Eastside Defender

I talked to Susan Young from Minneapolis Solid Waste this morning and got the answers to some of your questions.

1. To report graffiti online go to; http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/graffiti/report.asp
- You have the option to attach a photo on this site, however it is not required to use this site; or,

2. You can call 311 to report graffiti anywhere in the city.

3. If the graffiti is on city property/government property/electric boxes, etc you can go online or call 311 to report it. The city is supposed to get to it within 3 days of receiving the report.

4. If the graffiti is on your property. You are usually responsible for removing it. If you don't remove it and someone calls it in or the City sees it you will get a notice to remove the graffiti. You will have 7 days from the notice date to remove the graffiti. If you do not remove it, the City may come and remove it and then charge you for the cost of removal. If you get a letter and cannot remove the graffiti right away (i.e., too cold, out of town, etc.) call 612-673-2789 and let them know right away, so you can try to get extra time.

5. If the graffiti on your property is tagger graffiti (the vast majority of graffiti) you will be responsible for the clean-up. However, if the property that has graffiti on it is GANG graffiti (the City can let you know if it is gang graffiti, most graffiti is not gang graffiti); AND the property is not a residence; AND the property is within 5 feet of a right of way (close to the alley, etc); then the city will clean it for you at no charge.

6. Susan also added; if you notice someone suspicious, particularly in the alleys or around the utility boxes, etc., please call 911. We want to catch the people who are putting this graffiti up.
I hope this helps answer some of the questions raised last night.

Thanks
Tom

For questions, contact:
Tom Thompson, Crime Prevention Specialist
Minneapolis Police Department, 2nd Precinct
(612) 673-2874
thomas.thompson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us