Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Graffiti Monster Attacking Logan

So, I don't know whether or not you've noticed, but Logan--in particular 14th Street--has been hit with a scourge of graffiti recently. Anyone who has spent time in the neighborhood knows that we get some tagging here and there--at the Zipcar lot, along some alleyways, etc. But recently, it's getting much more severe. Just strolling down 14th Street recently, I snapped the following:









Many people may not know this, but DPW can actually cite property owners for failing to remove graffiti, once the owner has been notified of it. Practically speaking however, this is one of those laws that is just hardly ever enforced. So, what can be done:

DPW maintains a website--somewhat humorously titled "Not In Our DC!"--devoted explicitly to the issues of litter and graffiti removal. DPW will send a team to a property to remove graffiti, provided the property owner requests it. Citizens can also contact DPW directly through their website to submit a request that graffiti be removed from a property. In addition, DPW offers free "graffiti removal kit" vouchers that property owners can request.

I haven't received any word on what may be responsible for the recent uptick in graffiti in the neighborhood, but whatever the source it's something those of us in the neighborhood can address.

16 comments:

brap said...

Yes! I noticed this lately too. Thank you posting about this. Let's keep this under control.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

i don't understand how this can happen along such a busy road. Even in the middle of the night! If I saw this happening you can BET i'd stop it somehow! Who are the slackers who see it and shake their heads but don't stop the vandals?

Matty said...

Wow! This escaped me. I agree with brap: How is/does this happen on such a busy street -- some of it is fairly extensive and would take a bit of time to do. The market at 14th and Corcoran has long been plagued by this stuff, on the Corcoran Street side.

LoganRes said...

Thanks for posting this! Although this neighborhood has long had a manageable level of graffiti, it seems to have gotten a lot worse over the last few months. I'm not sure if it's one group of individuals or several different ones, but something must be done. I already emailed Jack Evans to see if he can offer some support. Maybe the MPD can increase surveillance in the area or create an anti-graffiti task force, but I suspect they have other priorities. If nothing else, pressuring the local business community to quickly remove graffiti should help to manage the situation in the near term.

yoavlurie said...

Thanks for posting this - great resources! Studies show (http://bit.ly/aGyHGd) that graffiti in our neighborhood can usher in crime and trigger a downward spiral. I just ordered a kit for the corner store on my Logan Circle block. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Graffiti has popped up a number of times over the years. And DPW has established the removal program, in this area for the past few years the "Green Team" ,usually facillitates the removal as part of their regular services for 14th Street, however until/unless the Neighborhood Investment Funds are allocated for the Ward 2 portions of the area, the Green Team will not be providing service in Ward 2, right now they are only servicing the Ward 1 portions of Midcity Business District.

Also, when cleaning off masonry or brick, the power washers are operated by the same people that are doing snow removal, and the equipment does not function well in cold temperatures, so it might be a little while before those situations can be addressed.



Hopefully those grants will be processed in March and services will return before Spring.

Brian said...

Unfortunately, beyond merely reporting the issues, not much can be done until the weather warms up. I forget the exact temperature, but graffiti removal requires ambient temperatures to be somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty degrees.

I first noticed this right after the snow let up: while other crime was declining, graffiti was up.

Perhaps too many snow days for vagrant youths...?

Mr. Q said...

It's really increased everywhere over the last few weeks...from Dupont to Shaw...

Speaking from experience as a Shaw resident, we've had fast response time from the city by calling 311 and notifying them of where the graffiti is...if its on private property they have to get the consent of the property owner but the turnaround time for graffiti removal has generally been appoximately 1 week from the time of the call...if not less.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Graffiti has been an increasing problem in Georgetown as well, and I notice cleanup happens within days. I guess it's citywide.

Mr. Other Upper NW said...

I'll note that I've seen it in Dupont and Georgetown as well--it's definitely been on the uptick recently. But it seems that 14th Street, particularly between P and U, has been getting hit particularly hard. The AYT Auto Shop at 14th and R looks awful--someone tagged both of their pull-down gates a couple of weeks ago, and nothing's been done to remove it yet. Logan's turning into the Lower East Side.

cathy said...

what i dread most about graffiti is whether it's related to gang activity and tagging.

LoganRes said...

I wanted to share an email response I received from a DC govt official relating to the graffiti problem in our neighborhood. It's all too easy to criticize the city govt when something bad happens (or the federal govt for that matter), but the fact is that there are many competent govt officials working their hardest to make life better for everyone. I'm encouraged to know that the city is taking our graffiti problem seriously and is responding to our needs.

Email Response:

I am happy to report that the City will remove most if not all of the graffiti this week. I am working with a very efficient and responsive DPW Administrator and we will get to all of them shortly.

In the mean time, MPD is working hard on catching the thugs responsible for this defacement of public and private property.

Please continue to share your thoughts and concerns with us.

The historic snow storm certainly delayed some of our graffiti and trash abatement efforts, but we are back on track now.

Anonymous said...

Cork Market's newly painted facade was tagged as well

Mr. Other Upper NW said...

Yes, I saw that. I mentioned that to Khalid (the owner), and he laughed and said "now I feel like part of the neighborhood".

Anonymous said...

the back of that hideous dry cleaner at 14th and Q is CONSTANTLY tagged, as is the house behind it. I feel sorry for that house owner, because it's been for sale for a while. probably hard to sell it when it's constantly tagged. and if it gets painted over, they just come back and do it again.

Jon Lively said...

You snapping these pics and posting them only gives them motivation to do more because they are getting free advertising!!