Graffiti plagues city walls

02:43 PM CDT on Sunday, October 16, 2005

By Chau Nguyen / 11 News

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Lack of funds and manpower are contributing to Houston’s growing graffiti problem.

Even in Midtown, the heart of the Vietnamese business district, graffiti doesn’t discriminate.

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Houston's graffiti is an eyesore many wish would go away.

Tao Vu, a restaurant employee, has seen the writing on the wall grow over the last several months, but he said it’s currently as bad as he’s seen.

“It is not art,” Vu said. “I don’t like it.”

Midtown isn’t the only problem area.

City Councilman Mark Goldberg believes more graffiti is present because the its cleanup is low on the city’s priority list.

“I think we need more manpower there, we need more dollars and we need to organize,” Goldberg said.

Houston Mayor Bill White also had something to say about graffiti.

“We gotta continue to be vigilant, and I’m gonna review the situation with the chief,” Mayor White said.

In past years, funds were allocated for graffiti abatement, but that budget has been cut.

Mayor White said the police department’s new gang task force, which was formed in May, could be put in charge of graffiti abatement.

A city ordinance requires owners to paint over graffiti when it happens, but it is not being enforced. Many owners have simply given up.

Vu said officers rarely come around and getting a handle on the graffiti is nearly impossible because once it’s painted over, the vandals come back.

The graffiti is a sign of the times some fear won’t get better until the city steps up.