KTRH-740 reports that City Council may soon be voting to toughen the city’s graffiti ordinances:
The proposal requires property owners to remove graffiti within 10 days of being notified of its existence. City officials say that property owners will not necessarily have to foot the clean-up bill since Houston has set aside $400,000 in next year’s budget for graffiti removal.
Some other aspects of the plan are raising eyebrows, however. If the plan passes, kids under 17 would not be allowed to buy items like spray paint, broad-tipped permanent markers, or paint sticks without the written consent of a parent or guardian. It would also be illegal for anyone to possess graffiti-making materials within 50 feet of a public building or for minors to have those items on school property.
Council Member Ada Edwards says she wonders if the city will start issuing tickets to kids “who forget to bring their note from Mom,” if they carry permanent markers to school.
Was there ever a time when Councilmember Edwards contributed constructively to council debate, instead of just spouting off with quips? At least she didn’t call Houston a police state again.
As the proposals go, the 10-day requirement seems like a winner. When I’ve reported graffiti problems to 311, the turnaround time has typically been 45 or so days. That’s way too long.
UPDATE (06-14-2006): Alexis Grant reports in more detail on the proposal for the Chronicle.
