Graffiti laws could use a touch up
Mar 10 2007

Federal Way is conducting an inventory of areas where graffiti exists. City staff members and volunteers are planning a Graffiti Paint Out effort April 21. Residents can call (253) 835-2401 to identify graffiti locations.


By PHILIP PALERMO

The Mirror

The writing’s on the wall.

Actually, it’s on walls, sidewalks, signs and stairwells throughout Federal Way, and the city is gearing up to tackle the problem.

City Manager Neal Beets announced a Graffiti Paint Out effort, including city employees and volunteers, who will take to the streets to cover up graffiti.

Beets said the city hopes to focus on several graffiti-prone areas, including the vacant Target and Toys-R-Us buildings near the Federal Way Transit Center.

The area also includes the recently purchased AMC Theater and nearby retaining wall, both prime targets for graffiti.

“That retaining wall is heavily (covered in) graffiti and needs attention,” Beets said at the March 6 council meeting.

The group will also focus on other parts of the city, including residential areas.

The Graffiti Paint Out effort is scheduled for April 21 to coincide with Earth Day.

The city is also asking residents to report any graffiti so staff can build a database of graffiti locations.

Federal Way resident Barbara Reid said graffiti is overtaking the city and needs to be addressed.

“It is not art. It’s destroying our city,” Reid said at the March 6 council meeting.

Buildings along Pacific Highway, in particular, are covered in graffiti, Reid said.

“I hate driving through our city and seeing what I’m seeing,” she added.

Reid called for the city to “come down hard” on those committing acts of graffiti.

“I want some arrests made,” she said. “They’re doing thousands upon thousands of dollars of damage to our community.”

More arrests may be possible as the city seeks to update its graffiti laws.

A proposal presentation on possible changes to the laws is expected at the March 12 Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting.

The changes, Beets said, include classifying graffiti as a nuisance and making the abatement process more efficient.

Beets also emphasized the importance of painting out the graffiti with 24 to 48 hours of its discovery.

The prompt cleanup of graffiti, he said, is very effective at deterring future graffiti because the perpetrator is denied the satisfaction of seeing his or her handiwork displayed.

Beets said the city is adding a third code compliance officer who will help respond to graffiti complaints. The city is also adding a parks maintenance worked to address graffiti in public parks.

Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell, referring to Reid’s earlier comments, suggested adding video surveillance to monitor sites known as graffiti targets.

“It would be great, like Barbara says, to catch people in the act,” Ferrell said.

Police Chief Brian Wilson said while it can be difficult to catch people in the act of vandalism, the department has made some arrests and knows of other individuals they suspect may be creating graffiti.

“We are fully committed to that effort,” Wilson said.


Contact writer Philip Palermo: ppalermo@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.