For the 7th Precinct, Graffiti is Public Enemy #1
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Hanksy’s “Surplus Candy,” January 2014
As you may have read, the war on graffiti is intensifying…
Cracking down on nightlife apparently isn’t the number one priority within the confines of the 7th Precinct. Graffiti takes that honor. That much was made clear at the community council meeting earlier this month, in which freshly minted CO Capt. Simonetti designated the vandalism enemy combatant #1.
Simonetti, for his part, is taking additional steps. For instance, educating store owners on reporting procedure, and also advising them on the city’s Graffiti Free program.
Officers are reportedly tasked with encouraging folks to report any incidents of graffiti. That way, if the vandal is caught and their tag identified, the perp can be charged for all their other tags reported to the precinct.
Though, this declaration of war is actually a trickle-down directive from the top. Commissioner Bratton feels that graffiti is on the rise in New York City, and therefore vows to eradicate this “first sign of urban decay.”
To that end, officers citywide were told to carry their own aerosol to cover up the rash of tags and such. The new protocols call for photographing the graffiti, “boxing it out,” and painting over it.
Yet more weight for that utility belt.
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