Reacting to a news report that an Ecko associate Alain Mariduena, 36, was busted yesterday for allegedly tagging subway cars with spray paint, Vallone renewed his fight with the hiphop designer.
"Maybe this guy was showing off what he learned at his boss's fake subway car graffiti fest. It's clear that neither Mark Ecko nor his associates care about the difference between real art and vandalism. We can see the writing on the wall, or should I say subway: all Mark Ecko cares about is promoting criminal behavior for commercial profit," Vallone said. "Now we know why Ecko's attorney spends so much effort trying to keep graffiti tools on the street: so he can make money defending kids when they are arrested for using them."
Ecko and Vallone are arch-enemies.
Back in August 2005, Vallone railed at Ecko’s “graffiti block party” that allowed folks to tag fake subway cars in Manhattan.
Ecko, real name Mark Milecofsky, repaid the favor. Last April he paid the legal of fees of seven teens who sued the city over a law than banned possession of markers by people under 21. That law was sponsored by Vallone. The kids won.
And what entry would be complete without a mention of either Ecko’s oversized fashions or lame videogames, or Vallone’s political ambitions since he is term-limited out of the City Council. It’s all for the publicity folks.
-- Chuck Bennett
Photo from Ecko’s graffiti party via Kings of New York
