It's no secret that Troy has made great strides toward improving its vitality. Among these great efforts are the numerous statue portrayals of Uncle Sam. I was upset to read that some had been beheaded. The beautiful statues are a wonderful symbol of the pride and spirit of Troy and a great addition to the city streets.
As a frequent customer of the small businesses throughout Troy, including Francesca's Cafe on Broadway where one of the beheaded statues is located, I appreciate the attention the statues help bring to the businesses. It's so important to keep small businesses busy since they contribute so much, like diversity and freshness, to Troy's culture. Without the businesses, Troy would definitely lose some of its luster.
Such a senseless crime is shameful. The artist of the piece outside Francesca's Cafe, Christopher Harvey, and all of the talented artists have completed beautiful work and I can't imagine the time and energy put into each piece. Whoever committed these crimes obviously isn't concerned with their efforts.
I truly hope the crimes can be resolved and serve as a precedent against further vandalism of the statues. Such beautiful symbols should be celebrated and safe. I commend the owners of Francesca's Cafe for taking action and offering a bounty to whomever finds the culprit. The vitality of Troy will not be threatened by such petty and tasteless crime.
Chelsea Mullen
Averill Park