War has been declared on graffiti. Bill Reid, City of Powell River director of parks, recreation and culture, and RCMP Constable Chris Bakker want local businesses and community members to join the cause.
Increased levels of graffiti on city and private property last year prompted the duo to begin a campaign of raising public awareness about the issue. A committee has been formed and meetings held with the aim to develop a plan to prevent the costly painting.
The city spent almost $40,000 over the last five years dealing with vandalism, primarily graffiti. Bakker said every investigation the RCMP has in relation to graffiti costs anywhere from $500 to $1,000 and with 24 instances of graffiti looked into last year this adds up. Bakker and Reid stress that this is taxpayer’s money, so it is in everyone’s interest to help stop it.
“It’s definitely a cost to the community, when you add up the RCMP’s costs and our costs,” said Reid. “It’s a major community problem I think really. If we can get the buy in and get the awareness out there I think that’s key.”
Reid decided something needed to be done in January after a rash of tagging and graffiti at Powell River Recreation Complex. Bakker noticed an increased level of calls for graffiti so far this year too and joined forces with Reid. Since then the issue has been discussed with city councillors, Mayor Stewart Alsgard, Powell River Chamber of Commerce Manager Kim Miller and local business owners who sell paint and felt markers, among others.
One potential plan is to limit the availability of graffiti materials to the wrong hands and to increase public awareness of the issue. This should start with parents, who need to be aware of paints they have around the house or what their children may be up to in the evenings. Owners from some businesses around town are considering making spray paints and felt markers, the two most common graffiti mediums, behind-the-counter products or harder to purchase in some way.
“It’s not ever going to be solved,” said Bakker. For parents with a garage full of spray paints he suggests “be aware of what you have and...keep an eye on it.” Since 2003 the wall at the old arena site beside Willingdon Beach has been a free zone for graffiti. Reid said that this is where graffiti art belongs and not on mailboxes, street signs, private businesses or anywhere else. Reid wants to work with the Youth Advisory Council more to promote the wall and decide whether they want it to be painted over so artists can start from scratch and whether this should be done annually, or at all.
“The kids don’t think it’s such a big problem,” said Reid. “But they don’t realize what the cost is or what it costs to remove that and how it makes the community look from older eyes and people coming into the community. It just comes across as no civil pride.”
