Providence city councilman offers reward leading to the arrest of graffiti vandals
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
PROVIDENCE, RI – Providence city councilman Michael Correia, Ward 6, called on Providence Police Wednesday, to create a graffiti task force aimed at catching those responsible for a string of tagging across the city. He is even offering a $500 reward for those who aid in the arrest of a tagger. He told ABC6 the money is coming from his own pocket and possibly campaign funds, if the Board of Canvassers approves it.
"No matter where in the city you go, you see it!” Correia explained.
Correia said he has received more than 3 dozen complaints from residents in his ward since the start of the summer.
“You drive through a city with graffiti and you get mixed feelings. You know, is that a crime–ridden neighborhood, it can draw other types of crime,” he said.
The councilor, also telling ABC6 that the tagging is directly affecting local businesses.
"At one time it was only a couple of hundred dollars to clean up, but now when they tag someone’s vinyl siding on a house, you have to replace the entire vinyl siding on a house! And now it’s into thousands of dollars!"
Theofanis Markos, owner of Markos Auto Center on Manton Ave, is one of those losing business due to constant graffiti tagging on his building.
"They come at night and they paint on the walls, the graffiti. We wash it down, we clean it up, we paint it. The next night, they’re right back,” Markos said. "People are afraid to come down here because of the graffiti and what’s going on."
For frustrated business owners like Markos, stopping the taggers can’t come soon enough.
"You can try to keep the place looking good, but [ultimately] you can’t." (..) "I’m so tired I just give up on them."
Correia expects Providence Police to respond to his letter requesting a task force, some time Thursday.
