WEST KITTANNING, Pa. — Several people, including three West Kittanning officials, have been victimized by vandals who spray-painted homophobic and obscene drawings and phrases onto their homes and garages.
According to Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE, Mayor James Sobiski's home on Southern Avenue, Council President Bob Venesky's home and garage on Arthur Street and auditor and council candidate Michael Kunselman's garage on Garfield Street were targeted.
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In addition, obscenities were painted on the Arthur Street home of Venesky's mother, Goldie, and borough volunteer Mickey Langham's Garfield Street house.
"I guess we must have really upset someone, and they wanted to make things personal," Sobiski told TribLIVE. "Somebody has some kind of a grudge against us."
The tamest of the messages were the phrase "gay pride" spelled incorrectly on Kunselman's garage and "got ya, fat (expletive)" on Sobiski's. The more graphic graffiti include vulgar slurs and inappropriate drawings.
"Somebody has it in for me and everyone involved," Sobiski told TribLIVE. "I'm definitely concerned for my home and property, but at this point, what can I do?"
The mayor told Channel 11’s Amy Marcinkiewicz that he thought this was about politics, but then learned innocent residents were tagged, too -- one of them a 90-year-old woman.
“I can’t believe it. It’s such a nice neighborhood,” Trina White said.
State police are investigating the incidents. No suspects have been identified.
“I want to know why,” Sobiski said.