Without a doubt, there is graffiti in Davis. One needs only to use a public restroom downtown to see proof that there are people willing to deface public surfaces with their own markings.

Not all graffiti, however, is as relatively innocent as notes penned on the walls of a bathroom stall with a Sharpie.

When larger, more destructive, works of graffiti start to show up on fixtures in public parks, sidewalks and the privately owned fences of Davis residents, the problem becomes much more of a concern for the community. Especially because of the possibility that such markings could be gang-related.

Fortunately for Davis residents, all it takes is one call to the Davis Police Department’s graffiti hot line, and the city will have the unwanted spray paint removed. But with ever-limiting budget cuts, is this public service suffering from changing priorities?

“The graffiti hot line staff have usually taken care of calls within 24 hours, many times much less,” Davis resident Michelle Byars said in an email to The Enterprise.

Lately, however, Byars has noticed that the city’s response to graffiti calls is slowing down.

“For the first time since I’ve lived here, I have had large graffiti drawn on all boundaries of my property” near Chestnut Park in East Davis, Byars said. “It has been five weeks since I reported the incidents, and yet (the graffiti) still remains on the sidewalks.”

While the markings have been cleaned up now, the delay Byars experienced may be related to ongoing budget challenges at City Hall.

“We have had some budget changes that have necessitated that we look at how we respond to graffiti abatement,” Deputy City Manager Kelly Stachowicz said in an email message. “We are still in the process of working that out, so it is possible that residents have noticed a difference in response times for graffiti cleanup at certain locations.”

Byars hopes the city decides that graffiti abatement is still a top priority.

“Understandably, we need to cut back, this makes perfect sense,” she said. “But with that, priorities need to be evaluated.”

In the meantime, Stachowicz recommends that residents report graffiti on the hot line, (530) 757-5600.

“The more details a resident can provide as to the actual location, the easier it is for the city to determine how and where to respond,” she said. “If a resident sees someone in the act of creating graffiti, call the police!”

Graffiti2w

Graffiti covers a park table and bench at Chestnut Park in East Davis. Michelle Byars/Courtesy photo

Graffiti1w

Graffiti covers a team bench at a softball field at Chestnut Park in East Davis. Michelle Byars/Courtesy photo

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