Graffiti on traffic signs costing taxpayers $30,000
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- It seems like you see it all over the place. Graffiti and gang markings cover fences, homes and buildings around Yakima. There are also plenty of traffic signs getting tagged. They could have the biggest effect on your safety.
When graffiti is on a sidewalk or a shed, it's ugly. But, when it's on city property like street signs, it becomes a safety hazard.
"You want to read 'stop,' and a lot of people, if they don't see stop, may go right though it," said taxpayer, Keenan Failing.
After several rounds of budget cuts, Streets and Traffic Director Joe Rosenlund says there are only two people in Yakima dealing with traffic signs.
"We just don't have the manpower to get out there and respond immediately to most graffiti concerns," said Rosenlund.
Rosenlund says they keep a list of the damaged signs. Then, they prioritize. Stop signs, yield signs and other warning signs get replaced first. Followed by things like parking signs.
While Rosenlund's staff always tries to clean the signs first, sometimes replacing them is the only option. And, that's not cheap. Yakima spends about $30,000 a year of your tax dollars to replace traffic signs.
"That's very important to keep them clean and not tagged up with graffiti," said Keenan. "It's not what we paid for to have that up on the corner."
If your corner sign is tagged, Rosenlund says call it in. They might not get to it tomorrow, but at least they'll know about it.
Yakima spends about a $100,000 to remove graffiti every year. That doesn't include labor. About $30,000 of that is spent on parks.
When graffiti is on a sidewalk or a shed, it's ugly. But, when it's on city property like street signs, it becomes a safety hazard.
"You want to read 'stop,' and a lot of people, if they don't see stop, may go right though it," said taxpayer, Keenan Failing.
After several rounds of budget cuts, Streets and Traffic Director Joe Rosenlund says there are only two people in Yakima dealing with traffic signs.
"We just don't have the manpower to get out there and respond immediately to most graffiti concerns," said Rosenlund.
Rosenlund says they keep a list of the damaged signs. Then, they prioritize. Stop signs, yield signs and other warning signs get replaced first. Followed by things like parking signs.
While Rosenlund's staff always tries to clean the signs first, sometimes replacing them is the only option. And, that's not cheap. Yakima spends about $30,000 a year of your tax dollars to replace traffic signs.
"That's very important to keep them clean and not tagged up with graffiti," said Keenan. "It's not what we paid for to have that up on the corner."
If your corner sign is tagged, Rosenlund says call it in. They might not get to it tomorrow, but at least they'll know about it.
Yakima spends about a $100,000 to remove graffiti every year. That doesn't include labor. About $30,000 of that is spent on parks.
the city ought to invest in signs with graffiti film - designed just for this reason - signs can be easily wiped/cleaned off - the up front cost is only a bit more for a sign with the film, than for one without and saves a tremendous amount of time and money for the city and taxpayers I'm surprised you haven't switched over to it yet.
If they don't "see stop" they go right through the sign that is a giant red octagon. And besides, I have seen plenty of road signs tagged and have yet to be unable to discern the content of the sign. Yes, it is unsightly but come on, to make it seem that the reason they need to be fixed is for people to follow traffic signs is a little out there.