Graffiti Problem (San Antonio, Howe, Anton: city hall, crime, school districts)

[quest51210]

all of you "concerned" citizens never called me when i worked for the councilwoman. this saddens me because it shows that even those who post in CDSA are scared to make a change in their communities.

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by quest51210

all of you "concerned" citizens never called me when i worked for the councilwoman. this saddens me because it shows that even those who post in CDSA are scared to make a change in their communities.

Maybe the apathy we've experienced from politicians speaks volumes. People can call, write, complain, b*tch and moan, but politicians and the people who work for them have their own agenda. Unfortunately, many times their agenda and those of their constituents are not the same.

[quest51210]

i am making changes, i have pissed off more than one council member while doing it too, i dont fear anyone and moost members on here are weak minded individuals that dont have the guts to realize the only way to bring a politician to you is to create strong neighborhood bonds. you get a strong set of voters and they come to your beck and call.

apathy=complacency

by the way, me working for a politician and coming on here for feedback and concerns exhibits how some of us are seeking community members for changes, but you guys dont speak up.

[Dube665]

While tagging is definitely an eyesore Im am so happy to see kids getting into art. I love the fact that some people/business owners have allowed artist to do big and beautiful graffiti pieces. Would you rather have a kid in a gang or in a graffiti crew? I'd rather see a kid with a spray can than with a gun.
Yeah maybe we need to increase punishment for tagging but lets also have more free walls for kids to do graffiti legally.
People wake up. We are in the middle of an art movement that started over 30 years ago. Lets allow it to flourish. Give these kids an outlet to express themselves.

Kids into graffiti usually get along with kids that skateboard. Why not have a graffiti park along side a skate park?

[Montirob]

Originally Posted by Dube665

Give these kids an outlet to express themselves.

The problem is that graffiti walls do not curb tagging - they are two, completely separate things. One only has to look at places downtown where graffiti murals have been installed. The mural is untouched, but across the street, or around the corner on the same building you will see tagging.

Regarding quest51210's comments, yes neighbors should speak up... but I think saying that the reason nothing is done is because it appears it is acceptable to the residents is, in my opinion, a cop out. Neighbors shouldn't have to complain about better police protection, streets without potholes, or walls free from tagging - it is expected as a basic service of city government. And yes, I do complain to my councilman, and yes, I do go out and paint over tagging (with matching paint by the way ).

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by quest51210

apathy=complacency

I know what apathy means. My comment about apathy was that it's on the part of the politicians. Once they get into office, all the campaign promises fly out the window. They're all full of Moderator cut: edited, as far as I'm concerned. They all have their own reasons for wanting to be in office and it has absolutely nothing with serving the community.

However, as Montirob said, citizens shouldn't have to beg and plead for basic services. These should be provided to taxpaying citizens regardless of whether we pound on doors, send letters, etc. If we cannot depend on the people we've voted into office to do their jobs and take care of their constituents, why should we trust some peon who works for them?

[firstclassflyer]

I agree..I've been to meetings where these people (politicians) yawned, rolled their eyes and displayed general signs of boredom during the entire time!
I call BS , quest....

[Dube665]

[quote=Montirob;4582805]The problem is that graffiti walls do not curb tagging - they are two, completely separate things. One only has to look at places downtown where graffiti murals have been installed. The mural is untouched, but across the street, or around the corner on the same building you will see tagging.

Theres nothing that can be done about tagging. Its all about fame. Not like TV fame but just about the fame your tag gets. It all about getting your name up on more places, more times than anyone else. Its about being city wide, having your name all over the city so no matter where one goes they see the same tag over and over. Thats the fame and it becomes an obsession. How do you stop an obsession?
The only thing you can hope for is that some these kids have talent and become actual graffiti artist or that they realize they have no talent and stop.

[the_dimwit]

...Or you start catching and punishing them in a very public way (e.g. flogging). After all, they want to acquire "fame" through public methods, why not give it to them?

--Dim

[mamatotex97]

umm, some of these kids that do the tagging are in gangs and that's part of it.....they are not in it for the art.

And those that are in it for the art, it does not give them the right to do it on others property.
When I drive around town with family from out of town that's one of the first things they comment on ....all the "letters/taging" that is around and how bad it looks. Noone says, "hey great artwork".