Camp LaGuardia plays at being terrorist compound
BLOOMING GROVE — A military enthusiast romped around the neighborhood last weekend blasting an ear-piercing song that went something like this: "Kill kill kill! Dance with the devil! Kill kill kill!"
He belonged to a band of fellows who recreated the conditions of modern warfare on the former Camp La Guardia campus in Chester, according to announcements Friday from the Blooming Grove Police and the county executive's office. The police said they wanted to inform the public "to avoid public confusion in regards to the expected large presence of military style vehicles and uniforms."
At the end of the weekend, producer John Lu and his company, Best of USA Marketing & Productions, left the gate to the deteriorating campus — which is strewn with broken glass and other hazards — gaping open.
The county-owned property served as the set for a video game, Operation Lion Claws military simulation series and video training exercise.
A surprise visit
Few people seemed to know "Operation Shahrazad" was coming. Town of Chester Supervisor Steve Neuhaus said Friday he'd heard something about it but didn't have details.
Chester Councilman Alex Jamieson posted on The Chronicle's website Wednesday that "the Town of Chester had nothing to do with this and did not benefit in any way....This story was new to me."
The abandoned outbuildings of the former shelter for homeless New Yorkers were cast as the sprawling compound of a radical terrorist during the weekend. The police said the participants would be using Airsoft weapons that look like real military-style weapons.
"They produce almost no noise and use a bio degradable BB that will not harm the environment," the police said.
They said they expected about 200 participants dressed like United States military forces units and like Al-Qaeda operatives, and that they might use military-style vehicles, like Humvees.
It wasn't until the first day of the event that the county executive's office sent out a notification, explaining that it would "increase the county’s profile as a film and production destination."
Last spring the Orange County Arts Council launched the Orange County NY Film Office to support that initiative, the county's press release said. The county "partnered" with the film office to make the county-owned property available, the release said.
Approximately 200 people were expected to participate. The county executive's office said the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County 911, and Towns of Chester and Blooming Grove Police Departments "were advised of the activity."
"Participants in the production will be patronizing area hotels, restaurants, and services," the county executive's release said. "The production company will clean the location before vacating the premises on Sunday."
Police said the company was to provide its own security at the gate, and that complaints should be directed to the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Goshen at 291-4033.
Pros and cons
Over the weekend, Chronicle readers puzzled over the pitfalls and benefits of renting the campus for this sort of filming.
"The event has pros and cons," MAS posted on The Chronicle's website (www.chroniclenewspaper.com). "Is it entertainment or offensive? Maybe both depending on how you look at it. However, traffic pro brings people to area to shop and help local economy. Traffic and noise cons obvious. Questions, how much more damage will happen to camp LaGuardia? Can we find ways to make revenue on use of property?"
Carlos Danger asked: "Do these people have a right to their hobby as much as anybody else? Can you or anybody else pay to rent this county property? Does a rental of publicly owned property equate to support of any organization?"
Mike Hunt asked: "Aside from this event portraying more current events, is this any different from a civil war reenactment? While I understand how this could be offensive to those who have served our country...."