As graffiti vandals continue to deface buildings in Portland, Oregon, local businesses are taking measures to protect their properties, with one coffeehouse owner installing bullet-resistant glass after repeated window smashings.
In the wake of escalating crime and vandalism in Portland, businesses are taking matters into their own hands to safeguard their properties and employees. Amidst a rise in graffiti incidents, where vandals jockey for notoriety on the sides of buildings, coffeehouse owner Loretta Guzman has made the difficult decision to install bullet-resistant glass after her windows were repeatedly smashed.
The Department of Transportation in Portland has allocated $4 million this year from the state legislature to aid in graffiti cleanup efforts. However, the bill remains pending the signature of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
As graffiti taggers compete for recognition and territory, the authorities face challenges in apprehending the perpetrators. A graffiti artist in Portland, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that graffiti culture has become anarchic, with no clear rules governing the defacing of private and public property.
"It's graffiti is really when it comes down to it, kind of no laws, no rules," the artist told FOX 12. "Everything's a fair game."
The artist further expressed concern about the potential consequences of being caught for graffiti, particularly the risk of felony charges that could severely impact one's life. Despite the risks, some graffiti vandals remain highly dedicated to their activities, viewing it as an expression of self and an avenue for notoriety.
Officer Nate Kirby-Glatkowski of the Portland Police Department describes the current graffiti scene as "tagger-based," with individuals driven by ego and fame. He notes that some vandals engage in graffiti nightly for extended periods, targeting both public and private properties.
"We have graffiti vandals in the city who go out five nights a week, and they do graffiti for hours on end, and then they go home and they fill up notebook books with iterations of their names thousands of times," Kirby-Glatkowski explained.
The graffiti culture in Portland is not merely about mindless vandalism but rather a complex system of communication and etiquette. Kirby-Glatkowski highlights the intricate rules governing who can tag where and what types of tags can be placed over others.
"There are a lot of etiquette rules about who can tag where and how you can tag, and what you can put over top of other types of tags," Kirby-Glatkowski said.
Despite efforts to clean up graffiti and deter vandals, the problem persists as graffiti artists view it as a constant game of cat and mouse with authorities.
"It's always the same story, you know, like us versus the buff," a graffiti artist told FOX 12. "The people that clean up graffiti all day. It's just basically a game of cat and mouse..."
The Portland Police Department and the governor's office have not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. As the situation unfolds, businesses and residents alike await action from authorities to address the ongoing graffiti and crime wave in Portland.
