Gang graffiti on the rise?

[HVYCHVY]

I've been noticing a lot more graffiti/gang tags in the midtown area lately, is it the property owners responsibilty or the City to remove the eyesores? One business on 11th has both stories of the house tagged on huge lettering along with their dumpsters, the owners can't miss it.[!] Are they afraid to remove it because of retaliation? Should we start packing extra heat for an upcoming gang war? In the words of Rick Wells "Whats the Deal?"

[Rowdy]

Last I heard was a story ran in one of the local news channel websites that there were only two people who's job entailed repainting graffiti areas in Tulsa but I would think more would have been hired by now.  I am sure it is the owner's responsibility to repaint.

[tim huntzinger]

If it is gang graffiti the property owner may want to snap a pic and/or get in touch with the TPD gang unit.  If it is on City property call the Mayor's hotline or whatever and they will paint over it pretty quicklike.

On SNL they had a funny take: stencil 'SUCKS' under the graffiti to dis the tagger.

[Hometown]

You seen the sneakers hanging on the electric lines around town.  That's gang too.  

[tim huntzinger]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

You seen the sneakers hanging on the electric lines around town.  That's gang too.

Are you for reals?

[Breadburner]

I feels like I can't be faded.....

[AMP]

Many times the TAG painting is a MARK such as in the old days when the Hobos used the term MARK.  They would use chalk or paint and make a mark on the curb or alley by a home or business that was an easy mark to get food or a handout.

Today the MARK represents many other things, one being that an associate Gang Member was wronged at that business or home.  Others that want to become members of said Gang are enticed into committing a crime against a business or residence that has been tagged.  

One of our business locations was Tagged, then within a few weeks one of our delivery vans was stolen, driven out of town and set on fire.  The detective informed us that was most likely a Gang Initiation.  Gang leader told someone to commit a crime on our business and then tell the Gang leader what they did.  Gang leader taped the confession, documented the crime with police reports that are public knowledge and then had the culprits by the Family Jewels, and could make them do anything he wanted.  Or he would turn them in.  

Gangs took many of the Mafia rules and procedures and twisted the meanings and results to their advantage.

[cannon_fodder]

" You seen the sneakers hanging on the electric lines around town. That's gang too."

lol, or its 10 year olds screwing off.  Hell, I wore out a pair of shoes playing Tennis and when I took them off my buddy threw them towards the trash can - only to have them get stuck on a light over the court.  I hope we didnt terrorize too many people with that.

I also knew plenty of people in undergrad that thought would "tag" stuff.  It had nothing to do with being in a gang, they just thought it was cool to go out and put their 'tag' on something.    I'm not entirely sure why, seems stupid to me in a couple of ways... but in any event, I knew guys that did this from Kansas City, Chicago, St. Louis, and Minneapolis and none of them ever mentioned it being related to any gang activity nor do I think they were associated with gangs.   In fact, they were all art majors...lol.

Anyway, my point is that while some activity is certainly related to gangs, graffiti is not always an omen of gang warfare.   Though I would highly encourage anyone to report, repaint, or repair the damage as soon as possible.  If it gets covered up right away, there is little incentive to paint it in the first place.

The main problem seems to be idiots... shooting at people at night clubs and painting on other people property.  Damn I hate stupid people.