More On the Graffiti Ordinance

This is from Talk About Bradford:

"You say the key to the ordinance is the fact property owners will be made to clean up their own property. I would agree except for the fact you know the City and or State will not be made to clean up their property. Also does this ordinance cover houses that are in serious need of a paint job. Some of those houses would look better covered in grafitti. Does the property owner clean up at his/her own expense or does the fund created by the city pay for it. I feel this ordinance will be just like taxes, let the homeowner take care or everything and the people on welfare will have to pay nothing."

I hope this clears up some things:

The ordinance does say that the city and state must clean up their property -- this includes PennDOT (Route 219). It also includes companies like railroads. Ask parks director Chip Comilla if the city cleans up graffiti on city-owned buildings.

The fines will go into a trust fund that will be used to help people pay for the cleanup if they can't afford it.

Mayor Riel and City Solicitor Mark Hollenbeck explained during the work session that the ordinance cannot tell the District Judge how to penalize the offender so, yes, it is up to him whether the offender will have to clean up graffiti or do some other kind of community service. But it seems like common sense to me that he/she would have to do some kind of community service.

The ordinance says that the penalty is a fine and/or "imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days. Also "Any person who violates this ordinance shall also be required, either severally, or jointly with others, to pay restitution to the victims(s)."

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