Efforts to combat graffiti growing across North County
By: JO MORELAND - Staff Writer | ∞
NORTH COUNTY ---- Graffiti vandals are driving some North County communities to more creative, costly efforts to curb the unsightly signs of the times.
Escondido is taking a task-force approach to help get rid of the scrawls. Vista is going to provide paint to property owners. Even rural Valley Center is trying to put together a graffiti-removal project.
However, more arrests and prosecution are needed to really make a dent in the vandalism, several authorities said this month.
"Until we start arresting some of these people, it's just going to go on and on," said Rich O'Donnell, Escondido's director of maintenance and operations. "They paint. We get rid of it. They paint. We get rid of it."
Most law enforcement agencies in North County already have at least one officer assigned to graffiti, and Deputy District Attorney David Williams works only graffiti cases involving juveniles countywide.
"That tells you how much graffiti there is," Williams said. "Everybody takes it very seriously."
Of the 115 to 150 cases assigned to him at any given time, he said, a significant number are from North County.
Cases range from spray-painting school bathroom walls to tens of thousands of dollars in damage to freeway underpasses and other structures. Most of the offenders Williams sees are 14 to 18 years old.
Countywide, Williams said, about 60 percent of graffiti is gang-related, 30 percent is done by taggers (marking territory), and the remaining 10 percent are individual incidents.
Sentencing depends on the amount of damage and the offender's age, and penalties range from restitution and community service for first-time juvenile offenders to up to three years in state prison and a $50,000 fine for repeat graffiti vandals.
Juvenile Court is required by law to focus on rehabilitating youthful offenders and protecting the public, rather than punishment.
"We require that they pay for the damage that they do," Williams said. "If the minor doesn't pay, the victim can go after the parents as well."
A city can take out a lien on the parents' home to get the money, if necessary, he said.
In addition, Williams said, he tries to make sure that the court orders juvenile offenders to paint out graffiti in the communities where they committed the crime so they can get an idea of what it's like for victims.
Taking action
Although authorities agree that the best way to discourage graffiti vandals is to wash off the markings or paint them out as quickly as possible, victims often can't or don't want to do it themselves, officials said.
"We've tried to encourage citizens to get involved on their own," and Escondido has free graffiti-removal kits for residents that don't include paint, O'Donnell said.
Despite police, citizen volunteers and city efforts over the years, graffiti calls have increased from 118 in January 2004 to 341 in January 2005 and 612 last January.
Escondido spends about $150,000 a year for graffiti removal, but right now the city takes one to four days to remove it. O'Donnell said the goal within the next couple of months is to reduce that time to 12 working hours by using private subcontractors, paid for with surplus budget money.
Officials are now using a task force approach to improve Escondido's appearance and discourage gang activity. The city's new Appearance and Compliance Team held its first meeting earlier this month to brainstorm ideas.
In addition to having a police officer work with detectives and schools to identify suspects, police anti-graffiti enforcement includes special operations and searches of some people on probation, said detective Sgt. Chris Wynn.
"Since July we've arrested 38 people who are responsible for multiple (graffiti) crimes," Wynn said. "We've cleared a lot more than 38 cases. We've probably cleared many of those (January 2006) cases."
Other efforts
Elsewhere in the region, Oceanside spends more than $150,000 a year to get rid of graffiti, and the city expanded its removal efforts within the past year from one to two trucks to remove markings, city officials said.
"We want to make sure that at some point the taggers get tired of losing," said Peter Weiss, Oceanside's public works director. "If you drive around Oceanside, I think we're pretty successful at keeping down graffiti."
However, there haven't been many graffiti arrests recently in North County's biggest city.
"I haven't seen one come across my desk in awhile," said Oceanside police Sgt. Renae Bowman. "We don't have a big push on investigating it."
Still, Bowman and other officers throughout the area said they pursue workable cases that have leads and evidence.
San Marcos deputies arrested a 15-year-old suspect last month in that community in connection with the spray-painting of a 17-foot-long U.S. flag at the city's VFW post. The flag will have to be burned, but several of the military veterans said they appreciated the arrest.
The San Marcos graffiti hotline averages five to 10 calls a day, and the community spends $15,000 to $20,000 a year for graffiti removal, said city employee Veronica Martinez.
There are about a dozen graffiti-related arrests annually in San Marcos, which doesn't have a deadline for property owners to remove graffiti, sheriff's deputies said.
"Some property owners will leave the graffiti up for months, and all that does is let (vandals) know that's OK," said sheriff's Sgt. Glen Giannantonio.
Vista rewards
It's not OK to leave graffiti up indefinitely in Vista, where there is a seven-day removal deadline for property owners and a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals.
"We're implementing a new program, hopefully in the next month," said Patrick Johnson, assistant to Vista's city manager. "We will supply paint outright to private property owners within a day or two. We're going to try and match the paint to the property."
Vista also provides residents with graffiti information cards and mailers, and is developing a new anti-graffiti committee of representatives from law enforcement, the schools, the city and possibly some residents to share graffiti information and build cases against vandals, Johnson said.
Other North County cities are faring better in the graffiti battles, including upscale inland Poway.
"Graffiti is not a major problem in Poway, but it's a very irritating problem when it does pop up," said Jim Howell, Poway's director of public works.
He said the city averages about one call a week, gets rid of the graffiti in less than 24 hours, and spends less than $10,000 a year on removal.
Carlsbad's graffiti problem has remained constant for about 10 years, said Greg Clavier, the city's public works manager. He said there are about 40 reports a week, requiring about 20 to 30 staff hours to handle.
Encinitas, however, had a big jump in graffiti calls last year, rising from 395 in 2004 to 566 in 2005. It seems to be slowing a bit this year with 118 cases so far, said Joan Hughes, Encinitas code enforcement manager.
Hughes said developers are encouraged to use a coating that makes it easier to remove graffiti on buildings
The dream of Tom Davis, maintenance coordinator for the county's Public Works Department, is that someone will invent a liquid that will really keep graffiti markings from sticking to things.
Out of about 25,000 of the county's signs in the unincorporated areas, there were 4,602 graffiti-removal responses last year ---- some of them back to the same places, Davis said.
Rural eyesore
Even in the rural areas, graffiti is becoming a significant eyesore on buildings, fences and signs.
The vandalism is second or third on Fallbrook's list of concerns, said Rick Aldana, who's in charge of the Fallbrook Rotary Club's anti-graffiti enforcement program's hotline.
"It has become more of a problem over the past year," Aldana said. "We've seen more in the last six months than the past three years."
He said a crew of volunteers goes out every week or every other week to remove graffiti, using paint donated by residents or businesses.
"We're keeping a pretty good handle on it, but we're getting calls about once a day now," Aldana said.
In Valley Center, sheriff's Sgt. Ed Wells said donations of paint and manpower are now being sought to start a community graffiti-removal project.
"If we can, we'd like to get it going by summer," Wells said.
Contact staff writer Jo Moreland at (760) 740-3524 or jmoreland@nctimes.com.
Graffiti removal phone numbers:
Carlsbad ---- (760) 434-6700
Del Mar ---- (858) 755-3294
Encinitas ---- (760) 633-2751
Fallbrook ---- (760) 728-3911
Escondido ---- (760) 839-4668
Oceanside ---- (760) 435-4200
Poway ---- Public property, (858) 668-4700; private property, (858) 668-4668
San Diego ---- (619) 525-8522
San Marcos ---- (760) 591-9100
Solana Beach ---- (858) 720-2507
Unincorporated San Diego County ---- (877) 684-8000
Vista ---- (760) 726-1340, Ext. 1611
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Ray wrote on Mar 19, 2006 7:58 AM:This is great that SD county is taking a proactive response to graffiti. Up north, I've seen brand new communities where hard working people paid good money to live only to see youths (with little supervision) paint all over the sidewalks, walls, homes, cars, etc. The city leaders did not put a priority on clean up or attempting to catch the taggers. All taggers live with someone, put a lien on their house, cars, paycheck as well as their parents and you'll see a reduction in tagging. Also run flyers at least twice a year at all elementary, junior high and high schools reminding students the cost of destroying property.
Linda N. wrote on Mar 19, 2006 8:20 AM:Posted 3/19 8:15am. Do everyone a favor and replace the playful label of "tagger" with a more accurate "cockroach" or "loser". Among the tools officials are using to deal with this blight, how about deporting all vandals and their parents who are illegal aliens? I don't recall the problam being so pronounced before the tidal wave of illegals in the last few decades. Oh yes, go after anyone who employes either the illegal alien vandals or their illegal alien parents. Employment is co-equal with 3rd-world corruption and benefits to illegals here as a lure and encouragement for illegal in-migrants.
fred wrote on Mar 19, 2006 9:35 AM: A few well placed sting operations[fresh new wall or fence,night vision and time lapse video] would tag a few taggers.
Sam wrote on Mar 19, 2006 11:07 AM:The NC Times should do a follow-up to this story: how long does it ACTUALLY take to get grafitti cleaned up vs. what the cities claim. I know that in Escondido, they quote 1-4 days yet in JANUARY, I filled out their web site form at http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/depts/pw/report/form.html plus followed up with phone calls to their hotline and some grafitti is STILL there. This is near Escondido High School.
arty wrote on Mar 19, 2006 11:10 AM:Until the punishment is immediate and real, vandals will continue to rule the cities. We must cut off fingers, one by one for each conviction. It really is the only way.
Susan wrote on Mar 19, 2006 11:47 AM:Be sure to use that surveillance camera in Vista. I know in Vista, they have been great about covering it up when I report it. The faster it is covered up the less likely it will come back. The more involve we are the sooner they go away. Thanks City of Vista our area is looking much better.
Proud American wrote on Mar 19, 2006 1:45 PM:"It's not OK to leave graffiti up indefinitely in Vista, where there is a seven-day removal deadline for property owners and a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals." Let me get this straight: propety owners are punished for not removing graffiti on their property? What is they don't have the funds to remove it? What if the property owner is invalid or physically not able to remove the graffiti? Seems pretty unfair to me. Are the police afraid to make arrests for fear of lawsuits if they accidently apprehend someone of minority status who is actually here in the Unites States eslegally? I think that might be a reason why. It could also be argued that the police (for fear of racism lawsuits) actually neglect pulling individuals over in their cars who appear to be of Latino/Hispanic descent except in cases where probible cause cannot be disputed; such as a broken tail-light, drunk driving, etc.... It is VERY probible the police are praticing a form of reverse-discrimination out of fear by racially profiling for express intent of not pulling them over for fear of lawsuits. Is this possible? Is this probible? When looking at the sheer amount of graffiti, I would say yes.C'mon cops, do your jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael wrote on Mar 19, 2006 6:48 PM:I had the priviledge to do some work in the country of Singapore. What a clean country, very modern with lots of people walking around. One thing you don't see in this country is grafitti. The reason you don't see it is because the laws are very tough on taggers and the punishments are applied swiftly.
esteban wrote on Mar 21, 2006 10:28 AM:Wow Proud American has it all figured out. The graffitti is a direct result of cops not doing their jobs. What an idiot.
Matt wrote on Mar 22, 2006 7:59 AM:How about trying to focus on real crime?
Rich wrote on Mar 22, 2006 9:03 AM:These vandals wrote on my dog. I woke to find my dog this morning with the words "puto" spraypainted on his side! When will it end?
A REAL REASON wrote on Mar 23, 2006 1:51 PM:THE PROBLEM IS TODAYS SOCIETY IS SO FOCUSED ON WORK AND MONEY THAT CHILDREN NOW A DAYS RATHER GO GO OUT AND DESTROY A LITTLE BIT OF PROPERTY IF RENT AND HOMES WEREN'T SO IMPOTANT THERE WOULD BE PARENTS AT HOME WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN MAKING SURE THAT THEY AREN'T GOING OUT AND DOING FOOLISH ACTS LIKE THESE BECAUSE OF THE PARENTS BEING SO BUSY NOW A DAYS THE CHILDREN OF OUR AGE PRACTICALLY RAISE THEMSELVES AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING NOW A DAYS CHILDREN HAVE WAY MORE FREEDOM BECAUSE BOTH PARENTS WORK AND CANT KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEIR KIDS BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO TIRED OR ACTUALLY AT WORK AT THE TIME THE CHILDREN ARE DOING THESE CRIMES AND IF THE CITY WOULD MAYBE BUILD A LEGAL WALL WHERE THE KIDS COULD ACTUAULLY GO AND DO THEIR THING WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY THEN EYE THINK THAT GRAFFITI WOULD DECREASE A WHOLE LOT IF THERE WAS LIKE SOME SORT OF LEGAL WALL WERE IT WOULDNT BE MONETERED AND WOULDNT BE PROFITABLE BEACAUSE MOST OF THESE KIDS ARE USING PAINT AND MATERIALS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE THE CITY JUST NEEDS TO BUILD AN AREA WHERE THE PEOPLE KNOW ITS OK FOR THEM TO DO IT AT WHEN EVER TIME THEY WANT LIKE MAYBE A GRAFFITI PARK OF SOME SORT DEDICATED TO THE TRUE ART OF GRAFFITI A PLACE WHERE THOSE KIDS AS WE CALL THEM CAN GO AND PRACTICE THEIR NONSENCE THERE INSTEAD OF THE DARN STREETS YOU PEOPLE DONT THINK AND YOU RACIST PEOPLE THINK INTO IT TO DEEP!
Rebecca wrote on Mar 28, 2006 9:56 PM:A tough little guy with a bad comb-over named Rudy had a plan in the 90's to rid our country's largest city of quality of life crimes, including graffti. I lived in New York before and during the beautiful transformation that took place thanks to Mayor Guiliani and still am dumbfounded as to why his ideas haven't taken hold in other cities throughout the U.S. New York still looks great today. I wish San Marcos and the rest of North County would look at his model and implement some or all of his ideas. If one man's ideas can totally transform the largest city in the country, there's no reason it can't happen here.
Tagged Again (and again, and again ... ) wrote on Mar 29, 2006 7:22 AM:If San Marcos is getting 5 to ten calls a day to their graffiti hotline, then why, WHY, are there only an average of 12 arrests every year. I would love to see a follow up to this story also. We need more arrests, tougher penalities, bigger fines. We need to do more to stop these pathetic little creeps that are making our middle class neighborhoods look like slums.
used to live in san diego wrote on Jun 5, 2006 1:35 PM:i moved to nyc from san diego 6 years ago.your problem is ignorrance and laziness.graffiti is not your problem north county.lazy cops are your problem.you would be surprised how swift and fast cops here in nyc apprehend notorious vandals.your police are already over paid.....you should be pointing fingers at the cops as they're the ones not putting the fear into the little punks to keep them from tagging up surburbia....and dont make the mistake of giving them a "legal" place to do it.throw them in jail or juvi.id say the system is the problem not some rebellious kids.
Bobbi wrote on Jul 28, 2007 7:54 PM:I came forward with grafetti information that lead to conviction and no one even offered the reward what is the procedure to collect the money, I solved 34 cases for the sheriff.
art is not a crime wrote on Aug 17, 2007 1:55 PM:i say the city of san marcos gets ahead of themselfs by building something like a graffity block on some corner of san marcos were kids that paint can go and exprees one of the manyh forms of art. in this case graffity.!
Danny wrote on Dec 23, 2007 11:31 AM:60 percent of graffiti is gang-related, 30 percent is done by taggers (marking territory), this is not true its more like the other way around gang members mark territory not taggers. taggers do graffiti to exspess there self and make a name for themselves amoung freinds and other taggers in the city. i think that the citys could save money by not painting over graffiti that is away from everone like walls under a bridge i live in oceanside and there is places to do graffiti and not bother anyone. thers a wall on this bike bath in the valley in oceanside theres a huge wall that everybody tags on the backside so no one see's it but the city goes and paints over it theres so manny places that we can let them do graffiti without bothering someone and that would mabe cutdown on graffiti on the freeway and on city buses.
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