Community pushes for permanent mural honoring 11-year-old killed in Longwood
The building's landlord tells News 12 that while he still needs to speak with his partners, he is probably against the mural because he does not think it would look good on the building.
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A community push is underway to paint a mural at the site where 11-year-old Kyhara Tay was caught in crossfire and killed while standing outside a nail salon in Longwood more than three years ago.
The intersection of Westchester Avenue and Fox Street has been co-named Kyhara Tay Way. It also features a large box filled with flowers, pictures and messages.
Crusaders for Children's Rights and the 41st Precinct Community Council believe this is not enough.
They say a mural on the side of 995 Westchester Ave. would help stand the test of time better and be more visible.
"It will be something like the Statue of Liberty, people will go on the train just to see it, instead of something that can be knocked down any minute," said Millie Colon, the president of the 41st Precinct Community Council, while gesturing to the current memorial area.
But the building's landlord tells News 12 that while he still needs to speak with his partners, he is probably against the mural because he does not think it would look good on the building.
"We hope and pray this landlord from this building will come around and understand how important this is to us," Colon said. "Khyara will not be forgotten. We will not let this go away like nothing."
If they are able to get it done, Colon and Heather Guerino, the co-founder of Crusaders for Children's Rights, say they would also want to try to tackle the other side of the building.
The doors and walls to the businesses are currently covered in graffiti. They say want to clean it up and have it replaced by other murals - painted by some of the children who either live near or go to school in the area.
"They would feel a sense of purpose. They would feel, 'You know what? I did that,'" explained Guerino.
She hopes that sense would foster a greater feeling of community and connection to the area, which could help reduce gun violence - a sense they believe could help reduce gun violence.
"We don't want Khyara's death to be in vain," Guerino said, "We want to send a message that, you know what, we need to be able to promote positivity within our community."
Both Guerino and Colon say real change will take investments in youth outreach in the area - but they do believe the murals could be an important first step.
