Volunteers Clean Up Graffiti In Duluth; Efforts Spotlight Ordinance Requiring Property Owners To Remove Graffiti Within 14 Days

Community volunteers took the time on Thursday to canvas the City of Duluth removing graffiti from various locations.  The efforts were spearheaded by members of the Duluth Police and Fire Departments, Painters Union Local 106, Greater Downtown Council Clean and Safe Team, and members of the community.

Graffiti falls under the public nuisance category and often creates a domino effect in a community.  The "Broken Window Theory" propelled by many community leaders suggests that graffiti is vandalism and the sooner its cleaned up, the less likely someone else will come along and do the same.  The theory also suggests that a maintained neighborhood sends a positive message;  A community that doesn't tolerate smaller crimes signals that larger crimes will also be squashed.

The efforts on Thursday also served as a reminder of the city's ordinance requiring property owners to remove graffiti within 14 days of notification.