Attack against graffiti will need community help

Graffiti is an annoyance in many communities, but San Luis, Ariz., has become so exasperated with its graffiti problem that it plans a multipronged attack against the spray paint vandals.

City officials say damage from "taggers" has soared and it is costing the city a significant amount of money, something they will not tolerate. Acting City Manager Jeff Philpot estimated it is costing $20,000 a year just to replace signs.

"If you drive through San Luis, almost every sign has graffiti," Philpot told the Yuma Sun. "We are replacing 10 or more signs a week."

It is more than the cost, however. Defaced signs cause traffic hazards. It is not something that can simply be ignored.

It looks like San Luis has a good plan of attack, however. It has several tiers:

• They are asking for help from city residents in reporting people who are tagging. A graffiti hotline (627-8881) has been set up to take calls.

• City officials plan to review and revise the current graffiti ordinance to make it tougher. Fines for violators will likely be increased and rewards will be offered for information leading to the arrest of taggers.

• Local businesses will be audited to ensure they are complying with laws restricting the sale of spray paint.
  In the end, any successful anti-graffiti program relies on the support of members of the community who refuse to tolerate the misbehavior. They must view tagging as a serious offense against the public good and be willing to cooperate with authorities in stopping it.

After all, ending graffiti should be of near universal interest to San Luis residents. It will reduce public expenses, make the city a more attractive place to live and end the traffic hazards created by taggers.