[FairHamilton]

From Friday's Spec. What's your opinion is graffiti public art, or vandalism? Does it add to the cities fabric, or is it just an eyesore? Raging against the establishment, or just a bunch of punks? What do you think?

July 24, 2008
Daniel Duguay
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton
(Jul 24, 2008)

Spray-painting trains, tagging bus stops and defacing every available surface: It's all a part of a world that exists right underneath our noses. Hamilton's "graffiti writers" venture out day and night to spread their names, but why? Why do these individuals risk their lives to hang from buildings, climb billboards and break into train yards to draw a word that most Hamiltonians cannot read?

Is graffiti art or vandalism? Last I checked, vandalism was an intentionally targeted act of destruction to personal or public property. How can one believe that graffiti is vandalism when it's turning our bustling city into an open-exhibit art gallery? Society allows money-sucking corporations to post their ads, yet we punish individuals who bring colour to the walls of Hamilton?

Surfacing artwork is rarely accepted in its own time, and it is not usually until a more open-minded generation arrives that we appreciate the uniqueness and creativity of each piece and those who created them. Graffiti will not be stopped. It will never be found hanging from the walls of a museum. We as artists are expressing ourselves. The city of Hamilton is our canvas.

[Hammer Native]

It's a disgrace where some of these punks have chosen to express their creativity. Historic structures such as the Gage Park fountain and the High Level Bridge have been defaced. Shows a lack of respect for our history and I think to those responsible for building our city.

[matt602]

Tagging: vandalism
Graffiti: art in most cases.

Unfortunately there is a lot more of the former than the latter.

I was disgusted to see that some puke had tagged the remembrance day memorial that was plastered onto a maintenance cupboard in gore park between Hughson/John. Words can't even comprehend.

[Millstone]

Tagging: vandalism
Graffiti: art in most cases.

Unfortunately there is a lot more of the former than the latter.

I was disgusted to see that some puke had tagged the remembrance day memorial that was plastered onto a maintenance cupboard in gore park between Hughson/John. Words can't even comprehend.

Subhumans, obviously. The 'scribbly letters' sort of idiots anyway. There are a few murals on the surrounding buildings of the 73 Hughson N parking lot, permission was obviously given for those though.

Hamilton has a big graffiti problem though. The Linc's sound barriers are constantly tagged, even worse are the signs.

[vid]

We should white wash everything and re-institute the death penalty for anyone using colour. :yes:

[raisethehammer]

I love murals, but yea all the tags are annoying.

[BrianE]

So far I havn't seen a single example of "Graphiti Art" in this City. There's no thought or artistic intent behind any of the tags that I've seen. This Daniel Duguay guy, is just not connected with reality if you ask me.

I assume we've all seen the recuring tags around town..

CHillenbelio
Beliox
Chillinbeliox
Free Albert
This little turtle smokes crack, this little turtle smokes pot, this little turtle does acid... (written on the Gage Park Fountain turtles in permanent marker)

Art my ass....

[raisethehammer]

check out the back walls of the Sonic Unyon building on Wilson.
And the back of Club 77 on King William.
there was another sweet one behind the FRW Cafe on King East, but the friggin city came by and painted over it with black paint (which is now full of tags).

[Millstone]

"Free Albert" and "Fight Colonization" and "Free Ali D." can be found along John and Hughson.

[matt602]

What exactly do all of those mean? I've been wondering for awhile now.

[markbarbera]

From today's online edition of thespec.com

Police nab prolific graffiti artist

September 04, 2008
Fariba Sahraei
The Hamilton Spectator

It took a year, but Hamilton police have nabbed a graffiti artist who has been leaving his mark all over the city.

The self-styled artist has been leaving his tag across Hamilton.

Dubbed KEENUR, he has hit at least 63 locations from Stoney Creek, through the city and into Dundas.

Police caught the tagger after an appeal to neighbourhood associations for help in tracking him.

They identified where he struck and provided evidence of him vandalizing city property.

Investigators nabbed him at his home Sunday and found him with an armory of spray-paint cans, markers and other graffiti equipment.

The 18-year-old man is charged with eight counts of mischief under $5000 and one count of robbery related to a knife-point holdup

[FairHamilton]

That is great news!!!!

Now they need to publish his name and those that incurred cost to have his 'handiwork' removed should take him to small claims court to recover the cost.

They better not let this guy walk with some lame punishment.

[markbarbera]

Name will not be published as he is a young offender.

[matt602]

Good stuff. I doubt the charges will do anything though, he'll be back at it within a year.

[go_leafs_go02]

I'd rather look at a clean/blank wall than anything covered in graffiti. Legalized, sure i'm ok with it, but I hate any tags, any unauthorized artwork that shouldn't be there.

[MsMe]

I thought age 18 was considered an adult?

[FairHamilton]

Name will not be published as he is a young offender.

18 is not young offender, or did he just turn 18 and the crimes were committed when he was 16, 17?

[FairHamilton]

Take a look at the picture in the article, http://thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/429587.

This guy is responsible for more than just 63 Keenur's......

[flar]

The young offenders act is no more, I don't know what the rules are now.

His punishment will likely be a fine and community service or something, so he'll be back at it again soon. Of course, as much as I dislike tagging, I really wouldn't want people thrown in jail for stuff like this anyway. I think he should have to pay restitution to those whose property he's damaged, or go around repainting (properly) the surfaces he's defaced.

[SteelTown]

Get him to pay for the paint and make him cover up the tags, each and everyone one of them.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I'd have to say vandalism. However, if I had an urban wall I wanted to muralize, I'd look at finding a good graffiti artist and pay them to do it. Some of these people are unbelievably talented and the stuff is fun to look at, but in the end it is someone else's property.

[MsMe]

I really wouldn't want people thrown in jail for stuff like this anyway. I think he should have to pay restitution to those whose property he's damaged, or go around repainting (properly) the surfaces he's defaced.

I agree Flar.

[markbarbera]

Since the vandalism was done when he was 17, The Youth Criminal Justice Act prevents his name from being published.

Pardon me for using the act's old name. A rose by any other name and all that.

[DC83]

I really like the style of art, but the tagging sux!

Here's a great example (King W & Ray):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2348083736_08c6524bba.jpg?v=0
by Erik Twight on Flickr.com, http://flickr.com/photos/emangrooving/2348083736/

[thistleclub]

Take a look at the picture in the article, http://thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/429587.

This guy is responsible for more than just 63 Keenur's......

The Armour Etch (cf. Belio) could be where the hefty charges come from.

And robbery at knife point won't help a "freedom of expression" defence.

[FairHamilton]

I'd like to know when his court date is and see the wheels of justice turn. IMO, there's nothing child-like (juvenile) with that kind of spray paint storage area.

[FairHamilton]

Just mentioned to my neighbours that Keenur was arrested, and they commented they saw his tag on a boxcar in Halifax last week.

I guess that's why they do it.......

[markbarbera]

Posted on CHML's website tonight:

More Graffiti Arrests
Ken Mann
9/5/2008


The public is getting the credit for the latest graffiti-related arrests in Hamilton.

Police were called by two residents on Thursday afternoon, about teenagers who were tagging with purple spray paint.

They were spotted first in the railway underpass on Walnut Street and a short time later on the side of the Claremont Access near the rail trail.

The accused, 14 and 15 year old boys, face two counts each of mischief.

[Millstone]

Throw the book at em. The graffiti problem in this city needs to stop.

[adam]

Start an after school grafitti art mural program sponsored by the city..

[Cambridgite]

I'd have to say vandalism. However, if I had an urban wall I wanted to muralize, I'd look at finding a good graffiti artist and pay them to do it. Some of these people are unbelievably talented and the stuff is fun to look at, but in the end it is someone else's property.

Well there's a big difference between this...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2348083736_08c6524bba.jpg?v=0

and this...

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Warehouse%20District/Picture218.jpg

Some of these people are unbelievably talented and the stuff is fun to look at, but in the end it is someone else's property.

And that's the bottom line. It's only acceptable if you obtain permission from the property owner.

Add to that, uncontrolled tagging really brings down the appearance of a neighborhood. It's becoming increasingly commonplace now in Waterloo Region to see tagging on places like mailboxes, fences, strip malls, and even townhouse complexes/apartment buildings in some residential areas. Usually a lot of tagging follows neighbourhood decay, and getting rid of graffiti wont mask that, but it definitely leaves a bad impression on visitors.

Not long ago, I drove through Hamilton along Main street and let me tell you, seeing boarded up gas stations covered in tags does not leave a good impression for out-of-towners, but further reinforces the Hamilton stereotypes.

Of course, as much as I dislike tagging, I really wouldn't want people thrown in jail for stuff like this anyway. I think he should have to pay restitution to those whose property he's damaged, or go around repainting (properly) the surfaces he's defaced.

I think that would be an appropriate punishment as well.

[markbarbera]

Further arrests are being reported in thespec.com:

Police bust three in Red Hill tagging spree

September 15, 2008
By John Burman
The Hamilton Spectator

Three young men have been charged with mischief getting caught last night carrying backpacks loaded with spray paint.
Hamilton police allege the men – 21, 22 and 25-years-old – were involved in a major tagging operation along a retaining wall on one of the on-ramps to the Red Hill Valley Expressway at King Street East.
All three are charged with mischief under $5,000 and are scheduled to appear in court for bail hearings this morning.
Staff Sergeant Maggie Schoen said the trio are suspected of being “significant taggers.”
This is the second time in a month police have seized large quantities of paint and laid charges.
On Sept. 1, police charged an 18-year-old Hamilton man dubbed KEENUR with eight counts of mischief under $5,000 and seized an armoury of spray-paint cans, markers and other graffiti equipment.
Police allege the youth had hit at least 63 locations, many of them city property.
Police made the arrest after an appeal to neighbourhood associations for help in tracking down the tagger.
They identified where he struck and provided video evidence of him vandalizing city property.

[FairHamilton]

Great news. Hopefully the ball keeps rolling and more are caught, or take heed and stop. Or better yet, don't start.

I guestion the "mischief under $5,000", as I'm sure if they were significant taggers the bill to clean-up their vandalism would exceed $5,000. It doesn't take long to get to $5,000 these days.

[drpgq]

I wonder why they didn't bother to name the perps. They are all well over 18.

[SteelTown]

Charged with mischief, are two Hamilton residents, 21 year-old Christopher Constand and 22 year-old Michael Walsh and 25 year-old Marco Delgobbo of Binbrook.

[FairHamilton]

http://thespec.com/article/440660

Judge sends message grafitti won't be tolerated

September 25, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator
(Sep 25, 2008)
A 24-year-old man with a history of mental problems has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for a graffiti spree in which he defaced phone booths, bus shelters and public buildings from Dundas to downtown Hamilton.

Ontario Justice Norm Bennett also placed Joshua Whitelaw on a year's probation and prohibited him from having materials that could be used for etching or tags (graffiti signatures).

Whitelaw had pleaded guilty to mischief and breach of probation over a graffiti spree with his girlfriend on Feb. 18 when they caused about $1,500 worth of damage.

Bennett said tagging and etching are at an all-time high in Hamilton and he wanted his sentence to send out a message they won't be tolerated.

"Enough is enough," he told Whitelaw.

Lawyer Ian Begg said his client suffers from a number of mental problems and has been in the care of psychiatrists and counsellors since he was five. He urged a lenient sentence.

[FairHamilton]

^How about a lifetime ban on owning etching and spray paint??

[adam]

Do people really think that once taggers are punished everything will be solved? Think about the boarded up buildings, the depressed downtown, its a recipe for this kind of stuff.

When social programs were cut back in Bob Rae's day, these kids were barely born. They grew up with a lack of social support programs, and now we're seeing the result. Either learn to live with this crap or support social programs. A huge chunk of Hamilton's youths live below the poverty line. They are society's problem. Tagging is the least of our worries.

[drpgq]

Do people really think that once taggers are punished everything will be solved? Think about the boarded up buildings, the depressed downtown, its a recipe for this kind of stuff.

When social programs were cut back in Bob Rae's day, these kids were barely born. They grew up with a lack of social support programs, and now we're seeing the result. Either learn to live with this crap or support social programs. A huge chunk of Hamilton's youths live below the poverty line. They are society's problem. Tagging is the least of our worries.

I agree. More money spent on community centers would surely solve such problems and end our tagging epidemic.

[Dundasguy]

Do people really think that once taggers are punished everything will be solved? Think about the boarded up buildings, the depressed downtown, its a recipe for this kind of stuff.

When social programs were cut back in Bob Rae's day, these kids were barely born. They grew up with a lack of social support programs, and now we're seeing the result. Either learn to live with this crap or support social programs. A huge chunk of Hamilton's youths live below the poverty line. They are society's problem. Tagging is the least of our worries.

I think that's a bit of a strech.

This is more of an Internet phenomenon for kids that started in the US, check youtube for the How-to's.

[Millstone]

Do people really think that once taggers are punished everything will be solved? Think about the boarded up buildings, the depressed downtown, its a recipe for this kind of stuff.

When social programs were cut back in Bob Rae's day, these kids were barely born. They grew up with a lack of social support programs, and now we're seeing the result. Either learn to live with this crap or support social programs. A huge chunk of Hamilton's youths live below the poverty line. They are society's problem. Tagging is the least of our worries.

They are not my problem, they are their parents' problem. Where are they?

[FairHamilton]

Do people really think that once taggers are punished everything will be solved? Think about the boarded up buildings, the depressed downtown, its a recipe for this kind of stuff.

When social programs were cut back in Bob Rae's day, these kids were barely born. They grew up with a lack of social support programs, and now we're seeing the result. Either learn to live with this crap or support social programs. A huge chunk of Hamilton's youths live below the poverty line. They are society's problem. Tagging is the least of our worries.

I'm sure most will agree with me, that there are tags on a great many buildings in the City of Hamilton that aren't vacant. In fact there are more tagged in-use buildings in the city than vacant ones. Also, just because a building is vacant doesn't mean we should turn it over to graffiti perpetrators. Vacant property does not give anyone carte blanche.

Also, I believe many of the social programs you reference were cut back during the Harris government, not Bob Rae's.

So you are saying we shouldn't care about graffiti (tagging). If you are so open to it, please pm me your address and if I see any "artists" in my travels, I'd like to send a few over to your house. Also, if they are so poor why are they spending their finite resource (money) on spray paint...........

Stopping/cleaning graffiti ties in closely to the Broken Window Theory.

[FairHamilton]

They are not my problem, they are their parents' problem. Where are they?

The last few perps were in their 20's, their parents clearly failed. The parents didn't only fail these individuals, they failed the community.

[DC83]

^^ You can't blame one's parents for their activities. That's like blaming Marilyn Manson for High School shootings.

Society failed to keep these kids occupied by eliminating arts programs & classes, by forcing kids to hang out behind schools/rec centres rather than allowing them inside free of charge to play sports, etc.

What if their parents weren't able to afford activities for them? That's not their fault. If we had sufficient funding for these types of preventative programs, some of these kids probably wouldn't be in this situation.

So to blame one's parents alone is simply wrong.

[FairHamilton]

^^ You can't blame one's parents for their activities. That's like blaming Marilyn Manson for High School shootings.

Society failed to keep these kids occupied by eliminating arts programs & classes, by forcing kids to hang out behind schools/rec centres rather than allowing them inside free of charge to play sports, etc.

What if their parents weren't able to afford activities for them? That's not their fault. If we had sufficient funding for these types of preventative programs, some of these kids probably wouldn't be in this situation.

So to blame one's parents alone is simply wrong.

But, it's the parents roll to instill right from wrong in their children. How to be a positive impact on a community/society. Sometimes the "It's not my (or their) fault, it's the fault of society", gets a little tiresome.

Sure things can always be better with more services, just like some people can be better parents to, and for, their children. Example, the other day I saw a visibly pregnant young lady lighting a cigarette. Hey, it's 2008, not 1978, but it goes to show that some bad parenting is unavoidable.........

[Dundasguy]

^^ You can't blame one's parents for their activities. That's like blaming Marilyn Manson for High School shootings.

Society failed to keep these kids occupied by eliminating arts programs & classes, by forcing kids to hang out behind schools/rec centres rather than allowing them inside free of charge to play sports, etc.

What if their parents weren't able to afford activities for them? That's not their fault. If we had sufficient funding for these types of preventative programs, some of these kids probably wouldn't be in this situation.

So to blame one's parents alone is simply wrong.

Think you're missing the point here. Shootings have nothing to do with vandalism. It's all about personal responsibilty and all the programs in the world can't replace parenting.

BTW, You sound like a spokesman for the NDP, are you a member of the Party?

[FairHamilton]

I noticed yesterday morning the inside windows on much of the Royal Connaught, the section at the corner of King & John have acquired spray paint over many floors.

[raisethehammer]

I've browsed a few photo tours of US cities recently...lots of empty, decayed districts and buildings...but one thing I noticed is that almost all of them are boarded up and clean-looking. I don't recall seeing any like the Connaught or Dundurn South property. I'm talking crap-holes like inner city Buffalo, Saginaw, Mich etc.....

[SteelTown]

Property standard enforce is very low in Hamilton. This is evident when traveling outside of Hamilton.

Though last I heard the city changed and hired more enforcements. It’s includes having some dressed up in camouflage and look tough.

[matt602]

I noticed yesterday morning the inside windows on much of the Royal Connaught, the section at the corner of King & John have acquired spray paint over many floors.

Yep. Because the building is wide open, again. A bit of an attempt was made to seal it up back when the Stinson fiasco was hot in the news, but now that it has quieted down, the owners have gone back to not giving a crap about it. Thanks Tony. Your security is "grrrrrreat!"

[FairHamilton]

Property standard enforce is very low in Hamilton. This is evident when traveling outside of Hamilton.

Though last I heard the city changed and hired more enforcements. It’s includes having some dressed up in camouflage and look tough.

You're telling me, http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=151749&page=3.

Here's the stats on my complaint of July 23, 2008.
- 54 Days for bylaw to issue a notice
- Day 17 since issuance of notice and as of today no action by property owner, or most importantly the city.

The property owner has 5 days to address, if not the city will take over...... 5 days, huh...

If not for my repeated requests for action by the city, the most recent one on Tuesday asking for the city to take action on the property, this one would never be addressed. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd have to be this persistant on a complaint.

Things need to change with this process.

[go_leafs_go02]

Do you think..potentially..some of the problems are that like..too few people in hamilton EVER get out of the city and can compare to how other cities are maintained or how bylaws are enforced? Like maybe that's why some of the same councilors are voted in, people don't know there is a better, that things can be done. If anyone is happy with the status quo of Hamilton, something honestly is wrong. No way anyone should just be fine with the spraypainting of the "Ghetto Connaught" or any abandoned building sitting there rotting away, without being kept in good tact, and by that I mean, tag free, fresh/replaced yearly plywood.

[FairHamilton]

Do you think..potentially..some of the problems are that like..too few people in hamilton EVER get out of the city and can compare to how other cities are maintained or how bylaws are enforced? Like maybe that's why some of the same councilors are voted in, people don't know there is a better, that things can be done. If anyone is happy with the status quo of Hamilton, something honestly is wrong. No way anyone should just be fine with the spraypainting of the "Ghetto Connaught" or any abandoned building sitting there rotting away, without being kept in good tact, and by that I mean, tag free, fresh/replaced yearly plywood.

I'm puzzled by it myself. It's against Property Standards to have graffiti on buildings, but it's either people don't issue a complaint, or the complaints fall on deaf ears at the city.

I'm not sure which, but it's my thought it's probably a combination of the two. If property owners were required (i.e. standards enforced) to keep their buildings clear of graffiti and clean it up once it's was applied I thnk a few things would happen.

1. Property owners would properly secure their buildings, both physically and with better lighting, cutting bushes, etc.
2. The owners would get fed up with the added expense it was costing their bottom line (personal or corporate) and would put pressure on the city to clamp down on the perps with the spray paint cans.
3. The city would tell the police to enforce to the fullest extent of the law, no more turning the kids over to their parents. And they would work to ensure sentences were appropriate.
4. Less graffiti would happen and less would be visible (i.e. it would be removed).

Upward spirals work the same as downward spirals.

[go_leafs_go02]

What I want to know is, how poor is this city in a financial sense? do they have the money to pay for bylaw enforcement? I look around and see at how they cheap out on a lot of things here in how they're built and designed (and fear for the same in a LRT line sense). I know they invest far too much money into the welfare system since being downloaded in the 1990s from the province, but still.

Is it apathy? is it financial shortfall? Neither? or a combination of the two? I don't know

Like today, overhanging a sidewalk on John, is a pot light out of the Ghetto Connaught building. The plaster surrounding it rotted out, the pot light fell through, and is hanging a good foot or two lower than the roof overhang now. I just noticed it today, but like, it will be here in a week's time most likely.

[matt602]

Some examples of the new "art" in the Royal Connaught:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k201/sugarton/UE/cozmo-connaught.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k201/sugarton/UE/connaught-tagging.jpg

Oh Cozmo you silly boy.

[go_leafs_go02]

That pisses me off beyond belief.

I bet any other city in Canada could get that building filled and occupied.

[MsMe]

That pisses me off beyond belief.

I hear you on that, it's such a beautiful old building.

An interesting site I just found on the history of the hotel. It sure was quite impressive in it's time in many ways.

http://www.theconnaught.ca/hotelhistory.html

[matt602]

That timeline doesn't even tell the half of it. The hotel was one of the most prestigious in North America in it's prime.

[MsMe]

That timeline doesn't even tell the half of it. The hotel was one of the most prestigious in North America in it's prime.

No doubt about that Matt, and so sad to see it at the state it's at now.

[raisethehammer]

the building owners are to blame. Thugs.
They need to seal the place up.
And the city needs to get off their duffs and start slapping huge fines on them, not just brewing back-room deals with these thugs all the time.

[Millstone]

the building owners are to blame. Thugs.
They need to seal the place up.
And the city needs to get off their duffs and start slapping huge fines on them, not just brewing back-room deals with these thugs all the time.

The building owners are not at fault for having thugs and taggers trespass. Please indicate how you came to that conclusion.

[raisethehammer]

because they don't maintain their properties and keep them sealed up.
Any joe blow can walk in, as we've seen by members of this site who go in to take pics.
It's called property standards.

[MsMe]

the building owners are to blame. Thugs.
They need to seal the place up.
And the city needs to get off their duffs and start slapping huge fines on them, not just brewing back-room deals with these thugs all the time.

No kidding RTH. That's the problem when buildings become vacant, they end up being hang outs for drugs etc. A total shame.

[Millstone]

Property owners should secure their own property for their own good, yes.

because they don't maintain their properties and keep them sealed up.
Any joe blow can walk in, as we've seen by members of this site who go in to take pics.
It's called property standards.

So just to clarify, it's the property owners' fault that urban explorers are able to infiltrate property, most of which bearing "no trespassing" signs? And this point is further driven home by UER.ca hiding all locations that haven't fallen over because it's totally not illegal to trespass?

[raisethehammer]

a 'no trespassing' sign means nothing when someone can just walk right past it and stroll through the place.

[Millstone]

a 'no trespassing' sign means nothing when someone can just walk right past it and stroll through the place.

Cool. Make sure to put one of those in front of your house and I'm going to try to break in, k?

[i_am_hydrogen]

Art, if done properly.

[SteelTown]

He'll probably swing you with a baseball bat. Too bad vacant property owners don't protect their property the same way, Lister Block I believe has security at night.

[Millstone]

He'll probably swing you with a baseball bat. Too bad vacant property owners don't protect their property the same way, Lister Block I believe has security at night.

Why would he do that? I just want to take some pictures so it's OK!

[FairHamilton]

http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/446474

October 07, 2008
Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 7, 2008)
Make no mistake: graffiti enforcement has kicked into overdrive in Hamilton and it's in part thanks to fed-up residents.

Over the past several weeks, police have arrested eight graffiti artists for spreading their work around the city and officials have no intention of curbing the blitz.

At least five of those arrests were linked to tips from citizens.

"There has been a heightened awareness of graffiti and the costs that it has on the community," said Hamilton police Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Sergeant Marty Schulenberg.

For the past three summers, graffiti has been targeted through the Graffiti Prevention Strategy, a partnership of several organizations. Tackling graffiti has also been identified as a strategic objective for police in 2009.

This was the last year for the GPS program.

Hamilton police are now working with the Crown attorney's office to try to get tags recognized in court as a person's signature would be, a move that would allow multiple tags to be attributed to the same person and increase the number of charges against them.

The Hamilton Crown attorney's office declined to comment on how tags factor in criminal charges.

It's estimated the cost of removing graffiti in the city tops $250,000 annually.

A particularly damaging type of graffiti -- known as acid etching -- is also continuing to wreak havoc.

First spotted in Hamilton last year, acid etching burns graffiti into glass surfaces, such as bus shelters.

Mountain Councillor Terry Whitehead said it seems every bus stop he passes in his ward has been hit with graffiti in some way. "There's a lot more than can be tolerated in my ward and I'm sure that's the case right across the city."

Hamilton police said studies have shown the most effective way to combat graffiti is to remove it within 12 hours.

At a test wall in Beasley Park over the summer, 24 tags were painted over and only four had reappeared six days later. After wiping those out, only one tag graced the wall 21 days after the initial cleaning.

In Winnipeg, the city has been running a free graffiti-removal program for the past 10 years. Property owners are able to get a voucher for a free can of paint and other supplies after reporting graffiti to police.

"We just see that it's an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed," said Robert Okabe, supervisor of public service operations with the city of Winnipeg.

[FairHamilton]

Spray-painting group nabbed on Mountain

October 07, 2008
John Burman
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 7, 2008)
Fear, Drip-Drop and Mystique are out of business.

The smell of solvent was still hanging in the air Sunday when police swooped down on a group of youths tagging an upper Stoney Creek school -- the same one that's been hit every weekend for four weeks.

Police found six youths and a hoard of spray paint at St. James the Apostle Separate School on John Murray Street, after a neighbour called police at 1 p.m. A wall at the school had been festooned with tags.

Three of the youths have been charged with mischief under $5,000. One of them is also charged with possession of marijuana.

Sergeant Marty Schulenberg said investigators figure this group was responsible for four other graffiti incidents in the city. Police are still investigating to see if they are connected to previous school tags.

Schulenberg said the principal of St. James the Apostle had called police last week asking for extra patrols in the area after three successive weekends of vandalism. So, police were nearby when a resident phoned to complain about a group painting on the school in daylight.

"We're grateful the community assisted us," Schulenberg said.

He said officers have been able to clear four other graffiti incidents in the city as a result of the arrests "and hope to clear more."

This is the fourth graffiti arrest in Hamilton in recent weeks. Last week police nabbed a heavy-footed tagger who stomped across an apartment rooftop on King Street West at Ray Street to paint on a wall and an apartment resident below called police. In mid-September, police got a tip and caught three young men with backpacks full of spray paint. They also had a digital camera to record their work.

And early last month, police arrested a man they believe is responsible for graffiti in 63 locations, all labelled "Keenur."

[FairHamilton]

http://thespec.com/article/445082

October 04, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 4, 2008)
A graffiti painter made too much noise on a rooftop while defacing a wall in west Hamilton.

The occupant of an apartment called the cops after he heard footsteps overhead and decided it was too early for Santa.

He got a good description of a guy he saw running down the back stairs. When police arrived they found a wallet and identification on the roof and nabbed a man with artist's supplies.

A 24-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with mischief under $5,000 and two counts of breach of probation.

There have been several arrests for graffiti recently. In mid-September, police got a tip and caught three young men with backpacks full of spray paint. They also had a digital camera to record their work.

And early last month, police arrested a man they believe is responsible for graffiti in 63 locations, all labelled KEENUR.

[FairHamilton]

Does the above, and other recent arrest mean that graffiti tagging will be on the wane in Hamilton?

I hope so, it's good to see a flurry of arrests the majority with citizen involvement. It shows that individuals can make a difference in their neighbourhoods.

[BrianE]

[
Hamilton police said studies have shown the most effective way to combat graffiti is to remove it within 12 hours.


Very interesting. I did not know this.

This seems to be a little peak at vandalism psycology. Could it be that most vandals feel guilty about their work if it can be shown to them that someone actualy cares about the property they deface? Maybe they eventualy stop tagging property that has been cared for because it removes the rationalization in their minds that "It's ok if I spray paint here because nobody cares anyways."

Or are most taggers simply lazy and don't want to keep redoing work over and over again. Its just not as fun if someone keeps coving up their hard work.

Very interesting.

[go_leafs_go02]

Well done. Graffiti removal is a great step at cleaning up the city.

next up..get rid of the weeds all around this city sticking out of curbs, sidewalks, and cracks everywhere! That's starting to come a major pet peeve of mine.

[adam]

I'd rather see weeds and wildflowers than fresh asphault

[FairHamilton]

Very interesting. I did not know this.

This seems to be a little peak at vandalism psycology. Could it be that most vandals feel guilty about their work if it can be shown to them that someone actualy cares about the property they deface? Maybe they eventualy stop tagging property that has been cared for because it removes the rationalization in their minds that "It's ok if I spray paint here because nobody cares anyways."

Or are most taggers simply lazy and don't want to keep redoing work over and over again. Its just not as fun if someone keeps coving up their hard work.

Very interesting.

I think it ties/relates closely to the Broken Window Theory.

"Broken Windows" by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, which appeared in the March 1982 edition of The Atlantic Monthly.[2] The title comes from the following example:

"Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside.
Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars."
A successful strategy for preventing vandalism, say the book's authors, is to fix the problems when they are small. Repair the broken windows within a short time, say, a day or a week, and the tendency is that vandals are much less likely to break more windows or do further damage. Clean up the sidewalk every day, and the tendency is for litter not to accumulate (or for the rate of littering to be much less). Problems do not escalate and thus respectable residents do not flee a neighborhood.

The theory thus makes two major claims: that further petty crime and low-level anti-social behavior will be deterred, and that major crime will, as a result, be prevented. Criticism of the theory has tended to focus only on the latter claim.

[go_leafs_go02]

you find weeds sticking out of crumbling curbs and asphalt to be pretty? I don't see any beauty in that.

Fresh white concrete, black asphalt, green grass/weeds where it should be is an awesome look.

[FairHamilton]

Noticed a new tag on the downtown gates :( this morning, "Dont Vote". :hell:

[BrianE]

There's another more poetic one just before that, against a building.

"If voting ever changed anything, it would have been outlawed a long time ago."

Or something like that.

[matt602]

I think I recall seeing that one. It made me chuckle.

[drpgq]

How many of these clowns are there out there?

John Burman
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 9, 2008)
Hamilton police have scored another daylight graffiti arrest, bagging a 14-year-old in the act after a city employee spotted him tagging equipment in a park.

But, while police were explaining details of the Tuesday afternoon Waterdown arrest, John Dalziel was on the phone yesterday morning telling them taggers were targeting cops downtown.

Dalziel walked out of his home at Victoria Avenue North at King William Street yesterday and found a graffiti sign about one metre high by six metres long on his wall telling police in no uncertain terms what the "artist" thinks of them.

The sign, it seems, was painted on Dalziel's basement wall and faces King William Street, which police use a lot while coming and going from the central police station.

"It's beyond me why people (paint things) like this," Dalziel said, adding he's seen nothing like it in his 10 years in the house.

"We'll just have to get it painted or something."

The arrest in Waterdown is the latest in a series of graffiti busts where paint or markers have been seized.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Marty Schulenberg said a city employee was driving by Memorial Park in Waterdown about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and saw a youth spray painting park equipment with the tags Train and Jesc.

He called police. Arriving officers caught the youth in the act. The youth was charged with mischief under $5,000 and released to his parents on a promise to appear in court.

This was the fifth graffiti arrest for mischief in the Hamilton area in the past four weeks.

jburman@thespec.com

905-526-2469

[FairHamilton]

Well one less now. Spray painting "F%#k the cops" on King William will most likely mean a continued momentum on apprehension and more will be caught.

Yea!!!

[highwater]

Just received the monthly crime report for our area from our neighbourhood association. It included the following report re graffiti. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to post the photos of the tagger NONE's work that were included in the report, but there's still lots of interesting graffiti info:


Graffiti update: Tagger KEENUR still remains incarcerated and has a next court appearance of 8 October. A well known adult tagger was recently arrested who tags GNAR. He was also breaching previous conditions and remains in custody. I can not stress the excitement I receive when I see how active members of West Town are in identifying locations. We have one significant arrest under our belts; I would like to try another famous tagger known to me as NONE.

I actually call him No Money as he usually has a money symbol in his tags. Although both tags look nothing alike, they are done by the same person. In the graffiti sub culture most taggers have various versions of the same message.

The tag on the left in big bubble letters would be known as a blocker. A blocker does not allow anyone else to use the wall space. Balloon graffiti usually takes more time than just a tag (on the left). Both spell NONE. The one on the left also makes several references to GOD. NONE has evolved over the summer and is responsible for other graffiti such as $lave, kills cops, and a teardrop with a money symbol in it. You may remember the big pink pig with a police hat on by the vacant Tim Horton’s on Aberdeen and Dundurn. The GPS were kind enough to have that removed before they were disbanded. Please report all sightings of any graffiti that looks like either of these or similar with a forward or backward money sign. I believe him to be a male while, 19 years of age. Any assistance in identifying him would be greatly appreciated.

Graffiti lingo
TAG-a stylized signature usually simple and one color
THROW UP-a more elaborate tag normally using more than one color, but it takes much less time than a piece
PIECES-short for masterpieces, these are large, detailed drawings, sometimes in 3-D or other special effects
BOMBING-to hit many different surfaces with graffiti vandalism
CREW-a group of graffiti vandals
SLASH-to put a line through or graffiti over someone else’s graffiti
BURNER-a very large, elaborate, detailed piece of graffiti
TOY- a junior tagger, or someone new, or not very good. KEENUR was referred to as a toy by many taggers.

Tips to help prevent graffiti vandalism
 Keep your property well maintained
 Keep your property well-lit; vandals fear light
 Eliminate reasons for loitering such as benches, pay phones, etc.
 Plant bushes or fences in areas to impede access to buildings
 Install security cameras and motion sensor lighting
 Limit access to roofs
 Report suspicious activity and encourage neighbours to do the same
 Take pictures or video of all graffiti attacks
Don’t discount graffiti vandalism as a harmless prank. It is a crime, so treat it as one and report it to the police. If someone is caught, we will follow through with an arrest and prosecute!

Be proactive! You are responsible for your property and its upkeep.


Sgt. Jo-Ann Savoie #191
Division One Crime Manager
WEST TOWN
155 King William St.
Hamilton, ON L8N 4C1
Work: (905) 540-5093
e-mail: jsavoie@hamiltonpolice.on.ca

[FairHamilton]

I love the fact they are "remains in custody" and "still remains incarcerated". It looks great on them.

[highwater]

I love the fact that KEENUR was just a 'toy'. :haha:

[FairHamilton]

I love the fact that KEENUR was just a 'toy'. :haha:

Well I'm sure he is while in jail :yes:

[MsMe]

The episode that totally digusted me was the one that spray painted the memorial for the fire fighters. When are these kids going to show some respect for a change?

[SteelTown]

Another graffiti arrest

Ted Michaels
10/27/2008

Make it graffiti arrest number 24.

Sunday morning around 7:30, an HSR driver stopped his bus at King and Caroline to get a coffee.

While he was in the store, a 16 year-old decided to spray paint graffiti on the bus.

Passengers noticed this, called police, gave a description and a short time later, the youth was arrested, with blue spray paint on his hand.

[SteelTown]

^ dumbass of the week.

[FairHamilton]

^^ I'm especially glad the community is getting involved and reporting the incidents. I think that speaks volumes.

[crhayes]

^^ I'm especially glad the community is getting involved and reporting the incidents. I think that speaks volumes.

Yeah definitely. I think that there is a place for graffiti, and it can look awesome in certain applications (someone in my neighbourhood - with their backyard facing limeridge street - had someone graffiti the entire back of their fence and it looks awesome). However, tagging is a whole other issue, and shouldn't be tolerated.

[emge]

Yeah definitely. I think that there is a place for graffiti, and it can look awesome in certain applications (someone in my neighbourhood - with their backyard facing limeridge street - had someone graffiti the entire back of their fence and it looks awesome). However, tagging is a whole other issue, and shouldn't be tolerated.

Absolutely. I work at a downtown church that just bought a building downtown and have been renovating it (wheelchair accessibility, updated wiring, paint, etc). Both there and at our previous location there's been a problem with tagging at times - and you gotta get rid of it.

But...... we also had some space downstairs where we thought "You know what would make this so much better?" Yep... getting some good graffiti art inside. So a couple weeks ago, I invited a couple graffiti artists I know to transform the walls. The project is only halfway through being painted, and so far it looks amazing.

One of the artists we invited who didn't end up coming has a backyard shed painted at her house in Burlington.. and it looks great (though who knows if all the neighbours approve.. hehe). (And another one of the artists we had paint knows who the "Keenur" kid is.. and thinks he's an idiot). Its a whole different mindset.

[crhayes]

Absolutely. I work at a downtown church that just bought a building downtown and have been renovating it (wheelchair accessibility, updated wiring, paint, etc). Both there and at our previous location there's been a problem with tagging at times - and you gotta get rid of it.

But...... we also had some space downstairs where we thought "You know what would make this so much better?" Yep... getting some good graffiti art inside. So a couple weeks ago, I invited a couple graffiti artists I know to transform the walls. The project is only halfway through being painted, and so far it looks amazing.

One of the artists we invited who didn't end up coming has a backyard shed painted at her house in Burlington.. and it looks great (though who knows if all the neighbours approve.. hehe). (And another one of the artists we had paint knows who the "Keenur" kid is.. and thinks he's an idiot). Its a whole different mindset.

Yeah definitely...there is graffiti as an art; and then there are idiots that go around writing their 'names' on stuff...

[SteelTown]

Another grafitti arrest
Ted Michaels
10/29/2008

Talk about getting caught "red-handed!"

Hamilton Police have made their 26th grafitti arrest since August 1.

Last night around 9 o'clock, police got a call about someone spray-painting a shed at Shamrock Park, in the Hunter/Walnut area.

When they arrived, they found a 20 year-old man with red paint on his gloves, more paint nearby and some bolt cutters.

Charged with mischief under 5-thousand and possessing burglary tools is Devin Erwin of Hamilton.

[BrianE]

Has anybody else noticed that a lot of the notices in the paper for grafitti arrest are not for punk teenagers but for so called 'adults"?

Are underage arrests just not reported in the paper or are most taggers actualy in their 20's?

[FairHamilton]

Has anybody else noticed that a lot of the notices in the paper for grafitti arrest are not for punk teenagers but for so called 'adults"?

Are underage arrests just not reported in the paper or are most taggers actualy in their 20's?

There have been a few reported in the Spec who were underage, they left the names out. I think 'keenur' was underage for what they picked him up for, only recently having turned 18.

[emge]

Has anybody else noticed that a lot of the notices in the paper for grafitti arrest are not for punk teenagers but for so called 'adults"?

Are underage arrests just not reported in the paper or are most taggers actualy in their 20's?

Probaby.. a lot of things blamed on teens or thought to be a "teen issue" are really done by "so called adults."

Graffiti is definitely more of a youth-culture item though. Then again, in North America everyone's a teenager into their 30's, right? :hell:

Anyways.. it wouldn't surprise me :) I know tagging's an entirely different matter (kind of the scrawny kid brother who's never quite as cool as Jimmy, the artist of the family, got to be), but when you get into those who do elaborate, artistic graffiti pieces, it is a lot of the 20-30 age range.

[FairHamilton]

Realizing that some of the arrests have been multiples at one time, 26 since August 1st is an average of one arrest every 3.42 days.

With all this enforcement, I'm guessing we are going to see a reduction in graffiti in Hamilton. And I'm going to guess that neighbouring areas will probably see an uptick.

[adam]

It makes sense that taggers are at least of driving age given Hamilton's infrastructure - or lack thereof