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As I am sure many of you have noticed, Graffiti has become quite a problem in our area. This is especially true on NW 23rd St. This type of vandalism hurts the beauty of our area, decreases property values, and makesvisitors think we don't care about our neighborhood. We can't control the many run-down businesses on 23rd St, but we don't have to settle for this vandalism that advertises our neighborhood as an easy target for crime.

According to www.graffitihurts.org, studies show that the most effective way to prevent graffiti is to remove it promptly (24-48 hours). This is most likely not possible in all instances, but if you are or know the property owner of a vandalized building, quick removal will help prevent recurrence. According to the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma, "Oklahoma City municipal code states that it is the responsibility of the property owner to remove graffiti from their property. The Community Action Agency will provide free paint and supplies to property owners who wish to clean up graffiti. Contact the Community Action Agency at 232-0199 to locate the nearest district office. If the graffiti is not on your property, CAA staff will also help you carry out the steps necessary to get permission from the property owner and will issue a voucher for paint and supplies to a local paint store or equipment rental agency. If the same area is vandalized again, you can use any remaining paint or go through the process again to obtain more materials." For those situations where the property owner is a disinterested out-of-state party the city provides a means for clean-up: "It is important to note that the city will remove graffiti at no charge to the property owner, but the city is required by state law to wait 20 days after the initial notice of code violation to allow the property owner to remove the graffiti themselves. After a property has been served with one notice of code violation for graffiti, no further notice will be issued. The city crew will remove any future incidence of graffiti from the same property as it is reported."

Please report all graffiti to the OKC Action center, by phone 297-2535, by fax 297-2579, or on the web at http://www.okc.gov/action/Complaint.html. If you witnesses graffiti in progress, you should call 911 and report it. Getting caught is also a successful deterrent to vandals. If you are interested in helping with the removal of graffiti, please email graffiti@mestapark.org and link your personal email to it.