Graffiti is illegal. Graffiti creates damage and defaces both public and private property. It’s unwanted and needs to be painted over and removed.
In today’s world, all graffiti ends up damaging property. There’s no style. Artistic statements can reach more people via Facebook than spray painting a local bridge or private or public property, so what’s the point?
Private citizens are leading the charge to clean up and paint out the areas around Hilltop in Tacoma, but of course this is just one small area. It began by picking up and bagging trash as well as handing out sandwiches, and first aid kits provided by St. Vinnies. St. Vinnies is always interested in helping people with assistance if they can. Others have joined the movement to provide pick up bagged garbage for the Tacoma Landfill.
Graffiti is a problem all over Pierce County it is far worse than just a single area. We are not alone. I love this statement from a Seattle resident, “99% of the graffiti is not the least bit creative. I mean seriously, nobody is impressed when people write their stupid nickname in slanty or bubble letters. It looks like crap from a the margin of a 12 year old’s notebook.”
Graffiti is a Crime
“It is costly and destructive and sends a message that the community is not concerned about the appearance of its neighborhoods. It generates neighborhood fear, causes instability, signals an increase in crime, lowers property values, hurts business revenue, is economically detrimental to the City, and is a sign of urban decay. To report graffiti in progress call 911. To report graffiti that needs to be cleaned up call (253) 591-5000 or 311 inside the City.”
For more information about graffiti as a crime in Tacoma and the Graffiti Rapid Removal Program click here.
Lakewood has a juvenile Graffiti Clean-Up program.
Puyallup has a Graffiti Eradication Team.
Graffiti has nothing to do with our artful murals in Tacoma and Puyallup and other locations. Here’s another comment from a concerned citizen, “Yeah, in the Tacoma area it’s getting really bad too. What sucks is they’re spray painting over our nice murals.”
The problem is even noted at the JBLM Skate Plaza, “No graffiti, tagging or other damage to property will be allowed.”
Let’s all join together.
Don Doman,
A comment from the East. Good article on an important subject.
Joseph Boyle –
I applaud your attempt to stop this crime, however, I also believe it will be like littering, or vocabulary jargon, and fashion styles, and continue even though it is not wanted or warranted. I think it stems from inner conscience and integrity, maybe even family values, and the individuals that participate in these actions have none of these characteristics. Good luck though.
Tagging is part of graffiti. And there are a lot of graffiti artists out there who do amazingly beautiful stuff with murals. The artful graffiti of murals is legal because a wall was given to an artist. Wild tagging is illegal, destructive, and ugly. The trouble is that it paints the expression of an “I want to be seen”, often under dangerous conditions. It’s a cry for attention, a sign of an inferiority complex that breaks itself a way into illegal action. If those taggers could be found and given a place to express themselves freely, legally, and if they found the care they need, we might solve the problem.
Gangs marking their territory. Not going away anytime soon despite your denegration.