The validity of the message at the southern entrance to the city that Butler is a great place to live is going to be questioned if the vandalism spree that has afflicted the city for several weeks is not halted soon by way of arrests and stiff punishment.

The longer that the situation persists, the more apparent it is that residents of the city's various neighborhoods are going to have to become involved. They're going to have to accept the role of eyes and ears for the police at all hours and be willing to alert police quickly when they see suspicious goings-on.

An official neighborhood watch, where residents actually patrol the streets at night, might not be necessary; there are other means for people to observe what is going on.

Residents should not attempt to intervene or apprehend vandals. However, for their neighborhood's well-being — and for the city's — they must be willing to alert authorities in a timely fashion so police can apprehend the culprits.

It is to be hoped that if and when arrests are made, the courts aren't in a lenient mood and that the burden of restitution falls not only on the perpetrators, but if the vandals are minors, on their parents, who should have control over their children — but obviously don't.

Indeed, if the vandals are minors, where are the parents and what are they doing when the vandalism is going on?

Despite the school year still being in session, Butler over the past weeks has witnessed school-age children running the streets late at night, with their parents seemingly oblivious to their whereabouts, what they are doing and who they are with.

Unfortunately, vandalism isn't the only problem that the city is experiencing. There is careless, dangerous bicycle, scooter and skateboard riding on streets in some neighborhoods, particularly the west side of town.

There also is the troubling, and puzzling, penchant of some young people to walk out in front of moving traffic, forcing vehicles to slow down or stop, regardless of the traffic conditions — in effect daring vehicles to hit them.

And, no doubt the young people's parents would quickly retain a lawyer if their irresponsible children were to be injured by a motorist who was unable to stop in time. The driver's life might be turned upside down as the result of the need to defend himself or herself, as well as the psychological trauma that injuring someone — or worse — might inflict on the innocent motorist.

Summer 2008 is setting itself up to be a long one if the situation that is evolving is not brought to a halt. Perhaps part of the solution is for police to operate in unconventional undercover ways, as well as in their visible patrol fashion.

Butler Mayor Maggie Stock is the elected official in charge of the police department, although all other members of the city council have a vote on police matters. Stock and other council members should sit down with top police officials and formulate a plan of action for dealing with the troubling situation that is now in play — and getting worse.

Too many city residents already have had their vehicles' tires slashed, their vehicles scratched, their vehicles spray-painted or their vehicles egged. The damage already totals well over $10,000, based on published news articles.

No one who must use on-street parking can feel comfortable regarding their vehicles' safety, considering all that has happened this spring.

It's reasonable to assume that parental attention and supervision would go a long way toward reducing the number of incidents in the future, but the situation on the streets since the winter weather has retreated exhibits the specter of adults who don't care — and who think they have better things to do than exercise their parental responsibility to teach their children to be law-abiding and respectful to others and others' belongings.

If the city — its officials, police and residents — don't get their act together on behalf of the city's well-being, safety and reputation, that sign near the entrance of the General Richard Butler Bridge might just as well be revised to "Butler: Once a great place to live."

And as the old saying goes, it takes years to develop a good reputation, but a bad reputation grows quickly.

All of Butler needs to work at avoiding that fate.