There has been a great increase in graffiti in my neighborhood since the city bailed out of its graffiti programs. I understand the lack of funds in the current budget, but I have never understood the bureaucratic ineptitude and resistance to at least being clear about what the city could expect of its residents and what the residents could expect of the city. I have worked for four years on this problem, personally removing hundreds of tags and working with city officials to have a coherent and understandable system with dealing with graffiti. I cannot fully express my frustration about what I seen during the past four years. Obviously additional funding could help, but the real problem is that the city is too busy fighting among departments and among politicians to figure out how to address the incredible amount of damage that is being done to our city. There are ordinances that have never been used or enforced, intentional disinformation about staffing, misrepresentation about who would be coordinating programs. Now the best the city has to offer: If you call the right number, (my neighborhood was recently given an incorrect, non working number by city officials). If the computers can transfer the information correctly (doesn't always happen) If some city dept. agrees to send out notices (undetermined) If those notices are sent our correctly If it isn't winter (6 months) If the notices are received If the action isn't challenged If there is some dept. willing to take on a court case (is there one)? If the city prevails Then the business or residence removes graffiti at their own expense. Unless the graffiti is on city property, in which case there is no coherent plan.
Right next to the East Lake Library there is a wall full of Gang graffiti that has been there for over 9 months. What kind of city is this? Scott Vreeland, President, Seward Neighborhood Group Seward _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
