New program takes aim at graffiti in hopes of improving troubled neighborhoods
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Neighbors say it’s a fight worth winning. The city is working to beautify crime-infested areas covered with graffiti with a new program.
It’s called the Graffiti Abatement Program. It’s designed to eliminate graffiti and decay in Indianapolis communities. But it’s about much more than just covering up graffiti.
Officials say graffiti is a visual symbol of lawlessness, adding that it’s a crime that leads to more serious crimes. It also affects property values.
Teale Rhodes reflected on her childhood memories near 28th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Street.
“My first love in kindergarten. I probably wrote ‘I love Robert’ on this building,” Rhodes said.
The building, covered with gang signs and vulgar scribbles, was once much different.
“This used to be Eddie’s Drive-In. It was a drive-in restaurant. They had the greatest tenderloins and burgers,” remembers Rhodes.
Rhodes said she got her first job at Eddie’s back in the 1970s.
“We could skate. She would have us put the food on the trays and bring it to customers,” Rhodes added, “Ms. Eddie owned it. She planted flowers. The parking lot did not look like this. It had flowers,” Rhodes said.
She hopes to get some of that back. Rhodes, along with a group of volunteers, spent Wednesday morning painting over graffiti. It’s part of a new initiative by the city to reduce crime. The focus is on six key areas.
“42,000 of our residents live in these areas. That’s 4.7% of our population. Yet, 4.7% of our population lives in areas where 27% of the homicides occur and 30% of the non fatal shootings and 20-35% of the homes are vacant and many have graffiti,” said Public Safety Director Troy Riggs.
Riggs said they’re cracking down. A detective will be assigned to investigate, taking photographs and looking for similarities in effort to get those responsible off the streets.
“People think of themselves as artists and are using someone else’s canvas for their art. It’s illegal. It’s against the law. What we’re finding is those individuals are also involved in other types of criminal activity,” said Riggs.
An effort to reduce crime and increase morality is Rhodes’ hope.
“I was honored to drive all the way from Bloomington to get there, and I had no idea it would be where I roller skated and worked. I hope Ms. Eddie is looking down from above and seeing what we’re doing,” said Rhodes.
Along with painting over graffiti, the city is also planning on demolishing some of the vacant homes in those six troubled neighborhoods. Riggs said this is an ongoing effort.
They plan on hiring former inmates and teens to help with painting, power washing areas, and picking up trash. If graffiti reappears, Riggs said they will paint over it and detectives will be working to try and track down the the culprit.