tuesday to find her white porch banister and red front door marked with blue spray paint. No vulgar words, no crude images — just ugly blue lines and splotches.

"It's going to be very costly. You can't patch paint this," she said, gesturing Tuesday afternoon to the streak of blue along the banister. "The whole thing has to be painted. I'll be glad when today is over."

Council President Linda Ratchford found the same ugly blue — and the same haphazard streaking — across parts of her home on The Strand. Doors, historic locks and shutters all were hit. 

"We're all neighbors. It's very concerning to me that there would be vandalism against my house after a council meeting," Ratchford said. "In a city like this, there's no need for someone to commit a criminal act against one of the elected officials."

New Castle police did not return calls for comment on Tuesday.

More:New Castle County forms park planning group

Some 80 people gathered for Monday's council meeting, and many were intent on shouting down Ordinance No. 510, which would pass later that evening by a vote of 4-1.

Ordinance No. 510 amended the city zoning code to allow construction of parking lots in any residential zoned district, the Historic Residence District and the Historic Commerce District only with the grant of a special exception from the Board of Adjustment. 

The board hears requests from property owners for variances from a variety of county laws and regulations. Passage of the ordinance means the council won't make the decisions about the building of future uncovered, ground level public or commercial parking lots.

The council has never made land use decisions in the past, Leary said.

A handful of restrictions were put in place, including barring multi-floor parking and chain-link fences. Positive aesthetic requirements also were built into the ordinance, such as those concerning plants.

More:Police: Woman hits another over prime Rehoboth parking spot

"Even though the ordinance itself was about a procedure, most people seemed to be very focused on a particular plot of land they're concerned parking may be built on," Leary said. 

Around town the opposition is visible in signage posted on utility poles and front lawns. Concern is focused on Third Street and the devaluation of property a parking lot there could bring.

The opponents' ire was evident during the council meeting.

"The reaction of the crowd was horrific. It was embarrassing. I've never seen anyone in council chambers react in that way. There was a lot of name calling, a lot of yelling. We had the police there," Leary said. "I had to call my husband and have him come walk me home."

Glenn Rill was yanking down anti-ordinance flyers from utility poles on The Strand Tuesday afternoon, including one posted across the street from Ratchford's house. Although an opponent of the ordinance himself, Rill was disgusted by the vandalism and the vitriol.

"I'm angry with anybody that would deface or do any kind of damage to anybody's property. People can have different opinions on what they think the future of New Castle should be," Rill said.

"I expected a few people to be grumbling after the meeting and the motion didn't go the way they wanted, but it got out of hand. I was looking in people's faces and I saw hate." 

New Castle's historic district lacks for parking, but Rill said he believes there are few places additional parking lots could be built that wouldn't damage property values. 

"My argument was we don't really need it, or making up a formal procedure like that makes it seem that's a normal thing that should happen," Rill said. 

He suggested the council should have a final approval over parking lot plans, as opposed to the political appointees on the Board of Adjustment. Alternatively, if there's a particular lot in mind for future construction, there could be a one-time exception to city code, he suggested.

Monday night's vandalism, Rill said, isn't going to win any political argument.

"This only hurts. It makes us look bad. I'm disgusted with it. I hope, whoever did it, that it was spur of the moment and they couldn't control their rage," Rill said. "I'd like to think they realize now that it was wrong, come forward and tell people they did it, they're sorry and they'll make reparations." 

Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2785.