Vallone rips graffiti rise

City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. painted an alarming picture recently, when he brought attention to reports detailing an 81.5 percent rise in graffiti complaints and a 23 percent rise in vandalism arrests last year.
During that period, according to figures from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), north Queens had an 84 percent spike, from 904 complaints to 1,662, and arrests went up 11 percent, from 615 to 680.
In south Queens, complaints climbed 80 percent, to 864, and arrests were up 17 percent, to 259, according to the figures, Vallone said.
“Graffiti is a physical symbol that reflects the safety of a community. When we see more graffiti, it emboldens criminals to commit worse crimes,” said Vallone, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee.
NYPD officials have noted that the steep rise in graffiti complaints and arrests is more indicative of the department’s increased efforts against vandalism than a rise in the crime itself.
However, many anti-graffiti groups and community boards have offered substantial anecdotal evidence to the contrary, saying that they see more graffiti in their neighborhoods than ever, according to Vallone.
Putting the blame on graffiti vandals and the companies who use graffiti images in their advertising, Vallone lauded the police department for putting more focus on the vandalism, especially while the force has the lowest number of officers since 1993.
“Our officers are doing an amazing job, but there’s only so much they can do with the manpower they have. With fewer officers, it’s difficult to stop minor crimes like graffiti from creeping back up,” Vallone said.
Vallone said he believes that graffiti continues to spread, largely due to the cultural cachet that it enjoys as a result of irresponsible corporations touting its ‘coolness.’ He has singled out corporations such as “Ecko Enterprises and Arizona Ice Tea” over their use of graffiti imagery.
Marc Ecko Enterprises is the brain-child of 35-year-old Marc Ecko, whose “artistic journey,” according to the company web site, “began in the mid-80s in a makeshift design studio and showroom located in the garage of his parent’s New Jersey home.”
In 1993, according to the company, “he launched a men’s urban apparel line out of his Rutgers University apartment, aiming to capitalize on his graffiti-artist roots and knowledge of skateboard and hip-hop culture.”
Marc Ecko Enterprises says its wholesale sales to retailers now exceed $500 million annually.
Arizona Ice Tea, LLC is a privately-held company based in Lake Success, Long Island, which recently introduced an “energy drink” with graffiti-based packaging and advertising. Their highly caffeinated, “All City NRG” beverage comes in cans decorated in three schemes of graffiti.
Vallone suggests that the product promotes vandalism, saying, “This product shamelessly glorifies a culture of vandalism and lawlessness. If this drink was called ‘pickpocket pickup,’ and had pictures of criminals lifting wallets, wouldn’t people be offended?”
The drink’s graphics have also attracted criticism in cyberspace - as being “bland corporate graffiti,” and a corporate rip-off of other designs.
In the meantime, the company, which touts its success story as “one that could only happen in America,” is reportedly the target of a $2 billion buyout offer from the India-based Tata Group.
Vallone has called on the public not to reward the offending companies for what he said was promotion of graffiti.
Part of his sensitivity on the issue may stem from figures released by his office saying that the 114th Precinct, which covers his district in Astoria, was second in amount of graffiti arrests with 128 in 2006 and 126 in 2007. Only the 104th Precinct, covering Long Island City had more arrests last year.
“When done without permission, graffiti is a crime, pure and simple,” Vallone said. “We need to make kids understand the destruction of someone else’s property is not cool, it is illegal.”