259 replies to this topic

[CtownMikey]

does gtech have security?

[Cotuit]

mikepl, on Dec 30 2006, 06:46 PM, said:

Has anyone else noticed they started "removing" graffiti in and around waterplace park by painting over it with gray paint? Sad.

[Frankie811]

Cotuit, on Jan 3 2007, 09:09 PM, said:

A perfect example of good graffiti!  

[runawayjim]

this is not in providence, but i thought it was amusingly ironic.

[inProv]

Neighborhood activist, I am not.  But I guess becoming a member of the UP community has inspired me to take a more active role in helping to create a better urban environment in Providence.

I have contacted city council member Cliff Wood to express my concerns about the effectiveness of the mayor's graffiti task force.  Cliff was very interested in any ideas or suggestions that people might have for addressing the issue of graffiti more effectively.  I would love to get some feedback from anyone who might have some insights or prior experience that might be helpful.  Any suggestions?

[runawayjim]

inProv, on Mar 1 2007, 03:16 PM, said:

Neighborhood activist, I am not.  But I guess becoming a member of the UP community has inspired me to take a more active role in helping to create a better urban environment in Providence.

I have contacted city council member Cliff Wood to express my concerns about the effectiveness of the mayor's graffiti task force.  Cliff was very interested in any ideas or suggestions that people might have for addressing the issue of graffiti more effectively.  I would love to get some feedback from anyone who might have some insights or prior experience that might be helpful.  Any suggestions?

more active policing and faster response times would help.  i think it was jerry who said he called the police after seeing someone tagging and followed them and they just didn't give a crap.  better punishments, such as a lot of community service, which must involve cleaning the graffiti (not just their own, but others as well), would also help.

[Cotuit]

No more excuses about not being able to clean during the winter. Half this winter has seen temps in the 50s and there are products that are effective below freezing. If we allow tags to stay up half the year than there is no deterrent to tagging.

[c.a.haynes]

runawayjim, on Mar 1 2007, 03:23 PM, said:

more active policing and faster response times would help.  i think it was jerry who said he called the police after seeing someone tagging and followed them and they just didn't give a crap.  better punishments, such as a lot of community service, which must involve cleaning the graffiti (not just their own, but others as well), would also help.

My building just recently got tagged.  I called the Task Force and they were very responsive.  They said they would be out to clean it in 10-14 days, so long as the temperature is above 40 degrees.  Not a bad deal... We'll see how it turns out.

[runawayjim]

c.a.haynes, on Mar 1 2007, 04:58 PM, said:

My building just recently got tagged.  I called the Task Force and they were very responsive.  They said they would be out to clean it in 10-14 days, so long as the temperature is above 40 degrees.  Not a bad deal... We'll see how it turns out.

how long ago did you call them, because if it was more than  day or so ago, there is not excuse for not cleaning it the following day considering the temps we've been seeing.

[c.a.haynes]

runawayjim, on Mar 1 2007, 05:00 PM, said:

how long ago did you call them, because if it was more than  day or so ago, there is not excuse for not cleaning it the following day considering the temps we've been seeing.

I called them this morning.  But Tony Petrarca says it will be nice next week.  Bottom line, if they will do it for $0, then I can wait a few days...

[inProv]

c.a.haynes, on Mar 1 2007, 05:07 PM, said:

I called them this morning.  But Tony Petrarca says it will be nice next week.  Bottom line, if they will do it for $0, then I can wait a few days...

I keep hearing that the most effective deterrent to graffiti is rapid removal.  I think that a 10-14 day turnaround is just not acceptable, especially for public spaces.  Does anyone think the city should consider some form of neighborhood volunteer effort (city supplies equipment and volunteers "adopt" an area to maintain)?  Some cities have tried this strategy.  If it involves private property, the owner is required to sign a waiver to allow graffiti abatement.

[Baines]

runawayjim, on Mar 1 2007, 03:23 PM, said:

more active policing and faster response times would help.  i think it was jerry who said he called the police after seeing someone tagging and followed them and they just didn't give a crap.  better punishments, such as a lot of community service, which must involve cleaning the graffiti (not just their own, but others as well), would also help.

The case you cite is rooted in a long problem with PPD. Let me give you some examples:
1 Dispersing rather than arresting so as to avoid time off the street and the work of documenting a criminal case (this has extended to the level of drug possession and assault)
2 Weak street level accountability and supervision
3 Lack of internal discipline (the District concept helps with "community relations" but not police action)
4 Lack of supervision of call response...response time, actual arrival, and action

The Councilman has to direct his concerns to the Chief using these bullet points and get real responses and real action plans that are tied to holding the responding office accountable for action...that requires focused supervision.

inProv, on Mar 1 2007, 03:16 PM, said:

Neighborhood activist, I am not.  But I guess becoming a member of the UP community has inspired me to take a more active role in helping to create a better urban environment in Providence.

I have contacted city council member Cliff Wood to express my concerns about the effectiveness of the mayor's graffiti task force.  Cliff was very interested in any ideas or suggestions that people might have for addressing the issue of graffiti more effectively.  I would love to get some feedback from anyone who might have some insights or prior experience that might be helpful.  Any suggestions?

The case you cite is rooted in a long problem with PPD. Let me give you some examples:
1 Dispersing rather than arresting so as to avoid time off the street and the work of documenting a criminal case (this has extended to the level of drug possession and assault)
2 Weak street level accountability and supervision
3 Lack of internal discipline (the District concept helps with "community relations" but not police action)
4 Lack of supervision of call response...response time, actual arrival, and action

The Councilman has to direct his concerns to the Chief using these bullet points and get real responses and real action plans that are tied to holding the responding office accountable for action...that requires focused supervision.

[jencoleslaw]

inProv, on Mar 1 2007, 06:48 PM, said:

I keep hearing that the most effective deterrent to graffiti is rapid removal.  I think that a 10-14 day turnaround is just not acceptable, especially for public spaces.  Does anyone think the city should consider some form of neighborhood volunteer effort (city supplies equipment and volunteers "adopt" an area to maintain)?  Some cities have tried this strategy.  If it involves private property, the owner is required to sign a waiver to allow graffiti abatement.

sounds like a good job for Groundwork...if someone would fund it.

[runawayjim]

jencoleslaw, on Mar 1 2007, 09:53 PM, said:

sounds like a good job for Groundwork...if someone would fund it.

i made a donation tonight.  you can use that as a start.  

[jencoleslaw]

runawayjim, on Mar 1 2007, 09:59 PM, said:

i made a donation tonight.  you can use that as a start.  

i need to find that foamy stuff the Baruch was talking about that just bubbles the paint off and try it in a few places at different temps...

[matt]

jencoleslaw, on Mar 1 2007, 10:08 PM, said:

i need to find that foamy stuff the Baruch was talking about that just bubbles the paint off and try it in a few places at different temps...

If you google anti graffiti paint, several products come up.  It might be worth experimenting with a few unless someone can recommend one.

[basachs]

jencoleslaw, on Mar 1 2007, 10:08 PM, said:

i need to find that foamy stuff the Baruch was talking about that just bubbles the paint off and try it in a few places at different temps...

our stuff is not foamy, its a liquid. looks like a weak fruit punch. You paint it on, wait a few minutes, then scrub it off. Works great on painted surfaces, not so hot on stone and wood. But we mostly clean it off the playground, so it suits us really well. I am looking at other products to work better on stone and wood...although our approach to wood is usually to just paint it.

This is a company I have been looking at it. Might be becasue you canuse this stuff down to 25 degrees, might be becasue one of thier products is named Elephant Snot. http://www.graffitisolutions.com/

Edited by basachs, 02 March 2007 - 08:55 AM.

[Frankie811]

From the projo blog. Teen faces 14 counts in graffiti case

JOHNSTON — A local teen has been arrested and charged with 14 counts of vandalism after "KG" ("Krazy Gangster") was found spray-painted across town.

"KG" was sprayed in varying colors all over a Walgreen’s Pharmacy. It was on someone’s house, numerous businesses and on the side of the Postal Union Hall, the police said today.

A 16-year-old sprayed 14 different buildings, said police Maj. Ralph Bubar III.

[inProv]

Frankie811, on Mar 5 2007, 06:32 PM, said:

From the projo blog. Teen faces 14 counts in graffiti case

JOHNSTON — A local teen has been arrested and charged with 14 counts of vandalism after "KG" ("Krazy Gangster") was found spray-painted across town.

"KG" was sprayed in varying colors all over a Walgreen’s Pharmacy. It was on someone’s house, numerous businesses and on the side of the Postal Union Hall, the police said today.

A 16-year-old sprayed 14 different buildings, said police Maj. Ralph Bubar III.

Just the kind of thing we should be seeing more of in Providence.

[inProv]

jencoleslaw, on Mar 1 2007, 09:53 PM, said:

sounds like a good job for Groundwork...if someone would fund it.

I checked out your group's website.  I think the efforts of this organization could really be an asset in addressing the graffiti problem.  Any ideas about the role your group would like to play, assuming that funds became available?  The CHNA is currently working on its own graffiti plan.  The more imput they get, the better.  I think that a grass root effort that involved neighbors, local businesses, schools, community organizations (like Groundwork), in partnership with the city could make all the difference.  Other cities have been successful with such initiatives.  Check out this website, that offers some suggestions and documents other cities' efforts to combat graffiti:

Graffiti Hurts

The mayor's task force does address some of these proposals.  Obviously, the feedback above suggests that these efforts aren't working (primarily due to slow response time in graffiti removal and poor policing efforts).  Could greater community involvement make a difference?

Edited by inProv, 06 March 2007 - 11:12 AM.