How Does Graffiti "Hurt"?

Graffiti vandals believe their actions harm no one. The reality is graffiti hurts everyone—homeowners, communities, businesses, schools, and you. And, those who practice it risk personal injury, violence, and arrest.

Retail sales - "Graffiti contributes to lost revenue associated with reduced ridership on transit systems, reduced retail sales and declines in property value. In addition, graffiti generates the perception of blight and heightens fear of gang activity" reports the U.S. Department of Justice.

Property values - According to the National Association of Realtors, properties located in neighborhoods where there is graffiti vandalism lose 15% of their value. The appearance of graffiti is often perceived by residents and passers-by as a sign that a downward spiral has begun, even though this may not be true.

Safety - Patrons of buildings, parks, or public facilities where graffiti vandalism has occurred may feel that if graffiti is tolerated, then other more serious crimes, such as theft and assault, may also go unchallenged. Schools and youth - In schools, 52% of public high schools and 47% of middle schools reported incidents of vandalism during the 1996-1997 school years. Data shows little difference between cities, towns, and rural areas. Additionally, about 36% of students saw hate-related graffiti at school.

Clean up costs - Although the cost of graffiti vandalism in the U.S. has yet to be definitively documented, for many communities, private property owners, and public agencies the cost is rising each year.

"There are huge public costs associated with graffiti: an estimated $12 billion a year is spent cleaning up graffiti in the United States," according to the U.S. Dept of Justice. While costs may not be that high, graffiti cleanup is taking a big chunk out of municipal budgets.

Figures from a variety of cities across the U.S. suggest that graffiti cleanup alone costs taxpayers about $3-5 per person per year. For smaller communities the amount dedicated to graffiti cleanup annually may be $1 per person or less.

A 2002 survey of communities conducted by Public Technology, Inc., found that "Los Angeles County spends about $55 million per year on graffiti removal (population about 10 million)." This is up from $35-39 million in 1998. "Phoenix (1.3 million population) and Minneapolis (382,000 population) each spend about $4 million. Santa Rosa, CA with a population of 175,000 spends about $250,000 for graffiti removal."

With a population of just under one million, the City of San Jose spends $3 million per year fighting graffiti. In 1999 Sacramento County (1.2 million population) spent an estimated $500,000 on graffiti abatement. Pittsburgh, PA spent the same amount in 2001.

In Baltimore, it costs $350,000 annually; Portland, OR spends $2 million a year; Denver nearly $1 million; Albuquerque, MN has budgeted over $850,000 for 2003; and Madison, WI spends $250,000 annually.