Graffiti problem downtown??

[metro]

I've been noticing a lot of graffiti downtown lately. Most recently when driving to work today, I noticed fresh graffiti on the brand new building on the SW corner of NW 6th and Hudson, just right across the street from the Regency Tower and the new federal building. Also on Hudson and Dean A. McGee there is quite a bit of graffiti.

[Pete]

OKC has a grafitti removal hotline:

297-2535

Anytime you run across it, call them up right away.

The best deterent is quick removal.

[Midtowner]

And on the 13th street bridge over I-235.

[metro]

Mid. Thanks for the contact info. I programmed the number in my cell phone and will call them right away. I noticed a building off the Centennial Expressway is getting pretty bad too. I've also got city code inspectors plugged in my phone for easy access as well. Has anyone else noticed those sites above I mentioned with graffiti?

[venture]

Easy way to stop it...shoot to kill those doing it. Okay maybe that is a bit harsh...but it would end that and probably impact the gang problem at the same time.

[Midtowner]

Venture -- 30 days in the electric chair.

[metro]

I noticed more of it today at around 5th and Walker. It's spreading viciously on the west side of downtown.

[Doug Loudenback]

Easy way to stop it...shoot to kill those doing it. Okay maybe that is a bit harsh...but it would end that and probably impact the gang problem at the same time.

Sad to say, but your solution may be the only one that works.

Seriously, these kids (I presume) have nothing better to do than pump up their egos than doing destructive stuff, which is very sad. Where's Hillary's "village stuff" when you need her?

[keving]

Or perhaps these people doing the grafitti just need a better outlet for their artistic side such as after school programs or other community programs.

[venture]

After school and community programs are fantasy ideas in a Politicians world...back to reality now.

[Midtowner]

We could start finger painting classes at the community center!

Or better yet, I think the anti-gang task force needs to take this on. It's apparently gang-related graffiti.

[Patrick]

You know, why don't we give these folks a place to spray their graffiti. The thing I used to lvoe about graffiti bridge was it allowed these people a place to spray their work. Why not create another graffiti bridge, and maybe it would cut down on graffiti elsewhere?

[jbrown84]

Where was the Graffiti Bridge?

[Midtowner]

You know, why don't we give these folks a place to spray their graffiti. The thing I used to lvoe about graffiti bridge was it allowed these people a place to spray their work. Why not create another graffiti bridge, and maybe it would cut down on graffiti elsewhere?

I don't really think that idea's a winner. Most of the graffiti you've seen around town lately has been gang related. It's a method to mark territory, or to simply make your presence known. The graffiti bridge would be a nice idea, however, it would be completely unrelated to the problem at hand.

[John]

Where was the Graffiti Bridge?

Where present day Classen intersects Western.

[Pete]

Most of the graffiti you've seen around town lately has been gang related.

I run a nonprofit for at-risk teens in Los Angeles and am very well versed in gangs, graffiti and the like.

Most people assume that 'tagging' is gang related when in fact, the huge percentage is not.

Most taggers are just kids that like to see their work around town.


It's really very simple: Just call the graffiti removal hotline and report anything you see. Kids will stop tagging if their work is quickly eradicated. And if you really want to help, check on an area on a regular basis and make calls as needed.


And BTW, we run after school art programs here that get former taggers involved in public art and it's been highly successful.

[striker]

it's not even good graffiti.... where's the talent around here?!

[metro]

There is good graffiti over off 1-235 aka Centennial Expressway aka Broadway Extention. On the east side of the road on a warehouse over by Kimray. I've also seen some good work on some trains. There is also some good work in Automobile Alley on Broadway just south of 10th on the west side of the road on a large building.

Originally Posted by Patrick
You know, why don't we give these folks a place to spray their graffiti. The thing I used to lvoe about graffiti bridge was it allowed these people a place to spray their work. Why not create another graffiti bridge, and maybe it would cut down on graffiti elsewhere?


I don't really think that idea's a winner. Most of the graffiti you've seen around town lately has been gang related. It's a method to mark territory, or to simply make your presence known. The graffiti bridge would be a nice idea, however, it would be completely unrelated to the problem at hand.

I agree they need a designated area to graffiti. In fact if I remember right, the city is already looking into this as this discussion was brought up a few months ago. As Malibu pointed out, it's not always gang related but a way to showplace someone's art. It's just tacky how they go about doing it. The incident over on Hudson at NW 6th and between 4th and Dean A. McGee again on Hudson, is probably gang related. It's a name, that appears to be a gang name. They painted it on windows, a brand new building and everything else. Ruined that brand new building.... : (

[urbanone]

i agree there should be a legal wall or place to express the art. i just dont know who to talk to so we could get something started on that. i am a local artist who uses spray paint as my medium. i have done some legal work for some companies. and tryin to do more. this graffiti you have been seeing is not gang related. unless it is in deep south side. most of these kids are very talented artists, and just need a way to express themselves legally.

[metro]

urbanone, I'm curious can you do private work? I'd be interested in a possible piece on one of my walls in my downtown condo

[Pete]

Channel 9 (through newsok.com) interviewed Tulsa & OKC police who said there is a 'tagging war' between groups in both towns and that's the reason for the recent outbreak in both cities. Sounds like they are making progress towards bringing this to an end:

http://www.newsok.com/video/33014

[urbanone]

:artist you can check out my some of my artwork on my myspace page(www.myspace.com/kasone405) and you can email me at (kasone405@cox.net). i would love to do any work.

[urbanone]

jus thought i would put my facts in on this. there is not a war going on between tulsa and okc. those tulsa kids came down and were painting with local artists. yes we do like to show off to tulsa but it is not in any way a "war". i say these are facts because i am kinda involved in this situation. but i am not any of the kids they are looking for. i have already been questioned and cleared of this so dont worry about telling anybody about me. i know everybody looks down on graff so i am just here to defend it.

[mburlison]

" #9 08-23-2006, 04:10 PM
keving
Member Join Date: Sep 2005
Total Posts: 151
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Re: Graffiti problem downtown??

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Or perhaps these people doing the grafitti just need a better outlet for their artistic side such as after school programs or other community programs"

Oh that's right...they're victims, how could we forget. I don't know, but I was taught that not having something was no excuse for taking someone elses stuff or messing it up. Maybe that should be our tack w/ Iran, they just need a constructive outlet for their nuclear ambitions, I'm sure they go along w/ it. Meanwhile, let's all sing kum-bah-yah, pass the earth shoes and send little candle-laden boats down the river at sunset. Get a grip people. These graffiti types need to be dealt w/ for the Vandals that they ARE.

[Midtowner]

Most art is good enough for people to want to see it. Unfortunately, these folks don't seem to get that. People line up to see exhibits of good art at galleries, exhibitions (which happen frequently on the Paseo and on Automobile Alley), etc.

These guys could very easily channel their energies into something legal. Instead, they "tag" the more crowded parts of our city. This graffiti causes incalculable harm. As much as we spend to make our downtown look clean and orderly, graffiti makes it look dirty and out of control.

Some of these guys are very talented others not so much (the graffiti on Hudson and 4th, for example was just dumb looking). I'd love to see the talented artists channel their energy into something legal.

I'd like to see the untalented hangers-on do something productive with their lives.