But not due to budget cuts, due to their services needed elsewhere. However, since graffiti can be considered a gateway crime, wouldn't it be better to keep these officers where they are so the workload doesn't get heavier?

To read the full article, click here!

I was able to speak to this little town's one and only graffiti officer at the Portland Anti-Graffiti Summit that was held last week. He told me that even though his city is small (12,000 people) they have a huge gang problem and thus a huge graffiti vandalism problem.

To read the full article, click here!

Got a question? Have a story to share?  Contact us anytime! Call, email,  write a letter, send out the pony express or a smoke  signal, whatever 
it takes. We are the graffiti abatement pro's. Check out  our Twitter 
and Facebook pages too!

It's nice to see a young person interested in improving their community!

To read the full story, click here!

Got a question? Have a story to share?  Contact us anytime! Call, email,  write a letter, send out the pony express or a smoke  signal, whatever 
it takes. We are the graffiti abatement pro's. Check out  our Twitter 
and Facebook pages too!

Did you know that graffiti vandalism is considered a "gateway crime"? Statistics show that vandals rarely just sticks to graffiti vandalism. They "graduate" to petty theft then go from there. In a recent meeting with a major metropolitan police department, the majority (over 75%) of their 2013 arrests for graffiti vandalism have had prior arrests. This list includes:

Assisting in a criminal street gang
Trafficking ID's/Persons
Possession of marijuana
Aggravated assault
Burglary
Criminal damage
Shoplifting
Stolen vehicle
Trespass
Armed Robbery
Underage drinking
Misconduct involving weapons


Got a question? Have a story to share?  Contact us anytime! Call, email,  write a letter, send out the pony express or a smoke  signal, whatever 
it takes. We are the graffiti abatement pro's. Check out  our Twitter 
and Facebook pages too!

That and and being persistent with your own clean-up can drive away graffiti vandalism

To read the full article, click here!

Got a question? Have a story to share?  Contact us anytime! Call, email,  write a letter, send out the pony express or a smoke  signal, whatever 
it takes. We are the graffiti abatement pro's. Check out  our Twitter 
and Facebook pages too!

I wanted to share an email we received this morning from Germany, as well as my response. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and some like to try and justify why they participate in "graffiti art".

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
my name is Alex and i am from Germany. I have got a few questions to you about street art and your idea to stop this.
I can´t understand how all the people can live in a system "Capitalism & Materialism" called Democracy , where the People are Consumers and no Humans. If you walk through a city, everywhere are advertisments who shout at you with some huge pieces "BUY THIS AND YOU BECOME HAPPY" or "WITH NIKES YOU ARE SO COOL". This massages are everywhere and they wash your brain. You get this massages all over the day and after some time you start beleaving this shit. Totally legal.
And then there are some people who paint on public places the pieces like "Nikes doesn´t make you cool and they support child labour" and you get arrested by law. You think this is okay?
Only because this people want to have a voice in a human city and that they havent the money to buy 10 m² places to advertise?
Graffitis are just from Humans for Humans. They colour up this grey world, they make people think and turn a smile on their (most of all) faces.
I agree that painting on churches or private builings is shit but on public places it should be allowed. We as citizens pay for those public places and so i think we should have the right to paint our opinion.

It would be great to get an answer,
Greetings from Germany!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good morning Alex,

You're question is a valid one, although very complex. There is a big difference between "street art" and vandalism. Yes, big major companies bombard society with their billboards saying to buy this and that. The money they spend on these ads goes back into the economy as well as the people that go out and buy the products they are selling. The people that voice their opinion against slave labor, political injustice, etc actually take money out of the economy. The people that pay taxes have to pay to clean it up. Fewer people move to areas where there is graffiti because it sends the message that it is unsafe and therefore, an undesirable place to live. Fewer residents means fewer property tax dollars. 

Not everyone likes to see the "art" as you describe. Art is very subjective. What is beautiful to you may not be to me. If someone wanted to share their "art", then it would best be done in a legal way. Please understand, we are not opposed to the graffiti style of art. Just of it is done illegally. 

We would love to see, in every city, an urban art program or rotating gallery for artists to showcase their work. So graffiti vandalism would not be so prevalent. Or better yet, see a "graffiti artist" open his/her own gallery and offer space to budding artists so they would not feel the need to vandalize public buildings.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Nelson

Public Relations & Membership
Stop Urban Blight - 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization

Finally, the 2012 Graffiti Fighter Resource Guide is here! Hot off the presses. We will be sending a link to our registered graffiti fighters as well as a hard copy. If you are interested in receiving a copy. Click on the "2012 Graffiti Fighters Magazine" tab on the left.