arrests Two local artists, Geddes Paulsen and Maggie Salesman, were brought up on charges by Kingston police on November 9. Each was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and making graffiti, a misdemeanor. The charges can bring up to four years' prison time. Salesman confessed after being confronted with security camera footage which was recorded from an undisclosed location. She was released on an appearance ticket. Despite the confession, police were not able to determine the significance of the numbers which were painted on the goats. Paulsen, who owned a tattoo parlor on Wall Street, praised the "Red Goat Vandal". He said he had tattooed seven red goats at a cost of $37 each. One of the tattoos, which Paulsen posted on his Facebook page, was said to be similar to the original design. Reactions The stenciled goats were deemed graffiti by critics, including project planners and some local business owners. Kingston Mayor James Sottile characterized the goats as defacement, and expressed hopes that the "suspects be ordered to remove all graffiti from the city with a toothbrush should be they convicted". Before the suspects were arrested, alderman Tom Hoffay likened the goats to gang graffiti, telling one area newspaper, "Bloods, Crips, goats – it's all the same." Hoffay further speculated that the goats were painted by people opposed to the controversial Pike Plan, which called for the restoration of canopies which opponents wished to have removed. One such opponent, Eric Francis Coppolino, called the remarks "inappropriate" and said that referring to the goats as "a political statement is an overreach." The suspects were later said to have been motivated by boredom. Some residents advocated preserving the goats, likening them to officially sanctioned public art projects in other municipalities. Local business owners collected some 50 signatures on a petition to preserve the goats as a permanent installation. The goats became the subject of a Facebook page, tattoos, and a drink special; one area business owner placed the stencil on his store's facade. Several products with the red goat icon were made available for purchase in a shop on the web site Etsy. In an editorial, the Daily Freeman said, "[W]e lean toward the opinion of the community members who have wondered how funny those inclined to defend the act would think it if the targets had been their cars or homes." Of the goats themselves, however, the editorial stated: