SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A Sioux Falls teenager made national news Monday all because he vandalized city property.
But a lot of people didn’t see it as vandalism, and neither did Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken.
The vandalism was graffiti that was painted by 18-year-old Jaden Brunz.
Brunz’s story appeared this morning on CBS, not because of the crime, but rather because of the second chance Brunz received.
CBS’s David Begnaud did the story on 18-year-old Jaden Brunz, who was charged and fined $700 for painting graffiti in one of the city’s tunnels along the bike path.
When it was reported to Sioux Falls mayor Paul Tenhaken, who is a graphic designer himself, TenHaken decided to turn a negative into a positive.
“As an art guy as a mayor I’m probably supposed to be mad about that, but I was just impressed,” Tenhaken said.
So impressed, Tenhaken decided to meet with Brunz at his office.
But instead of scolding him, TenHaken commissioned Brunz to do a piece of artwork and paid him $800 for it, which was more than enough to cover the fine.
Begnaud’s story highlighted a young man who did something wrong, but thanks to the mayor, was given a second chance.
Brunz, watched the story this morning.
“I liked it, it’s really cool,” Brunz said.
And says he’s grateful for how the mayor reacted.
“I really felt his heart, the way he’s given me this whole experience without him helping me out, I would have just gotten charged and paid the money, I don’t think anything good would have come out of this,” Brunz said.
Brunz’s story was seen by millions of people on CBS Mornings and both he and TenHaken were invited to sit down interview following the story.
Brunz says he’s a little shocked at all the attention he’s now getting.
“I know my Instagram started blowing up already, I don’t know what happened,” Brunz said.
And it’s all because the mayor saw a good kid, who just needed some other place than a city tunnel to channel his artistic ability.
Brunz says the mayor’s actions are a simple lesson we should all try to live by.
“Number one golden rule, treat everybody how you want to be treated you’ll feel a lot better and everyone else will feel better it’ll be a better world,” Brunz said.
Brunz has already been commissioned by a school to paint some artwork in a hallway.
The mayor says he’s now looking at getting a place where artists can display their work in public without fear of being charged or fined.
If you’d like to watch Begnaud’s story click here.
