The "History of Graffiti" at the State, really?

So author and photographer Jim Prigoff is giving a lecture and slide show on "The History of Graffiti" tomorrow night at the State Theatre here in Modesto.  My thought is, wrong city at the wrong time.  We know that graffiti is an "art" and I am not one to hold back on the "arts", but in Modesto, graffiti is known as "tagging" first, art maybe.  Mr. Prigoff is no dummy.  He knows where is markets are.

He is supposed to convert these taggers into "artists"? Not sure of that is the idea or not.

Finally. However...

Ok the graffiti on the "water pump" wall at Poplar and Stoddard was finally taken care of after nearly two months of it being tagged.  It will get tagged again, so my question is, who painted over it? Was it the cities abatement team or the business itself, or another nearby business?
I want to know who to call when it gets tagged again.  I called the "hotline" over a month ago and I believe it was finally painted over yesterday.  If anybody has any answers please inquire.

I know it is baby steps and it is a process to get graffiti taken care of, but why did this take so long? I know that city employees had to see this on a daily basis.  Why wouldn't they say something to the abatement team?  They just passed the buck so to say?

The graffiti shown here across the street on a residential fence has been there just as long.  Shouldn't somebody be knocking on their front door saying that it needs to be taken care of? How about a fine if it is not taken care of in a timely manner?  At the least a bucket of paint should be dropped off on their front porch.  Or give me the paint and I will get Uncle Tom to paint over it.

Graffiti and Businesses

A frustrating part of the graffiti process is the fact that there are businesses that just don't do anything with cleaning up the graffiti or calling the cumbersome number.  This graffiti pictured above has been on this wall for over a month.  I called the graffiti hotline over three weeks ago. This is on Needham across the street from Poplar Ave.  I left a message saying that I was not sure if this is city, private, or public domain.  I chatted with the folks at Helping Hands Massage & Aromatherapy and he told me that this utility building belongs to Level (3) and they never do anything about the graffiti as it is the Massage company that calls.  This wall gets tagged frequently and it is usually taken care of but not this time.  The other picture is across the street on Needham in between Poplar and Hackberry.  That is a private resident who again, is not taking care of it.  

What the? Really?

Thanks to Modesto View for posting this "art" that took place inside Mancini Bowl at Graceada Park.  Because of the vigilance of Modesto View, this was quickly cleaned by Tim and Sean from the city.  Looks like it was a Graffiti Party as guests were invited like a Tupperware or Gold Party.  "Uncle Tom" took a stroll Sunday evening with his dog and said it was not there early Sunday evening.  So this was done later Sunday evening.  Now, Rank Patrol was patrolling the neighborhood.  Not saying it was their fault.  However, someone needs to be responsible.  I am thinking that city has not worked out details with Rank Investigations to patrol the park, meaning, get out and walk the park too.  If so, maybe this would not have occurred.  The city says they are considering "park patrols" and we HAVE one that WE are paying for, yet they can't set foot inside the parks?  Please advise.  Now, I was hoping that Tim and Sean turned around and saw the graffiti on the yellow utility wall that has been there for over a month on Poplar and Needham on the south side of the street. I called the graffiti "hotline" 3 weeks ago.  Still there.  That is probably because nobody knows if it is city or private land.

Unbeleivable

It has been pretty quiet at Enslen Park.  Maybe this is due to the closed restrooms, or maybe it is because of the area patrol or the police.  Could be because of the apathy from the Graceada park area residents as most of the vagrancy has gone there.

What better way to disrupt this quietness than a good ole park feeding! Lets just drop off some free sack lunches in a box and let them fight over it!  A food fight slinging food and fists.  Man vs. Woman.  "F" bombs all up and down this place.  Never mind the teenagers playing volleyball, they will step aside.

If we really want to get rid of graffiti....

We need a number we can call instantly that we can remember!? Driving around town the other day, I saw graffiti on the Virginia Corridor overpass at Briggsmore, then turned left onto College (southbound) and saw some on a Century 21 sign, then witnessed the "beautification" of First Reality at Orangeburg and College.  That whole entire business complex is lit up with graffiti.  The front of the complex faces right into the windows of Roosevelt Junior High, where the daydreaming students have visions of graffiti swirling amongst their wandering minds.

Now I know we have a graffiti number to call, 209-342-2259.

There was some recent news in the Bee that the city has brought back its graffiti abatement team.  You can file online to report graffiti or call the number.  The online thing is nice, but cumbersome.  I would like to see a number such as, 1-800-CLEAN UP, or 1-800-WIPE-OFF. Maybe use the existing number of 34-ABC-59.  Sorry, that's all I got with minimal effort on that.

Then there could be a media blitz in the Bee, MPD, with the city, maybe some radio PSA's, refrigerator magnets, whatever.  Get the number imbedded into the minds of concerned citizens that really would like to see the graffiti cleaned up.  Then while driving they can call and report it right away, of course please pull over to the side of the road.

What is with the 400 blocks?

So as I look at Crimemapping.com I am noticing a trend.  I checked out the "stats" from the first of the year through today.  Within the College area, the 400 blocks seem to be getting some "pub".  The 400 blocks of College, Virginia, Park, and Sycamore avenues.  Theft, verbal fights, fights, burglary, robbery, the whole gamut.  Hhmmm, rentals.  Not sure what the story is at the 400 College block, but there are seedy characters within the 400 block of Park and Sycamore. I am just assuming this looking at the stats, and when I drive by and see tattoos on necks, it sort of gives it away.

It is also interesting to note the number of "mini icons" at the front end of Graceada Park, 7-11, and our beloved Modesto Inn.  Well vagrants tend to hang out at the front of Graceada Park, and when bored, irritated, or flat out desperate, I am sure they are left to fighting.  I NEVER go to 7-11 as that is just flat out a mess.  Just check out the gutters when driving by on Morris.  There is more trash than leaves.  That whole little corner at Morris and McHenry are trying their best to replicate today's ghetto scene I am thinking.  Just wondering if it is a collective effort? Thank goodness for Prime Shine Express.  Can they go mobile?

And the Modesto Inn, well, that speaks for itself.

This posting is not a "dig" at our police, patrol, or city leaders.  I am just using crimemapping.com for its intended use; to see what crimes are happening in our area.  When the crimemapping icons look like Christmas trees, it is a bit alarming.

Thanks to the Safety & Communities Council

In attending last nights Safety & Communications Committee workshop I have to say that I am encouraged by the effort and acknowledgment that our parks need work.  It is upsetting that our parks in Modesto are in such a mess brought about by the vandalism and destruction from today's downtrodden individuals.  It is a true shame.

Our city's leaders are finally saying enough is enough.  However, it is still going to take some time to cure the ills.  As noted by Julie Hannon, some "pilot" programs will need to be installed to see what works. Private patrols, cameras, park patrols, or whatever it takes.

I was pleased to see our CANA (College Area Neighborhood Alliance) in attendance in full force at the workshop.  Thanks to Twainhart Hill, Todd Aaronson, and Sandy Clark.  CANA wants action and we are in for the fight.  It would be nice to see other neighborhoods join in. The complacency of some neighborhoods is a shame.  Are you folks telling me you did not see or hear that temporary chain link fencing being confiscated?

Be vigilant.  If you see sketchy individuals, they are probably up to no good.

To the committee folks, lets fast track this effort as best as possible.

Group revives security camera plan for Modesto's Kewin Park - Featured Stories - Modbee.com

Group revives security camera plan for Modesto's Kewin Park - Featured Stories - Modbee.com

A Park Patrol program may be more beneficial than cameras. Just a thought that has been bantered around a bit already.

These are just two more reason for the cause.

Park Restroom Closed Due to Vandalism

Due to recent vandalism, the restrooms in Sylvan Park, located at 2801 Niabell Place, are closed and will remain closed for an undetermined length of time. On Sunday, January 15, vandals set an object on fire inside the restroom structure causing damage to the inside of the restroom, the roof and some of the building’s exterior. The restrooms will remain closed while the scope of damage and repairs needed are identified and repairs are completed

Corner Market has 2 Issues in one day

So I read on Crimemapping.com the the Millennium Market (green store) had two issues Friday night.  The first was when a homeless guy came in an threatened Sonny with this metal stake seen in the picture.  Sonny took it away from him and had the situation in control the whole time.  He took off and the police did come, but they did not find the idiot.  Three hours prior to that some thugs came in and grabbed two 30 packs of beer and took off in a white Impala.  A customer followed the car for awhile.  The police were given the make and model and license plate.

MPD and their new service

Noticed on facebook, the new service the MPD are promoting: Crimemapping.com 

http://www.modestogov.com/newsroom/releases/prdetail.asp?id=1130

It is a slick site. However, we KNOW that there are crimes.   Why state the obvious? More resources should be in preventing these crimes! I am a big follower of the MPD and everything they do with the limited resources.  So with this site, we see the crimes committed, so now what? 

Some neighborhoods are trying to do their part including ours, but it still happens.  I am a big proponent of a Park patrol within certain parks (As that is where the vagrancy starts).  The Blue Ribbon committee was put together to come up with some solutions, and I believe they are behind this (park patrol) so where are we with that?

On another note, in an interview with Modesto View, City Manager, Greg Nyhoff suggested, "I would like to see Modesto residents reporting and stamping out tagging. Tagger's create blight and blight causes a decline in property values and creates an inhospitable landscape." Gee, you think? Who are we going to report it to?  The graffiti abatement is no longer! Again, we do our own graffiti removal in OUR neighborhood, but we cannot get the rest of the city covered! Honestly, outside of a few neighborhood alliances, most people have given up.  There is just too much.  

So you have talked about it, what are you going to do about it Mr. Nyhoff?

Gotta Love that Modesto Inn!

http://youtu.be/GbPfWOmFleI