P.S. 81 gates should be locked at night

To the editor.

When you leave your car parked at night, you close the doors and lock them. When you go home at night, you close your door and lock it. If you leave the doors open, you are inviting robbers and vandals to trespass and steal.

As long as the gates at P.S. 81 remain open when the sun goes down, they will be inviting these vandals and hoodlums.

During the day, let the kids play. Let’s say this again: during the day, let the kids play!

But, as soon as it’s dark the gates should be locked. There will be a very small number of troublemakers who will try to climb over the gates and get in.

If the police check, then they will have nowhere to run. Warn them first, take them to their parents next. Maybe summons them if they are there a third time. After all, they are trespassing.

Organized programs are not going to attract this crowd. Come on, will they give up smoking, drinking and making out for chaperoned games of parcheesi and backgammon?  What do you think?

Where should they go?  Where should they go to spray paint and break bottles? How about on their block or in front of their parents’ house? 

 How about just behaving?

 Hmmmm, you better lock the gates.

Name Withheld