We recently sent this letter to City Councilmembers:

King Neighborhood Association writes you to express concern that the Graffiti Abatement program might have its funding cut, or reduced. I quote directly from the Pearl District Neighborhood Association’s website (http://www.pearldistrict.org/ever-increasing-graffiti/):

According to a recent report to City Council by Juliette Muracchioli from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s (ONI) Graffiti Abatement Program, high priority graffiti reports involving hate or gang tags have increased considerably from 2011 through 2016. Much of this increase has occurred in the past two to three years.

The cost of damages in Portland due to graffiti is now roughly $1.8 million.

For many years, Portland was nationally acclaimed for its Graffiti Abatement Program, but budgetary restraints no longer allow us that distinction. Graffiti abatement is essential in maintaining Portland’s quality of life and keeping neighborhoods safe and livable. The failure to properly enforce our graffiti laws encourages an influx of taggers from all over the country.

ONI is asking City Council to not only maintain current budget levels, but to expand it so that Portland can better combat this crime (Oregon Statue 164.381-388).

We join ONI in requesting that funding for Graffiti abatement continues at current levels, at a minimum.

Thank you.