Police Say Education is Key to Fighting Increasing Graffiti Problems in Salem (VIDEO)

(SALEM) - An increasing numbers of gang members in Salem means graffiti problems are on the rise according to local police.

Citizens are frustrated, and local officials say it is important to get the message out about city and county rules designed to reduce the problem, rules that apply to anyone whose property is hit with graffiti.

Graffiti according to the experts, is a sign of much bigger problems, and even bigger problems ahead.

And while Kim Nelson with Salem Police does her best to take care of the city’s growing graffiti issues, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office stays busy with graffiti in rural areas and cities throughout the valley.

The tools of the trade for those who remove graffiti are harsh abrasive chemicals

Harsh, like the appearance graffiti leaves in a community. Kim Nelson is preparing to remove “slap tags” or sticker graffiti. These are stickers like postal service labels that are hard to scrub off. Two people that police describe as “graffiti taggers” were arrested Thursday by Salem Police. One of them is an adult.

18-year old Jon McLoud and a juvenile were arrested and charged with causing over $3,000 in property damage over the last two and a half months.

McCloud and the male juvenile are in plenty of trouble too, together facing 44 counts of felony criminal mischief and 11 counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Both Nelson and Rau say one important thing people need to do understand is the difference between city ordinances and county rules regarding graffiti removal.

Marion County’s policy involves a letter that is mailed out within five days of a graffiti report. Property owners who don’t wish to comply can request a hearing. Kevin Rau says another local partner in the fight has the quickest graffiti removal program of all.

In Salem, the property owner has five days and that is it. They potentially face a fine though few are issued; Nelson says people are generally compliant and have no desire to let the sprawl continue.

Salem’s problems are often downtown and they are far more apparent. Kim Nelson faces the same rules that property owners deal with, only she does it on behalf of Salem. Their aggressive anti-graffiti program means no tolerance and constant work for Nelson and her occasional helpers.

As problems mount, these people who fight Salem and Marion County’s increasing graffiti problems hope residents do what they can to help. One start is recording the telephone number for the gang and graffiti hotline; that’s 503 371-4264. Or if the graffiti is in progress, call 911.

This story was originally published on Salem-News.com September 1st 2006 at 2:40 AM.

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Jud Crandel September 25, 2006 12:30 pm (Pacific time)

is graffiti really a problem that deserves this much attention when we have methamphetamine epidemic that outshadows any other region of the country? how about the fact that the city of portland has the highest unemployment rate per capita in the entire country next to detroit? why not strike at the real problems that truly govern the way the city is run, instead of easily-identifiable and youth-oriented vandal crimes?

Albert Marnell September 9, 2006 8:04 pm (Pacific time)

John Diss, You sound like a cool young dude and I am an old Futz compared to you. I like your point. Your the kind of guy that could do an abstract of Stalin and it would wind up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Ave., New York, New York.

john diss September 5, 2006 5:35 pm (Pacific time)

people are blurring the difference between traditional graffiti and the new "street art movement" i knew these kids,the one pictured dabbled in painting but they were both generally sticker artist's. All they did was leave those little spikey head monsters and pees around town. do you think that is as bad as 40 rapes? really? Being involved with graffiti over the years i agree that a "free wall" would do salem some good.

Lela September 4, 2006 8:41 pm (Pacific time)

I agree with the idea to curve the creative talents of some of these artists in a more productive way.

BG September 3, 2006 10:11 pm (Pacific time)

Yes they did this in a town I used to live in elsewhere and provided a wall for people for this purpose. No prizes but the wall was soon full of some great work. A lot of great talent is being wasted committing vandalizm instead of beautification.

AM in the PM September 3, 2006 7:01 pm (Pacific time)

I remember decades ago an idea to steer the sometimes artistic talent of graffiti artists in a more socially acceptable direction was to get the word out that a graffiti contest would be held with a significant prize so that the young mostly teen boys that do this can have a safe place to express their emotions and art skills. The city of Salem could give this a try. A number of prizes, usually a little check with a trophy can get some of these kids into the mainstream mindset that they maybe have an ability to make money off of their creative side with praise rather than admonition. As you know, teenagers will do something that you tell them is bad. Once you put it in public view and encourage them to compete in some park on some plywood or whatever, you just might be surprised that they will see this as a possible way to make money but in a way that people can admire their sometimes actually beautiful art. Think about it. I believe this was once done in New York City. I believed it worked.

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