Graffiti in Portland continues to be a challenging problem to solve

(FEBRUARY 8, 2024) Graffiti is "writing or pictures painted on walls and public places, usually illegally," according to Cambridge Learners Dictionary. It can be a big problem for cities. Local leaders in Portland, for example, have challenges in removing graffiti from public spaces. The difficulty comes from a complex combination of factors.  Solutions to the problem are not easy. 

One key factor is the rapid reoccurrence of graffiti. The city paints over graffiti one day, and there is more graffiti in the same place the next day. The city cannot keep up with the cleaning. Also, police do not always enforce laws about graffiti in the same way. The vandals (people who break the law and damage buildings with their graffiti) do not always receive punishment. 

Gordon's Fireplace Shop is one example. The building is at 3300 NE Broadway in Portland. The shop, like many others, has experienced difficulties in maintaining a clean exterior due to recurring (repeated) graffiti incidents. Business owners are frustrated. They spend a lot of time and money in cleaning, but then they see new graffiti soon after. 

Some people want the city to move fast and strong. Some say, ""Once you take your foot off the gas, you're screwed." That's slang. It means problems become worse if you stop trying to fix things. The problems becomes out of control. So they want more help from the city in order to see less graffiti.