I have learned to qualify my use of the word ‘graffiti’. Some people use it to describe a form of art. I am not talking about art. I am talking about the application of permanent materials on public and private property without permission.
When I speak with artists about the problem, and others justify tagging and graffiti as art, I see the artists cringe. Spray painting letters, numbers or symbols on surfaces does not make it art. I also know that the graffiti problem has gotten seriously out of control in some places in our city. You may not be familiar with the term tagging, it is when a person, group or gang mark objects in an area to claim it as their territory to sell drugs. I have found that when I use the term tagging, most people understand that it is a problem.
Removal of defaced public property results in the spending of precious tax dollars in the City of Hartford. Over the past couple of years, many people have just given up reporting it, as they don’t understand why it has not been removed after they have reported it.
Firstly, I would like to explain in plain language the City’s Graffiti and Tagging policy. Knox Inc. has been reinstated as the removal vendor of graffiti or tagging for public property. Use 311 to report it, taking a picture with objects in the background really makes it a lot easier for the Knox crew to locate it in the park. In the description, you can include additional information, such as ‘on the outside fence around the pool’. Take a photo of each area that needs to be cleaned; otherwise, it is easy to miss spots. Knox Inc. has a very tight turnaround to clean the area. BUT, this process only includes small areas. The City does not have a solution for large-scale areas. These are the most problematic. It is expensive and tagging/graffiti tends to reappear quickly. This requires that a neighborhood or NRZ (Neighborhood Revitalization Zone) come together, select a solution and then determine how the project can be financed. Ronnie Vasquez (860.757.9592, Ronnie.Vazquez@hartford.gov) in the Livable and Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative (LSNI) group has many options that can be reviewed by an NRZ or group. Funding will need to be sought out by each group as the City does not have the funding for these efforts.
In the ‘311 request’, it will ask you if it is public or private property. This is important. The City cannot clean private property – we don’t have the resources (financial) and the liability of working on private property is too great. The only time the City takes action on private properties is when it has gone through a lengthy and expensive required legal procedure. The property owner will receive a letter that they will have a specific period of time by which they are to clean it up or a fine will be imposed. I think we all know that enforcement is a problem, as the legal cost is too expensive. We need the community to step in and tell the property owners that we want them to clean it up. On Maple Avenue, Hyacinth Yennie is famous for her vigor in communicating this problem to the owners. We all need to step up and communicate how we feel about vandalizing property and its impact on our neighborhood. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it in person, you can send a letter. If it is a business say that you won’t shop there or that you will tell people not to go there. Or maybe, you will ask if they need help, maybe if they buy the paint, you are willing to paint over the graffiti with their permission. Many private property owners with this kind of vandalism do not know who to call to have it removed. Knox can be hired by private property owners to remove graffiti for a fee. They can paint over if it is on a painted surface or we can treat it or power wash the surfaces if they are brick or concrete. Call Knox at 860-951-7694 , the office mgr will direct callers to the right person.
I am hoping that you will try again and report graffiti or tagging on public property. I very much appreciate your frustrations. Please let me know if you have any questions, or contact Ronnie Vasquez directly at 860-757-9592, Ronnie.Vazquez@hartford.gov. He is very nice and tries very hard to be helpful.
My next blog will be about how to sign up to use a playing field in a park. Even if you don’t plan to, it is always good to know what is involved.
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