Graffiti Workshop + My Opinion

[Lori Allen _]

LakewoodAlive is going to host a graffiti workshop on the evening of July 28th. Apparently, my photographic evidence of graffiti sitting on buildings for months finally echoed as a call to action.

While I applaud the effort (even if it was the result of posts here on the Deck), I feel that it still does not completely address one issue: personal accountability.

Property and/or business owners have a legal and moral obligation to keep their properties clean of graffiti, especially when it involves hateful symbols such as Swastikas (like the ones that have been clearly visible on MetroPCS and a few other buildings for at least a year).

While this effort is well-intended and I am not trying to make light of it, I am curious as to how many local business owners will actually attend. Many of those that own the buildings affected by graffiti do not live in Lakewood or in the area. From my research, the owners are located everywhere from New Jersey, to California, to Texas, and many places in-between. If they attend and use the knowledge provided, that would be great. I do not see this happening, however.

The remedies and solutions for property owners that refuse to remove graffiti from their properties are spelled out in city ordinances. The owner can be taken to court, or Kevin Butler can get a court order to allow the city to enter the property and have city workers, volunteers, or prisoners clean the graffiti, and send a bill to the owner. If the owner doesn't pay the bill, the cost can be assessed on the owner's taxes. If the owner doesn't pay the taxes, Butler or Summers can have Armond Budish send the tax lien thieves after them.

Hopefully this workshop will remedy some of the graffiti issues, although it is slightly late. If not , city hall needs to up their game to ensure personal responsibility and to enforce the law.