The Observation Deck

So what is with all the spray painted anarchy symbols around the city? Have our men and women in blue come up with any ideas? Nothing can degrade the image of a city quicker than ugly graffiti, especially random stuff like a lazy "A."

Is this all over the city? I live in the SW corner of the town and there is a lot of it here from Madison up to the Detroit Theater but I haven't seen it much any where else.


Phil

Phil-- On my early morning run Friday morning at 4:15 my route included Detroit to the "Y" and back to Warren, basically checking out the new construction. When I got back at 5:00 I turned on the scanner.
A cop was in the process of inventorying just applied graffiti just as you described.
And--- it was right along the route that I just ran!!!!! Except it went south on Rosewood and over to the Clinic building at Woodward and Madison.
I was talking to the Mayor later on and mentioned this coincidence (and maintained my innocence!) and he assured me that this has the top attention of the police chief. They had discussed it in his morning briefing.

Stan

I am also beginning to notice signs for WHOLESALE MATTRESSES and CREDIT REPAIR - BUY JD BYRIDER and others. While these may not be spray-painted, I consider them just as much of a nuisance.

I've seen the signs planted on street-corners - some of them busy intersections such as warren/madison and some purely residential corners like wyandotte/athens.

We have laws against this sort of thing, don't we?

Rick Uldricks wrote:I am also beginning to notice signs for WHOLESALE MATTRESSES and CREDIT REPAIR - BUY JD BYRIDER and others. While these may not be spray-painted, I consider them just as much of a nuisance.

I've seen the signs planted on street-corners - some of them busy intersections such as warren/madison and some purely residential corners like wyandotte/athens.

We have laws against this sort of thing, don't we?

Rick


There are laws against this and many other forms of corporate graffiti. But to be honest the building department is overwhelmed and over worked. With all of the construction and renovation going on, they are stretched to the limit, and have put building quality over sign laws. We should remember that the Ed Fitzgerald's staff has to be constantly inspecting all the building going on.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of applying for a sign permit, and got to see first hand how busy everyone was. Ed was walking by and had enough time to stop and give me the good word that over $3,000,000 in building had been given permits last week!

That said we must take down all signs that are not legal, all banners must come down from the outside of buildings, especially apartment buildings, and we must stop the graffiti.

One hint, and this is a good one. Call the city for removing graffiti and they will give you the best ways and tell you what to use depending on what it was painted on.

.

Thanks for replying Jim, but I'm not sure what you're saying here.

Are you saying that the city department that is supposed to enforce this law is too busy, so we should just let it go and be happy that building is taking place in the city?

Are you saying that we need to take the illegal signs down and scrub the spray paint off ourselves?

Rick Uldricks wrote:Thanks for replying Jim, but I'm not sure what you're saying here.

Rick

Let's work the math on this.

The city is stretched on the current budget in all departments. Building has new schools going up, three condos, and a couple office buildings. Each of these need almost constant inspections. Example would be electricty has to be inspected before a wall goes up. So the inspectors are working overtime.

So know we must prioratize. Do we want walls falling in on our kids when they are at school? Or an illegal banner owner citied? Walk into Ed Favre's office or the building department. You will see the very signs your are complaining about stacked against the walls. I know for a fact Ed Favre has called many of these businesses and said "get them down or we will fine you." But again all of this cities services are maxed out, in a good way.

So our choice is a massive tax increase, or to do some of the easy stuff ouorselves. Take the sign down and throw it in the trashcan. I believe the only variance is Yard Sale signs which have to be taken down the day after the sale. Neither commercial or political signs are allowed on public property, so they can be pitched by anyone.

As for the graffiti, I was only speaking of when it pops up on a private building. Curently I see it appear on Brockley and Detroit.

W have some tough choices, but we can all make it easier.


.

Thanks for the math lesson, Jim.

Lakewood is wonderful.

Rick Uldricks wrote:Thanks for the math lesson, Jim.

Lakewood is wonderful.

Rick

Do I detect a note of saracasm?


.

If these signs and advertisements are illigal in the first place, don't we as citizens have the lawful right to remove them ourselves?

If so, those good neighbors who share our concern should begin making it a habit to remove them in passing.

We can collect this garbage, documenting what location they were placed, and eventually hand over the stock-pile to the proper authority. Digital photos would also help.

Can we follow this logic for what many believe to be illigally placed newspaper boxes on Clifton?

ever notice the pigs on stop signs, traffic light boxes.. etc.?

The school newspaper did a story on them because they popped up everywhere last year, and I guess the motive was self-expression.

they're not usually noticed unless you know that they exist, though.

ever notice the pigs on stop signs, traffic light boxes.. etc.?

My kids love the pigs. I have explained to them that they are graffiti but even I have to chuckle when I see them.

Are we allowed to throw away the sidewalk signs with people inside of them?

Bill Davis wrote:Are we allowed to throw away the sidewalk signs with people inside of them?

I remember seeing standard "No Salt" street signs on a newly asphalted road that had additions like "or Pepper" or "it's perfectly seasoned."

Great idea! I could post a sign on the double next door that reads "PAINT CHIPS WITH DIP."