The recent proliferation of vandalism in the South Hill neighborhood has left community members concerned.
President Ray Ballweg of the South Hill Neighborhood Association discussed the issues of graffiti in the community at a neighborhood meeting on Feb. 2.
Neighbors have seen garbage cans, telephone poles and utility covers tagged by graffiti. Homeowners who rent out houses have been hit the hardest because not only do they have to handle graffiti on their own homes, but also on the homes that they rent out. Many neighbors expressed these concerns at the meeting.
Most recently, graffiti has been spotted on the 400 block of Bayview Drive and the 100 block of Boulevard St. on Feb. 12 and on the 400 and 700 blocks of North Forest St. on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 respectively according to Police Reports from the City of Bellingham.
The Bellingham Police Department has encouraged community members to call 9-1-1 the moment when they notice new graffiti. If police are immediately contacted, there is a better chance that they vandals will be caught. If they are caught, this will help police to put a face to the tag.
“Police have been very receptive to our concerns,” Ballweg said. Other neighbors at the meeting expressed concern and willingness to work with the police to catch the suspects. Ballweg believes that there are only one or two criminals who are responsible for the recent vandalism.
President Ray Ballweg of the South Hill Neighborhood Association discussed the issues of graffiti in the community at a neighborhood meeting on Feb. 2.
Neighbors have seen garbage cans, telephone poles and utility covers tagged by graffiti. Homeowners who rent out houses have been hit the hardest because not only do they have to handle graffiti on their own homes, but also on the homes that they rent out. Many neighbors expressed these concerns at the meeting.
Most recently, graffiti has been spotted on the 400 block of Bayview Drive and the 100 block of Boulevard St. on Feb. 12 and on the 400 and 700 blocks of North Forest St. on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 respectively according to Police Reports from the City of Bellingham.
The Bellingham Police Department has encouraged community members to call 9-1-1 the moment when they notice new graffiti. If police are immediately contacted, there is a better chance that they vandals will be caught. If they are caught, this will help police to put a face to the tag.
“Police have been very receptive to our concerns,” Ballweg said. Other neighbors at the meeting expressed concern and willingness to work with the police to catch the suspects. Ballweg believes that there are only one or two criminals who are responsible for the recent vandalism.
According to Washington law, vandalism includes “any willful behavior aimed at destroying, altering, or defacing property belonging to another.”
Washington law also says “vandalism is either a misdemeanor or felony offense. Penalties typically include fines, imprisonment in county jail, or both. In addition, a person convicted of vandalism is frequently ordered to wash, repair or replace the damaged property.” Although vandalism may be a felony, the form of graffiti is only a misdemeanor.
Officer Jeremiah Smith is teaming up with Northwest Youth Services (NWYS) to crack down on graffiti crimes. “Graffiti is causing thousands in property damage,” Smith said. In order to minimize the cost of erasing graffiti and to involve the vandals, Smith will work with boys who have to paint over or scrub graffiti for eight hours a day, two days a week during the summer.
“The City of Bellingham’s direction on how to handle graffiti will be clarified at this future MNAC meeting,” said Geoff Middaugh, South Hill Neighborhood Association member and South Hill representative for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission. The next MNAC meeting will be on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mayor’s Board Room at Bellingham City Hall.
Washington law also says “vandalism is either a misdemeanor or felony offense. Penalties typically include fines, imprisonment in county jail, or both. In addition, a person convicted of vandalism is frequently ordered to wash, repair or replace the damaged property.” Although vandalism may be a felony, the form of graffiti is only a misdemeanor.
Officer Jeremiah Smith is teaming up with Northwest Youth Services (NWYS) to crack down on graffiti crimes. “Graffiti is causing thousands in property damage,” Smith said. In order to minimize the cost of erasing graffiti and to involve the vandals, Smith will work with boys who have to paint over or scrub graffiti for eight hours a day, two days a week during the summer.
“The City of Bellingham’s direction on how to handle graffiti will be clarified at this future MNAC meeting,” said Geoff Middaugh, South Hill Neighborhood Association member and South Hill representative for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission. The next MNAC meeting will be on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mayor’s Board Room at Bellingham City Hall.
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