There has to be a better way.
North Battleford's new nuisance bylaw has a section in it dealing with graffiti. The basic premise is property owners will be penalized for not removing graffiti in a timely manner.
That certainly sounds like punishing the victim twice and even some of the councillors voiced that concern during debate of the bylaw May 24.
The bylaw hasn't been passed yet. One more reading is required before it goes to a final third reading and vote June 14. That gives city residents about 10 days to express their opposition.
No one enjoys having their property tagged, and almost everyone works quickly to get rid of the unsightly "art." It is those who don't the City is targeting with the new section of the nuisance bylaw. There has to be a better way to deal with those individuals than potentially victimizing senior citizens and others who don't have the physical strength or the means to remove the tags promptly. What about K & B's ongoing problem with tagging of its waste disposal bins throughout the community? Will the new fine become a new dimension of their "business tax?"
It has been suggested restrictions on spray paint sales would be one solution to the problem, or having graffiti removal as a component of the fine options program.
Those are two creative solutions to a complex problem. There has to be others that will save victims of crime from becoming victims of the system.
