City Councilmember Eugene Green said the growing problem is draining money from both property owners and the city, resources he believes should be spent elsewhere.
NEW ORLEANS — New Orlean City Councilmember Eugene Green is pushing for tougher penalties on graffiti vandals, proposing to raise the fine form $100 to $500 or even $1,000, according to NOLA.com.
He said the growing problem is draining money from both property owners and the city, resources he believes should be spent elsewhere, “it is not a victimless crime.”
Green said his frustration with graffiti boiled over after a recent visit to North Claiborne Avenue, where he couldn’t ignore the spray-painted tags, cartoons, and scribbles across buildings and infrastructure, our partners reported.
“It is irresponsible, selfish, incredibly insensitive and disrespectful,” he told NOLA.com. “Why do people think there are certain neighborhoods you can write all over, but it’s not in other neighborhood?” he added.
He stressed the need to separate public art from what he calls “mindless graffiti,” pointing out that murals are popular and remain welcome in the city.
However, some doubt higher fines will work.
Photographer and former street-art tour guide Carlos Fundora said many graffiti writers already take significant risks and won’t be deterred by a bigger penalty.
“If the goal is graffiti abatement, I don’t think this alone will accomplish much of anything,” Fundora told our partners. His opinion suggests removing blighted structures and creating legal spaces for graffiti would be a more effective solution.
Green has presented his proposal to the City Council, where it will come up for a vote. In the meantime, he’s encouraging residents to report graffiti violations to help identify offenders.
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