Council Addresses Graffiti Problem
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
Bradford residents have to start being more concerned about the way the community looks.
That was the message from University of Pittsburgh at Bradford President Emeritus Dick McDowell during Tuesday's night city council work session on the proposed graffiti ordinance.
It's about time we property owners stand up for our rights," he said. "We don't have to live in a blighted city."
McDowell said the graffiti ordinance is the third step in cleaning up the city, adding that he hopes "it's a continuing series of ordinances and that other changes will come about."
He said the first two steps were the continuing crackdown on drugs and the shopping cart ordinance.
"I encourage city council to come up with more ways to make this community more beautiful," McDowell said.
McDowell was one of about a dozen people who attended the session prior to Tuesday's regular council meeting.
Mayor Tom Riel addressed the speculation that the growing graffiti problem is a symptom of more drugs or gangs moving into the city.
"There is absolutely zero evidence that any of the graffiti in the City of Bradford is drug- or gang-related," Riel said.
Police Chief Mike Close added that "no matter how creative they were or how good it looked, (the people they caught) were local boys."
Council is expected to vote on the ordinance during its next meeting after some minor revisions are made.
As it reads now, no one under the age of 18 will be allowed to possess spray paint, and no business will be allowed to sell spray paint to a minor.
The penalty is at least a $25 fine for a first offense; $100 for a second offense; and $300 for a third offense. Prison time is an option as well. District Judge Dominic Cercone also has the option to make the person clean up the graffiti.
Riel said this does not cover all possession.
"If a child's at home painting his little, red wagon or if he's at home painting his bicycle … but anyplace, basically, off his parents' property … unless he gives a good, warranted explanation," he said.
Riel said one reason for the ordinance is that "right now (minors) can walk up and down Main Street with a can of spray paint and we can't do anything about it."
Property owners are also responsible for removing graffiti. They have 30 days during the winter and 15 days during the summer.
Riel said that most property owners are already good at removing graffiti as soon as possible.
Council members also expressed their hope that Foster and Bradford townships would adopt similar ordinances. Riel noted that Wal-Mart, in Foster Township, already has a nationwide policy to not sell spray paint to minors.
WESB/WBRR News Director
Bradford residents have to start being more concerned about the way the community looks.
That was the message from University of Pittsburgh at Bradford President Emeritus Dick McDowell during Tuesday's night city council work session on the proposed graffiti ordinance.
It's about time we property owners stand up for our rights," he said. "We don't have to live in a blighted city."
McDowell said the graffiti ordinance is the third step in cleaning up the city, adding that he hopes "it's a continuing series of ordinances and that other changes will come about."
He said the first two steps were the continuing crackdown on drugs and the shopping cart ordinance.
"I encourage city council to come up with more ways to make this community more beautiful," McDowell said.
McDowell was one of about a dozen people who attended the session prior to Tuesday's regular council meeting.
Mayor Tom Riel addressed the speculation that the growing graffiti problem is a symptom of more drugs or gangs moving into the city.
"There is absolutely zero evidence that any of the graffiti in the City of Bradford is drug- or gang-related," Riel said.
Police Chief Mike Close added that "no matter how creative they were or how good it looked, (the people they caught) were local boys."
Council is expected to vote on the ordinance during its next meeting after some minor revisions are made.
As it reads now, no one under the age of 18 will be allowed to possess spray paint, and no business will be allowed to sell spray paint to a minor.
The penalty is at least a $25 fine for a first offense; $100 for a second offense; and $300 for a third offense. Prison time is an option as well. District Judge Dominic Cercone also has the option to make the person clean up the graffiti.
Riel said this does not cover all possession.
"If a child's at home painting his little, red wagon or if he's at home painting his bicycle … but anyplace, basically, off his parents' property … unless he gives a good, warranted explanation," he said.
Riel said one reason for the ordinance is that "right now (minors) can walk up and down Main Street with a can of spray paint and we can't do anything about it."
Property owners are also responsible for removing graffiti. They have 30 days during the winter and 15 days during the summer.
Riel said that most property owners are already good at removing graffiti as soon as possible.
Council members also expressed their hope that Foster and Bradford townships would adopt similar ordinances. Riel noted that Wal-Mart, in Foster Township, already has a nationwide policy to not sell spray paint to minors.
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