A pervasive and multi-faceted phenomenon, graffiti afflicts citizens in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. The subculture of spray-can wielding taggers - explored last week in this article's first intsallment - continues to thrive despite the threat of fines and jail time.
However, in Beacon Hill, businesses and residents are taking proactive steps to combat the problem. Recently, the neighborhood's chamber of commerce secured a $5,000 grant from the city's office of economic development to jump-start an aggressive graffiti abatement program.
"For small business owners, [graffiti] can be very disruptive," Chamber president Jackie Lum asserted.
Local graffiti removal specialists Goodbye Graffiti were selected to carryout the program.
"Their focus is within the business core," said Lum. "It's a small part of the entire neighborhood, but a big part of what most people see."
The Beacon Hill based company employs techniques to remove graffiti on surfaces ranging from glass to brick walls. They also focus on educating business owners about long-term prevention measures.
Owner Laurie Rasmussen said her crew removes hundreds of tags a week from buildings all over Seattle. Based on her experience, Rasmussen believes quick and complete professional removal is the best way to lick the problem.
Lum couldn't be happier with the arrangement.
"The response has been positive," Lum said of the Chamber's efforts, named the Everclean Program, to work with property owners.
Before the program begins, Rasmussen's company will document graffiti in the area and obtain permission from building owners to remove it. Afterwards, they will perform a clean sweep to wipe out existing graffiti, followed by weekly check ups.
"In order to be successful you have to have a zero tolerance policy," noted Rasmussen. "The goal is to show kids that their tags aren't going to stay."
In order to continue with the program, the Beacon Hill chamber has secured additional support through a $1,000 Seattle Public Utilities grant for litter and graffiti clean up and a $450 donation from the Beacon Hill Branch of Verite Credit Union.
For Lum, the fight to stay on top of graffiti has only just begun.
"There is no such thing as a permanent solution," said Lum, who indicated that the Chamber will be continuing to raise funds to make their efforts a "long-term viable project."
Creative solutions
While citizens strive to keep graffiti in check, others are creating proactive solutions that address the taggers themselves.
Located on 4 Avenue South, Art Works primarily hires at-risk and adjudicated youths to create public art in the community. In the South End, participants have painted murals in South Park and at Rainier Beach and Garfield high schools.
Mike Peringer founded the program in 1996 as a graffiti prevention measure for the downtown SODO area. Since its inception, more than3,500 youths have participated in the program. Of these, Peringer feels 700-900 were most likely taggers actively involved in spreading graffiti throughout Seattle.
"We're the parole officers for these kids," Peringer said. "We show them there is a better way."
According to Peringer and other Art Works staff members, more than70 percent of the adjudicated youths they work with have not re-offended. Additionally, many return to volunteer their time and energy, and some former taggers have even gone on to art school, noted Peringer.
Making a difference
Though Art Works makes a difference for some, the problem won't go away, says Peringer.
For afflicted citizens, the city's graffiti prevention program, implemented by Seattle Public Utilities, recommends rapid removal as the best deterrent against graffiti vandals. Major cities across the United States and in Canada tout the effectiveness of this strategy.
"Our evidence shows that the more frequently and quickly it's painted out, the less likely it returns," stated S.P.U. program manager Vic Roberson.
Though they can't clean up graffiti on private property, they will support citizens in their efforts to remove it.
Among the resources provided are a graffiti hotline, grants for litter and graffiti removal in business districts and support for volunteers to help remove graffiti in their neighborhoods, including annual paint-outs gatherings used to rally volunteers to help clean pervasive graffiti on buildings neglected by property owners in their neighborhoods.
Anthony Matlock, the program's graffiti community liaison, helps citizens by offering training, technical assistance and recycled paint.
"This is not a victimless crime," asserted Matlock. "Most people do not want this [in their neighborhoods]."
Amie Patao, chair of the North Beacon Hill Council, has been organizing quarterly graffiti paint-outs since she tapped into the city's program two years ago. With a hand-pulled wagon loaded with supplies in tow, her group walks the area picking up trash and painting over any graffiti they encounter.
"It's an attempt to take back the neighborhood. To do something positive," Patao said. "It's a way to let taggers know that the community won't tolerate it."
South Precinct Officer Michael Alphin has noticed the effort.
"The community members are really great in this area," remarked Alphin. "They're very active and have a lot of meetings."
Alphin stated he has noticed a big improvement in the area since he joined the South End's community police team two years ago.
"It's gone down quite a bit," said Alphin. "It's more sporadic now."
His observation makes sense, for graffiti comes and goes in cycles. As taggers leave the area, others come to take their place.
"It's an ongoing struggle, but an important one," said chamber member Betty Jean Williamson. "It affects how our community is viewed and how we view ourselves."
"We're working hard to overcome a challenging situation."[[In-content Ad]]
