The following is a letter I sent to an individual at City Hall:
As a specialist in graffiti investigations and abatement I'm concerned the mayor would have proposed a one-day graffiti clean-up using untrained people to abate graffiti. It's one thing to give people graffiti wipes or spray cleaner, products that cause little or no damage when used on select surfaces. Giving paint to non-professional painters, however, was quite foolish.
[ It's going to take an extraordinary effort to remove this graffiti, and we're asking for your help doing so. On Thursday, April 21 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., I have asked Regulatory Services to organize a one-day, graffiti removal effort. Our goal is to have 10 percent of the City of Minneapolis workforce volunteer to help remove graffiti, and all departments have agreed to release volunteers from regular duties to participate.
Mayor R.T. Rybak ]
Many residents and business owners weren't happy that city employees, with undeniably good intentions, actually did damage to city, county, utility and private property during their one-day graffiti clean-up. In many cases city employees did more damage to property than the graffiti vandals had themselves. Hundreds of locations throughout the city had not-so-noticeable tags that should have been removed with graffiti wipes or a spray-cleaner (and correct scrunge pad ) so as not to damage any sensitive surface.
Unfortunately, many employees "given paint" did not use discretion or care. "Some" examples of city employees making more of an eyesore then the preexisting graffiti: Employees rolling brown paint over green utility poles and the newer green city trash containers. Using Kelly Green paint over the dark Forest Green decorative street poles on Nicollet Avenue. Sloppily painting over Qwest phone boxes with colors other then the Blue Qwest requires. And painting over surfaces where the stickers and Snipe advertising had not been removed. How could this happen? I know of one city employee who has stated to the public that they have paints to match all surfaces. What they don't have can be obtained from the various utility companies. It's important to match the paint so the city doesn't start looking like a war zone. This isn't rocket science.
In essence, the mayor's idea, as implemented, had a net effect of "Zero" in cleaning-up the city. In place of graffiti (where paint was used), we now have unsightly patches of mismatched paint. One neighborhood organization is planning on using its scarce funds, with donated labor, to repair the damage done by city employees under the direction of the mayor.
If the mayor is truly committed to abating graffiti in Minneapolis he should do something proactive and confront the two arts organizations that refuse to cooperate with the Minneapolis Police Department. Arts organizations who aid and promote this cities most destructive graffiti vandals. Police and Minneapolis residents have compelling of evidence to make their case. One arts organization walls prominently display huge graffiti pieces by two graffiti vandals who are not only Anarchists who have wished harm to Minneapolis residents and business owners, but also suggested the killing police officers via their tagging and through publications.
The current article in Southwest Journal is unfortunately misleading. I know several members of the Lyn-Lake Business Association. They concur with the Minneapolis Police Department. The article merely quotes "one" Lyn-Lake association member who just happens to have friends at said arts organization. Susan Young of Solid Waste & Recycling, whom I respect, has addressed the arts organization concern in graffiti abatement meetings. Unfortunately on the other hand, some of the mayor's underlings in City Hall are actually working against the police and communities by promoting these arts organizations (i.e., City of Minneapolis Arts & Culture and other city produced materials).
I like the mayor and even worked as a volunteer on his first campaign. He doesn't, however, have my support this time for several reasons. One being he has refused to address graffiti vandalism in a proactive manner. Minneapolis residents and business owners are suffering as a result.
In order to not repeat the same mistakes year-after-year I hope that someone from City Hall takes a few minutes to visit the "nograffiti.com" website. A Network with members on 6 continents and in 19 countries. Membership categories include Law Enforcement, Abatement, Vendors, Community-Based Organizations, Professional Associations, Education, and Prosecution. Members throughout the country have contacted my office seeking successful graffiti abatement advice.
Don Davis
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