Graffiti spread is off the wall

Denver,CO,USA

By Jerry Roys, Rocky Mountain News
August 4, 2004

A city councilwoman says graffiti is on the rise in Denver and is getting so bad that taggers are even painting the pavement.

Councilwoman Rosemary Rod-riquez, chairwoman of the Graffiti Task Force, addressed the problem Tuesday at the weekly mayor-council meeting. Rodriquez said she's concerned that Denver is already spending $2 million a year on cleanup and the money won't be there to continue.

The graffiti has risen by as much as 375 percent in southeast Denver's District 4, according to statistics presented to the task force. In Rodriquez's District 3, in West Denver, it has risen 78 percent.

Trinidad Vigil lives on West Ninth Avenue near Kalamath Street in District 9, where the graffiti has increased by 58 percent.

"It's just constant," Vigil said. "By the time they clean it up, two days later, it's right back."

Vigil said he thinks part of the problem is the large number of children with no activities.

Rodriquez agrees that peer pressure among teens and wanting to belong are part of the problem. She also blames neighboring municipalities that haven't passed ordinances to restrict the purchase of paint by minors. A Denver ordinance keeps spray paint locked up and prohibits minors from buying it.

Rodriquez said the city works hard to clean up graffiti quickly so victims don't have to look at it.

Ed Mattson, owner of All Import Auto, near West 11th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive, said rapid cleanup deters taggers.

"It's not as bad as it used to be," Mattson said.

Graffiti has decreased in some parts of the city. District 2 in southwest Denver has seen a 54 percent decline, and District 10 in central Denver almost 40 percent.

Rodriquez said the rise and fall in graffiti in different areas may be linked to the the notion that graffiti attracts graffiti.