Writing's on the wall for crackdown on graffiti

Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 12, 2007 at midnight

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Denver is considering a sweeping approach in the fight against graffiti, from imposing fines on negligent property owners to seeking civil damages from vandals.

Homeowners would have 72 hours to remove graffiti after being notified by the city or, under recommendations made public Monday, possibly be assessed for the cleanup.

Homeowners, however, could ask the city for help in removing the graffiti and avoid any fines.

The same rule would apply to business owners, who would have less time - 48 hours - to remove graffiti.

Currently, the city gives businesses and homeowners 10 days to clean up the vandalism.

"What we know from not only locally but nationally is that if you don't get graffiti down, you are inviting more graffiti to go up," said Regina Huerter, executive director of the Crime Prevention and Control Commission. "The quicker it comes down, the less likely it will continue to be tagged."

Denver, unlike other municipalities, currently removes graffiti from private property for free.

Lakewood, for example, gives people five days, and Aurora seven, to remove graffiti.

Mike Mylet, manager of a -NAPA Auto Parts store on Federal Boulevard that is regularly hit by graffiti vandals, said the two- day requirement is "ridiculous."

"It won't be possible for us to paint the store every 24 hours," he said, adding that Denver should focus more on enforcement.

But Huerter, co-chair of a task force that has been working since last year to develop graffiti-fighting strategies, said enforcement only goes so far.

The panel recommended a comprehensive approach with three prongs: abatement, enforcement and prevention, she said.

Amber Callender, Mayor John Hickenlooper's neighborhood liaison, said the panel's recommendations reflect a collaborative effort.

"All of these prongs have to go together in order to make it work," she said.

On the enforcement side, the panel recommends doubling fines for graffiti vandals and forcing them to perform community service and pay restitution. In addition, minors caught with graffiti materials could be placed on supervised probation and fined $100.

To prevent graffiti, the panel suggests "positive arts opportunities" for youth, such as mural programs in schools and exploring the costs and benefits of waiving recreational fees in the summer.

Council members who reviewed the recommendations Monday said they want "a round-table discussion" with Hickenlooper and for department heads to weigh in.

The big unknowns were how to implement the long list of recommendations, as well as how to pay for them.

But what is clear is that Denver has a growing graffiti problem, which elected officials constantly hear about.

Last year, Denver removed more than 3 million square feet of graffiti, a record that was a 23 percent increase over 2005.

The task force thinks its recommendations could lead to "a city free of graffiti within three years," according to its report.

Graffiti fighters' recommendations

A task force that has been developing strategies against graffiti since last year issued final recommendations on Monday. Among the suggestions:

• Ensure a coordinated approach to combating graffiti through dedicated financial resources and workers responsible for carrying out recommendations.

• Work with district and county courts to create consistent graffiti sanctions.

• Increase youth offender accountability through community service and victim-impact classes.

• Develop data tracking methods for graffiti crimes.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

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