Maybe it's the old hall director in me or the proponent of the Broken Windows Theory or maybe I just want to make my city look nicer. Recently I've been on a kick to report as much of Philly's graffiti as possible. I thought some folks might be interested in watching the progress and hopefully join in in reporting issues.
I've been using the Philly 311 system - both the app and website (http://www.phila.gov/311/Pages/default.aspx) - to report graffiti. Surprisingly, the City of Brotherly Love is pretty responsive. Will they get to it tomorrow? No. Will they get to it within a week to 10 days? More than likely. So yes, being worried that Philadelphia won't address this should not be a concern to reporting.
I have only been reporting things that are on my normal route - to and from my car, to Starbucks, if I happen to be at a red light. Today I decided to walk a couple of blocks out of my way to photograph and submit graffiti. My goal is to take a block or two every week.
A sizable chunk of the graffiti I see is when I walk to and from synagogue on the Jewish sabbath (Friday night/Saturday day) when I can't carry my phone. Hence, I miss a lot. Even stopping and picturing and reporting everything on my route takes a long time because there can be so much of it on certain blocks. During the days after last week's blizzard, I walked down South Street to synagogue since I couldn't move my car. I must have done over a dozen issues and missed dozens more. Walking and focusing on a couple blocks out of my way I hope to get some of things I otherwise would can't get.
Here's what I found just today:
South Fifth St between South and Bainbridge. On way to synagogue for morning services. There was a lot of graffiti on this block. There is a construction site a little south that seems to attract it.
On security gate on 4th St between South and Bainbridge across from Essene grocery store. Gate graffiti can be hard to find if the store is open. But when the store is closed, it's a eyesore.
7th St between Catharine and Christian (on way to visit my cat!). Yes it's small, but it needs to be addressed.
18th between Pine and Spruce on way to Starbucks. Mailboxes are popular surfaces.
Here is what I hunted for today in my neighborhood. I hit the 1600 and 1700 blocks of Catharine and the Marian Anderson Rec Center. Lots of stuff just on three blocks. Kids use the facility - are we blind to crime?
Let's see how quickly the city responds to some of this. Any blocks you want me to hit next? Any thoughts? Would love to hear what you have to say.
