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Denver sponsors graffiti 'art' for kids
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Graffiti vandalism in southwest Denver
It's kinda like digging a hole and filling it up again.
While Mayor Hickenlooper is proposing that Public Works spend $1,339,606 on its graffiti removal program in 2009, Parks and Recreation is sponsoring graffiti "art" at parties for the city's youth at recreation centers.
Check out the flyer. Here is a portion of it:
"Denver Parks and Recreation Presents:
*Recreation, Arts & Culture 4 Denver's Youth*
What: Hip-Hop night @ The center Dance Battles, Live DJ, Graffiti Art, games and You can do it ALL!
Who can come: Ages 10-15 ONLY!!
Cost: FREE!"
The flyer also has a drawing of a kid tagging a wall.
The music, dancing and games sound like fun and it's great that there are these events for the city's youth. But graffiti? Graffiti is a crime. Ask the homeowner or small business person who has the added expense of repainting if graffiti is art. My 90-year old neighbor had her garage tagged before she died. I can imagine the tough guy who did it bragging to his crew, "I ain't afraid of no dying old lady."
I know, I know...there are those who will say that what will go on at the Parks and Rec parties is not vandalism as the kids will be painting on make-believe walls. Simulated graffiti. What do you suppose the reaction would be if the kids snorted lines of powdered sugar and then simulated sex acts? Others will say that if children don't have the make-believe walls to tag, they will vandalize real buildings. Would you serve the kids beer at the party to prevent them from downing Jagermeister shots?
Mayor Hickenlooper needs to get his departments on the same page. He can't have one spend a million plus dollars to remove graffiti while another glamorizes it to the city's youth. A clear message needs to be sent that graffiti vandalism will not be tolerated in Denver.
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