Cleaning Up Graffiti Means More Than Good Looks

Paint over a storefronts graffiti, and it will stay clean for a week. Get store and home owners to keep their own property graffiti free, and the community reaps rewards that go far beyond the aesthetic. This is the message that Joan Sammon, recording secretary of the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce, is trying to impress upon Maspeth residents. On May 31, she coordinated a graffiti clean-up with the help of members of the Local DC 9 Painters Union, neighborhood volunteers and the Maspeth Kiwanis. Together, they undertook the huge task of getting permission from home and store owners and then painting over graffiti on those locations.
Unfortunately, according to Sammon, it is volunteer efforts such as those that can make a neighborhood more susceptible to ugly tags. The problem lies with property owners themselves. The more people paint on a volunteer basis, the more reluctant business and home owners are to maintain their storefronts and residences themselves.
"Its an ongoing problem and painting is not the solution," Sammon said. "Were making progress but several of the buildings weve cleaned have been tagged again."
Recently, the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce contacted 900 businesses in the area, asking that they participate in the fight against graffiti by keeping their own properties clean or at least signing a permission slip that would allow a volunteer group from the mayors anti-graffiti program or the Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation to paint or wash storefronts or gates. For their efforts, they received a response from only a very small number of businesses.
"The Maspeth Kiwanis Club and the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce are requesting that Maspeth home owners and business owners take responsibility for keeping Maspeth graffiti free," she said.
This means each property owner adopting their own storefront, sidewalk or mailbox and becoming a graffiti buster. Those businesses that commit to be graffiti busters receive a certificate from the chamber of commerce and possibly a jump in patronage. The problem is that many people are confused about the correct procedure or feel that they dont have enough time in the day to paint over tags. Or, in the case of tenants, there may be questions of whose job it is to maintain the property. Many business owners are not aware that they are responsible for the gate and sidewalk.
"Nobody has the time to remove it," Sammon said. "But if you dont, it will get worse and no one will shop in your store. People get so used to it that they dont see it anymore."
While, in some cases, it is technically the building owners responsibility, renters maintaining their own properties is good for business and good for the community. Cleaning up tags in a timely fashion sends a message to taggers that graffiti is not tolerated in a community, and this leads to less graffiti. Store and home owners have the power to help in the fight against graffiti by making sure that their properties are free of tags. Waiting for volunteer painters and cleaners can mean that graffiti is in place for a long time, and this also sends a message that the community is not vigilant and that crime is tolerated.
"Theyre testing. If one tag stays up long enough, its a signal to others to come and tag that spot. Painting only takes ten minutes or you can hire a contractor," said Sammon.
She has also coordinated an Adopt A Mailbox program in Maspeth that allows members of the community to assist the Post Office in keeping the towns mailboxes clean. In the program, the Post Office supplies official mailbox paint to private citizens who can then paint assigned mailboxes. Sammon still coordinates volunteer painters, despite the time and effort it takes, in hopes that it will inspire people to do it themselves. She also suggests that people let business owners know their stance on graffiti by refusing to shop in stores that neglect tags on their gates or walls. She gave this suggestion:
"People have to take responsibility for this themselves. If they have graffiti, please tell them to remove it or, at least, to fill out a permission form. If they refuse, dont shop there."
For more information, contact the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce at (718) 899-0796.