Kruschel for Alderman - Ward 4

Graffiti and your views – related? I think so.
Travelling around the community this past week, mostly by car, with a little walking, I had a chance to observe a change in the scenery. It seems that Graffiti is taking over Huntington. I look at schools, sign posts, garages, postal boxes, street signs, and even a truck driving down the street. I am very disappointed – and a lot angered!

It seems to be out of control. Unless the community, including CPS can be everywhere all the time after dark, how can we solve this problem? Is it Kids / Teens / Adults? If they actually have Artistic Talent, can we not try to get it on canvas, instead of school walls? Is it due to summer months and people having nothing constructive to do?

A solution - For people living across the street from targets, face your webcam across the street – set it to 5 second intervals and in the morning, review the movie. Five second intervals will result in 7200 frames over a 10-hour period. Once you have your movie, you may be able to benefit from Crime Stoppers payments? Do we need a paint can registry? The logistics of this are insane, so not practical.

How is this – Let’s use solar technology, and light the school grounds and parks. Now, I am not an expert on the up front cost, but I think, if the lights erected operate on Solar energy, eventually, replacement cost is bulbs. Take this one step further, and let’s light up all the “Flood Rinks” in the city so families can actually skate in the winter… I know you all hate it when to leave for work in the dark, and hate it more when you get home after work, and it is dark. We have Chinooks in the winter… we can use these parks, provided we can see them.

Back to Graffiti – I think that anyone caught, charged, and convicted for Graffiti or Vandalism, should have mandatory clean up in their Community Service requirements. This would of course be funded by the Artist.

Unfortunately, if you personally are a victim of graffiti, Calgary Bylaw says you have 14 days to remove it. If you need assistance, help is available with a pilot project starting Aug 9, 2010, and running until November 26 – or until funds run out.

Here is a link to the City website with information regarding Private Graffiti.
Private Graffiti Abatement Program

In the interim, if you see suspicious activity around your neighborhood, please feel free to call Calgary Police Service non-emergency line @ 403-266-1234.

The reason I talk about the Graffiti in the neighborhood, is basically engagement. Part of my platform (as it is called), is community engagement, and empowerment with government. I would love it if everyone who saw suspicious activity, took the 3-5 minutes to call CPS. Unfortunately, unless the suspicious activity has a direct impact on themselves or their property, it goes un-reported.

After elected, any issue that is coming up for a vote in City Hall, will be available for comment in some sort of forum. It may be a blog, it may be via e-mail to the alderman, or it may be in the form of a phone call. I want, and need, all the input of the community to make the right decision. Now, on that note, there may be issues where opinion is split, or alternate proposals make more sense. I am willing to listen to all. If it is an issue that is close to your heart, but not your neighbors, I still want to know. After all, this is all about making our community better. And our community, eventually branches out to our city.