Police/Neighborhood: No Gang Activity on Battle Hill Despite Graffiti Tags

Though graffiti tags have been spotted in the Battle Hill neighborhood, police and the Battle Hill Association don’t believe there is any true gang activity in the historical neighborhood.

“We do not believe that there are any organized gang issues in Battle Hill, as we have no recorded gang assaults or complaints in the area,” said White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong.

The tag “Locos 13” was drawn in blue spray paint on a wall outside a home on Battle Hill in late January. According to accuracyproject.org, Vatos Locos 13 is gang in the United States whose color is blue. Chong said that random graffiti does appear from time to time in the city. 

“It could be the start of something, which we do not believe to be the case—or more likely just someone passing through or a kid wannabe,” said Chong.

When graffiti does appear the City works with the property owners to remove it as soon as possible. Chong said that once it is removed it is rarely re-tagged, which is an indicator that there are no organized gangs since gangs usually re-tag or tag over another gang’s graffiti.

“With that being said, we are monitoring the situation, communicating with the community—our school resource officers are monitoring any gang indicators in the schools, which at this time there is none,” said Chong. “We will keep an eye on it, and of course take appropriate action if necessary.”

Jeanne Wilcox, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than two decades, said the Battle Hill Association doesn’t believe there are gangs in their neighborhood.

“Some people call it graffiti art, I call it graffiti vandalism,” said Wilcox, who works for the Food Bank of Westchester. “I feel bad for the poor guy who owns that wall and has to figure out how to get rid of it [graffiti]. That’s not nice, but kids do stupid things. That’s what they do.” 

Wilcox—who twice moved into the neighborhood where she has lived for about 21 years—said she and her husband Peter Wilcox, a realtor and artist, love their neighborhood and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. In 2007, Westchester Magazine named the Battle Hill neighborhood, also known as “The Hill” as one of six “Neat Under-the-Rader Neighborhoods.”

The historical neighborhood—where the Battle of White Plains took place—was cited it for its affordability, convenient distance to the train station and downtown, its diverse population, family friendliness and community mindedness.

“That’s how we think of ourselves,” said Wilcox, “You can buy a house at a decent price in a historical neighborhood and it’s a very nice neighborhood. We love living here.”

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