I was a bit disturbed by the article regarding proliferation of gang graffiti in Auburn, and the City’s response to it.

Admittedly this municipality is incrementally better than Tacoma and other local cities, in that it at least offers to help with the provision of a paltry can of paint.

However, it is unconscionable that the city ordinance obliges a fine or sanction in any other way, to the victim, I repeat victim, of vandal crime. If a graffiti strike is not “cleaned up” within 15 days the property owner, that is the victim, will face a fine prescribed by City ordinance.

In essence the City is just rubbing salt in the wound, especially when the victim may be elderly, on fixed income, may not be physically able to effect the correction themselves and have to hire the work done. The City ordinance does not affect graffiti on hundreds of rail cars that are parked within city limits. Why? Because the railroad is immune from this ordinance, so instead citizens can be fined when the criminals strike their residence or place of business.

Therefore, I would request the City Council and mayor to implement one, or a combination of, the following: Allocate more police resources to prevent this problem, with the intent to force the criminals to compensate for the correction needed (lots of luck).

If that is not successful, then require the police, or the City’s public works office, to facilitate the correction with minimal or no cost to the victim. And lastly, review the ordinance with the intention to soften the mandate so that it is more compassionate to the victim, and eliminate any sanction to the victim, so long as the victim cooperates with the needed correction.

Actually, this would be a great project for community organizers to get involved with, or do they just exist in Chicago?

– Mark Flanery