Time to Revisit the Graffiti Problem
On my way to work this morning, crossing South on the Rock Island Trail, I glanced west and happened to see a large gang-related tag covering the side of a building on the south side of the street.
The new incident was covering an area that, as late as last week, bore the mark of a different gang, but was recently painted over by the building owner. The new markings, I learned as I rode over to check it out, covered not only the painted-over section of the building originally hit, but several other buildings in the area as well, including the strip mall housing Caffe Italia on the other side of Winthrop Road.
As I travel around the city, I've been trying to document incidents of graffiti as I see them. I've seen them in all parts of town, and despite the recently enacted ordinance, they don't seem to be slowing.
Before this problem gets more out of control, I think it's time for the city to take a more aggressive stance. This is essentially a public safety issue, if we can agree that gang activity in town is a matter of public safety. Some cities, like San Francisco, have designated graffiti abatement offices to manage cases of graffiti, taking direct action in cases affecting public property and informing property owners and appropriate agencies in cases on private property. In Lincoln currently, this is handled by the city ombudsman, Lin Quenzer, who has other duties as well. As it stands property owners have 15 days to abate graffiti on their property, but experts suggest retagging is far less likely if the graffiti is removed within 24 hours.
Of course, funding is a problem along with compliance. As a community, we will need to be creative and tough-minded to be able to find the money necessary to clean-up after these attacks of vandalism in an effective and comprehensive way. I have some ideas, but I don't have all the answers. It's time for another round of (emergency) brainstorming with Public Works, the police department, lawmakers, and property owners around the table.
We need to make these human roaches take their territorial pissings somewhere else.
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