Let me start by saying that I absolutely despise the graffiti writers in this city. The writing, prevalent for years on everything nailed down on the peninsula, and now, as an added bonus, becoming commonplace on my side of the city-halving interstate as far in as Woodfords Corner, is a huge problem that needs to be addressed and given the high level of attention that has recently been graced upon it.
It's too bad that the proposed "solution" has been placed in the hands of people who are obviously not personally or financially affected by the problem.
The city of Portland and our police department last month told its residents that it was unable and unwilling to protect their properties without so much as a press release. They told us 'You're on your own, folks' without so much as a public discussion on the matter. They sent us to the wolves to handle a large, criminal problem pervading our mini metropolis using our own crime-fighting techniques when they decided that 'No!,' this is not a problem that taxpayers deserve to have solved on their behalf; 'No!' this is not a problem that should have the full attention of the investigative arm of the police department to arrest the writers. Instead, to solve the problem they turned to the muscle-spasmed back of the taxpaying property owner - For it is us, you see, that are the criminals for not cleaning up this horrid mess and that it is us that are contributing to the degradation of our neighborhoods! And for that, my friends, you will pay.
Councilor Ed Suslovic is leading this parade and knows full well that the police and city are unable to do anything to stop the writers, so why not go after the people who unless they sell and move, are captive to his regulation. Poor Ed, having to drive up Preble Street on the way to City Hall, has to see not only those feral homeless at the resource center, but the writings of teens on every utility pole, street sign, mailbox, paperbox and building on the ascent. His only solace is that in his little dead-end enclave in Oakdale, so perfect in that it embodies everything about not living in a city except the inconvenient fact that it's in the middle of one, the evil writers never lurk. But to Ed I say: The writers are two streets over already, and as the economy continues to decline, which it will despite all attempts by city employees with a minimum 3 years Excel experience to optimistically project growth, your garage door is getting decorated, too.
So we're left to our own devices, those of us not fortunate enough to be off the beaten path. Tagged? Act fast, or prepare your word processor to create a "clean-up plan." Can't afford to follow through with your plan? No problem, the city will put you further into the hole with a fine or three.
As for me, I'll scrub the writing like a trained dog to avoid a lien on my home. I have to, the city won't protect me. I'll even go out and clean it up when marked a second time. But if the city and its police department don't think that other 'less evolved' folks will take to vigilantism, camp out and wait for the writers to strike again and take care of the problem their way, they have another thing coming. So this June when this inevitably passes, save a few bucks and establish your own police department for your eighth of an acre.
The city-sponsored police guarding the perimeter have apparently left the building.
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