$100k To Fight Kansas City Tagging

I shouldn't expect mainstream media d-bags to know the difference between graffiti and tagging but I'm always disappointed that they don't.

Here's another link regarding KCMO fighting a losing battle:

A new fund will have $110,000 to help Kansas City neighborhoods remove graffiti, and in some cases replace it with artistic murals, city officials announced Tuesday.

Once again for the cheap seats . . . Graffiti can be art and in Kansas City it's often subsidized by small businesses.



Meanwhile, tagging represents a deeper social problem related to gangs, poverty and social discontent . . . $100k isn't going to fix that problem but a few pretty murals will be nice.

Check the presser. . .

City establishes Neighborhood Graffiti Abatement Program

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Gateway Crimes Task Force announced today during a press conference the creation of the Neighborhood Graffiti Abatement Program. This program will provide neighborhoods with free graffiti abatement resources, equipment and strategies to help reduce the incidence of graffiti.

"Neighborhoods that ignore graffiti send a message of intimidation. We want to help reverse this and provide neighborhoods with the tools and equipment needed to remove graffiti, along with skills to discourage future graffiti," said First District at Large Councilman Scott Wagner, who chairs the Gateway Crimes Task Force. "We hope to help empower neighborhoods to take a collective stand against graffiti in their community."


The Neighborhood Graffiti Abatement Program announced free resources and equipment neighborhoods may use to remove graffiti in their community. These include:

- The City's Swap Shop provides free paint to residents and five gallon buckets of paint in white, brown and grey to neighborhood associations with a letter from the neighborhood president. The Swap Shop is located at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 4707 Deramus Ave., and is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- Other graffiti removal equipment and chemicals are available to recognized neighborhood groups through the City's Public Works Department by calling 816-513-9841.

- The City's Police and Public Works departments are coordinating training opportunities on removing graffiti for neighborhoods and residents. Information and a schedule of these training opportunities will be available at www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/Depts/PublicWorks/StreetandTrafficDivision.

- Informational brochures on graffiti are available through the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department. More information on graffiti is accessible online at www.kcmo.org/gateway.

- The City's Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department is contracting with a number of organizations to facilitate graffiti removal in various public and private situations. As contracts are put in place, a list of organizations will be online at www.kcmo.org/gateway.

- The City's Municipal Art Commission is developing a mural-based program to offer constructive engagement with graffiti artists, allowing them to channel creative energy toward community betterment.

The City's Gateway Crimes Task Force aims to stabilize and improve Kansas City's neighborhoods by addressing activities that are considered gateways to greater criminal involvement, such as graffiti. The Task Force comprises representatives from law enforcement agencies, the court system, school districts, neighborhood leaders, social service agencies, City Council members and City staff.

Media inquiries and other requests for more information about the Gateway Crimes Task Force or the Neighborhood Graffiti Abatement Program should be directed to Councilman Scott Wagner at 816-513-6503. To learn more about the Gateway Crimes Task Force, please visit www.kcmo.org/gateway.
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