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Graffiti poses problem downtown
Tagger claims he would like to 'bomb D-town'
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by YODIT GIDEY/Herald photos
Ceilidh Cross and Willis Miller read graffiti behind the Durango Arts Center on Monday. The two are with the Durango Performing Arts Company which holds office hours, practice, and shows at the center. They are Encore! performers and teach younger children through the program, Ovation.
Click image to enlarge
Photo by YODIT GIDEY/Herald photos
Graffiti behind the Durango Arts Center is seen Monday.
Next to a black jagged squiggle, another graffitist wrote, "Good job homeboy. Just testing U. I like ur flo. Let's get a crew started and officially bomb D-town. U in?"
The question is follow by yes and no boxes, yet unchecked.
Officials from the arts center aren't so impressed. They're eager to get rid of the unsolicited artwork in hopes of deterring additional markings.
"If you don't get it done, it keeps happening," said Caitlin Connaughton-Cross, education director of the arts center. "It happens every year."
The most recent writing appeared about three weeks ago. About a half-block away, graffiti recently appeared on a utility box next to Durango Music and on a wall across the street on the building that houses Gardenswartz Outdoors, at Eighth Street and Main Avenue.
Despite these episodes, police say graffiti reports are about average, reaching five to eight a month.
"It's about the same. It comes and goes," said Sgt. Geary Parsons.
Parsons handled all graffiti reports until this spring and is training his replacement.
He said some graffiti is related to gangs, but couldn't say whether those gangs are operating in Durango.
"There's people who move here from other areas, and the kids were in a gang, and now they're here," he said. "They're continuing what they did wherever they came from."
A city ordinance passed in 2003 requires businesses and homeowners to remove graffiti within 10 days of receiving a written warning.
Through the Graffiti Action Partnership with La Plata County Youth Services, victims of graffiti vandalism can have it painted over by youth doing community service.
However, different arrangements are required for buildings in the historic district, Parsons said.
Parsons said the police and code enforcement officers share responsibility for writing warnings.
Criminal charges vary for those caught in the act.
"The cost of the damage dictates what the crime is," he said.
Though it's a hardship for victims to bear the cost of removal, it keeps the problem from escalating.
"I think it's important that people take care of it right away," said Gardenswartz owner Richard Ellis.
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