Council delays graffiti ordinance decision
This whole graffiti ordinance debate is odd, isn't it? The notion of penalizing property owners who didn't do anything wrong is just screwy. So screwy, in fact, that Council has taken a pass on it again this week:
Houston City Council delayed a vote Wednesday on a new ordinance that would crack down on graffiti, KPRC Local 2 reported.
The proposed ordinance would give city inspectors and police the authority to go onto someone's property to tell them they have 10 days to remove the graffiti that was painted on their building.
And property owners who don't clean it up can expect to get fined, up to $500.
What's missing from the debate? What about the graffiti "artists"? Or as Councilman Michael Berry calls them, the "little punks":
"I don't hear anyone say, 'You know, I'm driving around this town and I couldn't be more furious. These people have graffiti painted on their walls. They sit there and let it sit there and I'm so mad at them how long they let it sit there.' I hear people say, 'There are little punks terrorizing our community.' And I know council member Garcia has tried to catch these kids and I know it's very difficult, but let's be honest, we are today saying, 'We cannot catch these little kids who run through the neighborhoods and spray paint the buildings.' That's clear. We've told the world that," Houston city councilman Michael Berry said.
The focus is not in the right place.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 10/11/06 09:48 PM | Houston Miscellany | Print | Comments (7)
Previous Entry | Home | Next Entry
ADVERTISING
DISCLAIMER
All content © 2004-09, blogHOUSTON and the respective authors.
blogHOUSTON.net is powered by Nucleus.
Site design and Nucleus customization are by Kevin Whited.