New Revere city law targets graffiti
By Thor Jourgensen
Thursday, June 3, 2004

REVERE -- Property owners would have 10 days to remove graffiti, or face fines under a proposed change in city laws now before the City Council.

 Owners now have 30 days to clean graffiti off their property after receiving written notice from the Public Works Department. Mayor Thomas Ambrosino told councilors the reduced time period will ensure "that graffiti does not unnecessarily linger on private property visible to the general public."
Ambrosino wants graffiti removal enforcement transferred from Public Works to the Health Department. Health inspectors inspect property across the city every weekday and are more likely to spot graffiti than public works crews, the mayor said.
He proposed changes in the graffiti ordinance in April shortly after police spotted graffiti scrawled at several locations across the city. Defacing property with graffiti is a crime punishable under state anti-vandalism laws.
The Police Department has not cited anyone for graffiti vandalism in a year, but officers investigate complaints about graffiti and the appearance of graffiti scrawled by youth gangs seeking to mark territory in different parts of the city.
Ambrosino wants a tougher approach taken toward graffiti by the start of the summer.
"I expect the problem to increase once the warm weather arrives and teenagers are out later in the evening," he told the council.
City officials also want to keep Revere Beach, the city's largest public area, graffiti free this summer even as they improve security and litter removal along the beach.
They want to attract delegates and others attending the Democratic National Convention in late July to Revere Beach for a national historic landmark dedication ceremony. Tentative plans calls for scheduling fireworks, a clambake and entertainers.
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, who represents the 7th Congressional District including Revere and Malden, has offered to assist the city in organizing the event.
The ceremony will require state review and the participation of national-level convention organizers.
The convention will be held from July 26-30 in the FleetCenter, with delegation parties hosted across Boston.
It will draw thousands of delegates across the nation and national and international media congregating in Boston to watch delegates anoint U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts as the Democratic party standard bearer.