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 Researched by Adrienne L. |
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Introduction
I
think that for years graffiti has been a problem in our community. Ju+gangs use
graffiti to mark their territory or turf. They also use it to be
a sign of aggression toward other gangs. If a gang is mad at another
gang they will usually graffiti to get the message through to
them. Sometimes gang members can use graffiti to communicate with
other gangs. Gangs usually try to cover up the other gang’s graffiti by
using their own graffiti to paint over it.
Territorial Issues
Most
gangs use graffiti to mark their territory or turf. These problems can
cause a lot of fights. They can also cause shootings. When gangs see
graffiti they think that it marks the other gangs turf so they graffiti
to mark their own turf. Graffiti is a big problem because, it is
hard to get off and takes a long time to get off, because of this,
people usually do not take the time to clean graffiti.
Reputation
Many
teens think that graffiti is cool. They also think it will make them
popular. Teens graffiti to be known. Little do they know
that all they are doing is strengthening their chances of getting in
trouble with the law. Graffiti is often produced because, teens
want to get into a gang. Gangs make them graffiti on property or else
they can’t be in their gang. Graffiti is a very bad thing to get
in the habit of, and does not help your reputation.
Revenge
Revenge
plays a big part in graffiti. If people get in trouble with the law,
they can be mad and want to get revenge. They can get revenge by doing
graffiti. Also, it can be meant as a way of saying “Back
off.” I saw many cases of graffiti that was on private property. The
graffiti on private property was mostly permanent damage, which was not
meant to be easy to get off. Cleaning graffiti is a hassle so, many
people don’t have the time or money to spend their leisure time
cleaning up a mess that wasn’t made by them. Therefore the graffiti
doesn’t get cleaned. Graffiti is most often vandalism.
Materials
The
most common item used to graffiti is spray paint. Some people can
even use marker, crayon, and regular paint. Usually the type of paint
people use to graffiti is permanent. They use permanent paints and
markers so the graffiti is hard to get off, so people don’t clean the
graffiti off of their property. When I cleaned graffiti I used a lot of
scrub brushes, removers, towels, and water to clean the remover off of
the building. Cleaning graffiti does take a lot of time, and can cost a
lot of money.
Graffiti affects you
Graffiti
is against the law, and it is a crime. You can be put in jail or fined.
If you have graffiti on your property it can make a bad impression on
you and in your neighborhood. Graffiti can also decrease the
amount of economic development in our city. Looking good helps
economic development, and increases our community’s tourist numbers.
Volunteering
When
I was volunteering I saw a lot of graffiti on many buildings. There was
a major amount on trashcans and on recycling dumpsters. There was even
graffiti on various road signs. Sometimes I would see the same gang
sign on different buildings, and some on opposite sides of town. We
drove around and took pictures of graffiti and recorded the places we
found it. We also talked to the people at the Public Works Office in
Selah about graffiti removal products. Next, we went to Helms Hardware
in Selah to buy some removal products. We used scrub brushes, a
graffiti remover solution, towels, and a squirt bottle with water in
it. When I cleaned graffiti off of buildings I actually felt like
I was helping my community. I also found out that the graffiti remover
freezes at 19 degrees Fahrenheit. All together I cleaned about
10-tagged areas of graffiti.
Conclusion:
In
conclusion, I am very glad that I got this opportunity to help my
community and volunteer! The past few weeks that I have spent
volunteering have been very worthwhile. Even though it was hard
work, I enjoyed every minute of it. After I learned about
graffiti, I actually saw some cases about tagging, and the relationship
between gangs and graffiti in books. It also made more sense to me why
people graffiti, even though it is a very poor choice. I am glad I got
to help my community by increasing economic development, and by
decreasing the number of tagged areas!
Bibliography:
Kinner, Karen L. Gangs. California, ABC-CLIO, 1996. P.53, 77, 154, 196, 197, 213.
Larson, Keith M. Community Service Helper: Selah, Washington.
Schmid, Allen. Graffiti Locater: Selah, Washington.
Skeen, Thomas P. “Gauging the Gangs.” Graffiti in ‘The Hole’ sparks concerns over Crips, Bloods gangs. 3-9-1990: Page 1a.
Sweet, Frank. Information giver: Selah, Washington.
Unknown. Gangs: “Gang relation with graffiti.<”http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti>
Unknown,
Teenager arrested in graffiti probe: Tagging: Attacks caused estimated
$8,000 in damage. 10-17-07.
<http://search.ebcohost.com\login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=2W62W6257>.