Hudson's Bay Neighborhood Association

What We Can Do About Graffiti

May 13, 2008

Graffiti detracts from safe, enjoyable neighborhoods. It degrades the physical and built environments of communities. The longer graffiti stays, the more it ?“grows?” and leads to increased vandalism and other criminal activities. But we can all do something to keep it out of our wonderful Hudson?’s Bay Neighborhood.

Efforts are underway by the City to create a comprehensive approach to the issue of graffiti vandalism. A multi-departmental Graffiti Task Force has been established to determine how current graffiti prevention and abatement efforts can be improved.

Methods being used include:
*Improved internal reporting system and database
* Requests for voluntary compliance from businesses to restrict access to graffiti materials and not sell graffiti materials to persons under the age of 18
* Neighborhood Police Officers will be talking with neighborhoods and businesses on the proper way to report graffiti; our officer Duane Boynton can be reached at (360) 487-7359
* School Resource Officers will work to educate students and school districts about the issue.

What can we ?– in our neighborhoods ?– do? Graffiti often goes unreported and as a result, at this time the City does not have valid statistics on the number of incidents of graffiti. The City is relying on residents and business owners to diligently report every graffiti act they notice as soon as possible. They need to know where it is happening and its frequency in order to address it effectively.
Not only is it important to report it, there is a process for doing so. When you observe an incident of graffiti, please follow the three Rs: REPORT, RECORD AND REMOVE. When you see a crime in progress or if you have information about a suspect, call 911. Otherwise, please report graffiti to your appropriate police precinct. Our precinct, West Precinct, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 487-7355 or go online to http://vanpolice.org to file a crime report of a graffiti incident.
It is then important to record the graffiti if you can. Recording is simply taking a picture and noting the date, time and location of the graffiti. This information should be included in the report given to the police. If graffiti appears on private property, the property owner should attempt to remove it within 24 hours if possible. The most common methods of removal are ?“paint over?”, washing with water and cleaners, and pressure washing.

By working together, the neighborhoods and the City can reduce the amount of graffiti, expedite the removal of graffiti and improve tracking of graffiti incidents. Thanks for pitching in and doing your part!