Graffiti with racial slurs, Obama threats reported

Graffiti with racial slurs, Obama threats reported

UNION-TRIBUNE (San Diego, CA) 7:06 a.m. October 31, 2008 SAN MARCOS: Residents in the city's upscale San Elijo Hills neighborhood found graffiti with racial slurs about blacks and malicious words and threats directed at presidential candidate Barack Obama yesterday morning. The graffiti was found in six to eight locations in San Elijo Hills and all of it was about Obama, African-Americans or Muslims, said Jenny Peterson, spokeswoman for the city of San Marcos. One message said, “Death to Obama.” Residents reported the graffiti about 7:15 a.m., Peterson said, and city crews immediately covered it. A vandalism report with a hate-crime enhancement was filed with the Sheriff's Department, she said. Sheriff's deputies are investigating. The city is offering a $1,000 award to anyone who provides information that can help determine who was responsible. Anonymous tips can be posted at sdcrimestoppers.com. San Elijo Hills, which is still being built, is in southwest San Marcos and borders Carlsbad. San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond issued a statement yesterday afternoon saying he is disturbed that such graffiti was found in his city. “This is a shameful display of hate and absolutely will not be tolerated in our community,” he said. –L.L.

Benicia City Council approves amending the graffiti ordinance

On October 22, 2008 I asked Mayor Patterson the following:

Elizabeth:

There is renewed interest in the rewrite of Benicia's Graffiti Ordinance given the latest incident along the 3rd Street Tunnel pathway which included racial epithets. Could you please update us on any progress being made with regard to this issue?
Ross

Here is her response:

Ross:

Below are the notes from the Minutes of Council Meeting. We should have this on our next agenda, November 4th. Check for the agenda later this afternooon on the city website.

Elizabeth


Analysis of the Graffiti Ordinance - continued from September 2, 2008 City Council
Meeting:

Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli and Dan Schiada, Public Works Director, reviewed the
staff report. Council and Staff discussed Suisun’s Report, Remove, and Repair (RRR) Program, the City’s ‘Adopt a Street’ program and how something similar could work for this issue,
fines, property owners’ responsibility regarding graffiti, financial strains for some
property owners with regards to graffiti removal/fines, anti-graffiti measures, the City’s
Minutes of the City Council Meeting – September 16, 2008 11
current response time for graffiti removal, response time for property owners removing
graffiti. On motion of Council Member Hughes, seconded by Vice Mayor Campbell, Council approved the direction to Staff to proceed with amending the graffiti ordinance, on roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Hughes, Ioakimedes, Schwartzman, and Mayor Patterson
Noes: None

To the City Council, thank you. Keep up the good work!
..Ross Sagun