It is reprehensible that signs supporting ones choice for political office are stolen or destroyed. This cowardly action goes against the very right of free speech that we, unlike many others in the world, hold so dear.

But if I may, I wish to add one thing about the signs that now overpopulate our roads: please, please remove them by November 5, once the elections are over. After that, they become litter on the side of the road.

Just so Ms Ayala doesn't feel that the vandalism of her Obama sign was some concerted effort by a "vast right wing conspiricy", she may find comfort in knowing that the same has happened to my McCain sign in front of my house in the Village...twice. Kids will be kids and it's Halloween season.

Jim Lawless

Hi,

I live on Rt218 in the Village and have ordered 4 Obama lawn signs, but they are on backorder. While this is encouraging I was wondering, would anyone know of an extra sign that I could temporarily have until mine come in. Also, I ordered extra, so when they come in if anyone wants one. My number is (914) 456-7307

As an aside to Mr Lawless, one of my neighbors had their sign vandalized and we are kind of out of the way of most nightime pedestrian traffic ... conspiracy no, rude people yes

The Obama sign always securely taped to the fence on my (private) property has been vandalized FOUR (4) times since it was put up for the primary in February. Last spring, a can of Royal Palm (afro) Hair Dressing was tossed on the ground right in front of it. Later, the sign was torn down and found on my neighbor's front lawn. The third time it simply disappeared. Most recently, half of it was ripped from the fence, while the John Hall sign in the ground right next to it, as well as the other two non-Obama signs on my property, went untouched.

Whatever one might conclude about the middle two incidents, the first and last are obviously racially motivated -- and they are reprehensible. While the crimes on my property may not be evidence of a "right-wing conspiracy," they pretty clearly show a racial intolerance that stains our entire community.

No matter whom you support in this political season, there is no room for vandalizing anybody's political signs, whether on public or especially on private property.

But this is worse than that -- much worse. And let's not be so quick to just "blame it on the kids." First, there just aren't that many kids out at my end of the village. But, even if kids are the ones responsible, let those who have taught them their manners take some responsibility.

This is Cornwall, not Selma or Birmingham. I would hope our community would be better than this. And speak out in one voice against it.

To be honest I'd like to see EVERY sign disappear. They are a complete eyesore and won't change anyone's mind on who they will vote for. I'd love to see a law enacted to rid us of ALL political signs.

It's a good point, Stephan, but politics often is about name recognition, and parties learned long ago that lawn signs help that. That's why you always see the signs before election time.

This time, though, it's also about change. And, for those few who still harbor racial prejudice, one of the changes we need here is to leave that on the ash pile of history, once and for all.

The First Amendment protects one?s right to install a political sign on the lawn, display a bumper sticker on the car, and wear a T-shirt, cap or button conveying a message. It also enables us to air our opinions on this website. Enacting a law to ban political signs would contradict the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights.

Actually, Stephan, P. Welch called for just such a law in the post just above yours.

So you might want to holster your itchy keyboard finger!

I have a feeling some here should reread their Bill of Rights. The First Amendment mentions NOTHING about communities being inundated with political signs. "Freedom of Speech" a part of the First Amendment is widely open to interpretation but I am quite certain all these ugly signs were NOT what our founding fathers had in mind when they wrote it. These signs are an ugly eyesore and end up as trash in the streets and are never taken down immediately after the elections are over. Those are facts. A beautiful Fall Day and everywhere one travels political signs are scattered everywhere. Yes a community CAN enact laws prohibiting signs on private property. Its been done and ther are plenty of case laws to back this up.

Yes those Golden Arches are ugly too but they are Commercial signs and like OUR political signs if they are of proper size and placement communities allow them. I still hate them. To get so upset at high school shenanigans over signs disappearing is a little much. Would we really charge someone with petty larceny for walking away with a political sign. Most judges may side with signs being part of our freedom of speech but many like myself see them as an eyesore. So would our founding fathers.

What it all comes down to is this - its your property and no one should come on it to distroy or tear down anything. As for it being kids or were they adults? Either way shame on them. However, I do agree take those sgns down on November 5th.

Hi, Lana

Kids used to cut through my property all the time. I never gave it a second thought. Now I have my property fenced because I have a dog. I just think people are being overly sensitive over a political sign. There was a retired Military Person ready to prefer charges against the person who took his sign. I believe that is a little much. We all need to lighten up a bit re: these political signs. Yes I do hate ALL of them as I consider them an eyesore in our beautiful village. Can't wait till they come down.