New coalition forms to deal with graffiti
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Brian Mootz, who delivers packages for UPS in Moorpark, doesn't like all the graffiti that's been appearing on the walls around town.

"Graffiti is blight and the problem will get worse if it's not removed promptly," said Mootz, who serves on a graffiti removal taskforce in his hometown of Carpinteria and hopes to help coordinate similar efforts in Moorpark.

The Carpinteria Beautiful coalition is composed of volunteers who joined forces with the city and the county to eradicate graffiti and pick up litter in the coastal town south of Santa Barbara. The nonprofit group organizes a yearly home and garden tour to raise money for supplies.

Mootz offered to share what he's learned volunteering in Capinteria with others who want to preserve the quality of life in Moorpark. "It takes citizens, the city and the county to work together to fix the problem. You have to outlast or outsmart the taggers," he said.

Many residents would appreciate the help, said Ron LaGuardia, one of several city leaders who are members of a coalition being formed to address graffiti and gang activity in Moorpark.

"I think it's time that members of the community stand up and in one unified voice say 'enough!'" said Laguardia, a member of the Moorpark Unified School District board of directors and the parent of a middle school student.

"We need to pool our minds and resources to redirect the activities of Moorpark youth away from vandalism and crime in general and toward more productive pastimes," he said.

The coalition plans to meet for the first time later this month. It will also work with the police department to prosecute those who've broken the law.

Another group of local volunteers, formed by Fountain Foursquare Church earlier this summer, has been cleaning up graffiti around town.

All these volunteers could be helpful to property owners who are repeatedly targeted by vandals, said Steve Anderson, who owns A-C Construction and an RV storage yard on Spring Street next to the arroyo.

Several walls on his property have been spraypainted by vandals again and again, and Anderson said he's tired of cleaning up.

"I've painted three to four times the entire length of walls but it just gives them (the vandals) a reason to do it again."

The city should address the recurring incidents, Anderson said.

The problem is the city doesn't remove graffiti on private property unless it's obscene or on a fence or a wall visible from the street, said Hugh Riley, assistant city manager for Moorpark.

To make matters worse for those like Anderson, an ordinance adopted in 1993 allows the city to bill property owners who fail to remove graffiti within 72 hours of receipt of a notice from the city.

Riley encouraged volunteers to help property owners but said the city could not cover liability or accident risk for them.

City properties are usually cleaned up within 24 to 48 hours from notice to proceed.

Graffiti is also a problem for property belonging to the county, which doesn't have the resources to remove everything in a timely manner, said Supervisor Peter Foy.

"As homeowners and business owners, we need to go out and do what we can. We also need stiffer penalties," said Foy. "People who are caught should be made to clean the walls, and if they're underage, the parents should also be responsible for the cleanup and costs," he said.

Graffiti will never be eradicated, but Moorpark police have been gaining ground, said Senior Dep. Robert Berger.

Police have arrested three different tagging groups in recent weeks. "The arrests should put a dent in the growing problem," said Berger, noting vandals are getting more cautious since a bicycle patrol was implemented in June.

Riley warned that volunteers should never confront vandals who are caught in the act. That should be left to the police, he said.

For more information about the coalition, call Larry Brown at the school district at (805) 3786300. The daytime number to report graffiti on city property is (805) 517-6256.

The after-hours number is (805) 517-6297.