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Stop graffiti in
its tracks, expert advises
By Christofer Machniak
cmachniak@fiintjoumal.com ·
810.766.6304
FLINT- There is no new "marc
bullet" in battling graffiti. The best strategy is to clean it up fast and
as many times as necessary, a national graffiti expert says.
"The faster the better," Sue
Smith told a group at a workshop Saturday during the 2nd annual Community
Beautification Leadership Conference at the University of Michigan-Flint.
"The faster you get it done -- they will eventually move on or quit. It
isn't sexy or fun (anymore)."
Smith added that if a
community doesn't respond, crime and fear often soon follow, creating a
problem that costs an estimated $7 billion a year in cleanup costs. Still,
she said, determined people can make a difference.
"It's all about ownership,"
she said afterward.
The message made sense to
Barbara Griffith-Wilson, who says graffiti is a problem in her southeast
Flint neighborhood and who plans to have youths in a summer program help
clean up area vacant homes and businesses.
"(Her talk) gave me a lot of
ideas to help my community," Griffith-Wilson said.
Griffith-Wilson
was one of more than 300 people at the conference, more than doubling last
year's attendance, said Karen West, program director of Keep Genesee County
Beautiful, the conference's host.
"That just means people are interested," West
said about the numbers.
Smith, national education director for Keep
America Beautiful, spoke during one of 11 workshops |
Graffiti' Expert advises to
stop graffiti in its tracks at the conference that also included talks about
the Gene-see County Land Bank, grant-writing and how to organize to clean
the community.
The event .also featured an
information fair from 20 groups that ranged from CBC Recycling and Walker
Farms and Greenhouse to the Citizen's Nuisance Task Force and the AppleWood
Neighborhood Gardening Initiative.
Smith, who travels the nation
giving presentations, said she was impressed with the attendance on a
Saturday morning. She noted that Keep
Genesee County Beautiful,
which is the only group in Michigan affiliated with her international
organization, · won the award for best new affiliate in 2005.
"These are people here who are
passionate about the cleanliness and beautification of this place," Smith
said, "How can you not pay, attention to this number?'
Need graffiti advise or help?
° LOCAL CONTACTS:
Karen West at (810) 767-9696 or email: karenwest@umflint. edu
'° ON THE WEB: www.
graffitihurts.org and www. kab.org ~' |
Police finger two more in cemetery vandalism
HOLLY TOWNSHIP
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Sunday, March 05, 2006
By Christofer Machniak
cmachniak@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6304
HOLLY TWP. - A second teenager has been charged with the Christmas holiday
vandalism of the Great Lakes National Cemetery, and a 19-year-old Fenton man
will be arrested soon, state police said Saturday.
James K. Thommen, 17, of Rose Township, was charged Friday with one felony
count of malicious destruction of tombs and memorials, and two misdemeanor
counts, said state police trooper Chad Gruenwald.
Jonathan J. Egerton, 18, of Holly was charged with the same crimes this
week. Both teens face up to 5 years in prison for the felony count, and both
were released on bond, Gruenwald said.
Police said a third man will be arrested soon.
The three teens allegedly spray-painted 17 marble headstones and damaged
several temporary grave markers at the cemetery, damage that was discovered
on Dec. 25. They're also believed to be responsible for vandalizing four
road signs in the township.
Gruenwald said the three were drinking that night, and drugs are believed
to have been involved.
The incident occurred less than three months after the cemetery opened. The
cleanup cost about $3,500.
- Christofer
Machniak |