Gibsons councillors say they know graffiti tagging is a problem in the Town, but they were a bit surprised last night at seeing examples of just how bad.
A concerned resident presented them with pages of photos taken between January 16th and 25th showing more than 250 vandalized signs, walls and hydro boxes.
RCMP say catching taggers is a priority, and they’re actively investigating tagging all over the Sunshine Coast with the help of experts from the Lower Mainland.
Mayor Wayne Rowe says it may be time for residents to get more involved, and report suspicious activity to RCMP or the Town’s bylaw department.
Those in the know also say cleaning the graffiti quickly is a key to preventing more, and Councillor Gerry Tretick suggests an effort similar to one that’s already been used with some success in Nanaimo.
The Town’s Public Works Manager meanwhile, says they’re running into an unexpected complication. The normal graffiti removal chemicals they use end up completely stripping the paint off new generation street signs. Replacement stop signs cost about $50, and adding special coatings deals with the stripping problem but also adds to the cost.
