Removal of graffiti is a fact of life
for commercial property owners in cities large and small.
Many find their buildings spray painted and spend between hundreds and
thousands of dollars to have the graffiti removed – using methods
ranging from power-washing to repainting – only to be tagged again days
later.
In major cities owners are required
by law to remove illegal markings. Failure to do so often results in
fines or action to remove the graffiti by city workers; the cost is then
typically billed back to building owners in the form of property tax
surcharges. These
requirements leave many commercial property owners feeling doubly
victimize.
Graffiti Crime can occur anywhere the opportunity exists. Some of the more popular targets include:
Public and private buildings
Parks and recreation facilities
Public transit vehicles, stations and shelters
Public telephone booths
Railway cars
Bridges and overpasses
Why should you care?
Graffiti crime can effect your community in many ways, including:
Higher taxes for clean-up
Lower property values
Heightened fear of crime
Cancellation or reduction of education and recreation program
Removal is Important
Graffiti that is not removed indicates that no one cares about the state of the community. A clear message must be sent to those responsible that this type of activity will not be tolerated. The most effective method of deterring Graffiti Crime is removal within 24 hours.
Immediate Removal
Timely graffiti removal will help stop the spread and re-occurrence of graffiti. Graffiti writers will not waste their time or materials and are unlikely to return to locations that do not offer a good return for their efforts.
The challenge isn't lost on city
officials who attempt to balance the need for quick removal of graffiti
with an understanding of the huge repeated costs for building owners.
It's why the approach to managing vandalism across the country is
changing. Many say it's having a positive impact on both incident
reduction and community building efforts.
Cities are starting to introduce comprehensive graffiti
management plans, which combine graffiti removal a central tactic in the plan because vandals are
far less likely to hit a wall multiple times if they know their work
will be promptly deleted with prevention, largely through youth and
community outreach programs.
How You Can Help
Community clean up days have become a popular way for people to get together and help clean up the graffiti in their area. Teaming up with your friends and neighbors, a few local businesses, and if possible a company that sells safe removal options like EZ Strip you can clean up a whole community in a few hours for a few dollars!
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