Philly War on Graffiti: August 2016

But first... some articles.

A friend posted this on my Facebook wall. Cute... but not quite me. :)

Not even murals are safe. :(

Wifey and I went to visit her family in friends in Massachusetts. I thought I would have to take a break from graffiti reporting but I decided to take my message to Cambridge. The stop sign was from Friday July 29 outside our hosts' home and the rest were from Saturday evening July 30 downtown. If only I could have used my phone over the sabbath, I would have gotten more... as always.

I downloaded the app used in Massachusetts - Commonwealth Connect. It was different than Philly 311 - far less questions asked but still have the option to upload pictures and use a map to define the area. I received e-mails on Monday that the graffiti issues were completed (great turnaround time!). I also continued to get e-mails about other issues in the area that others reported. I had to manually tell the app to stop - but I'll keep it around for next time. It's also interesting that the city does not clean up graffiti November to April because of the weather, unless the graffiti is vulgar. Philly 311 is year-round. They also said that they get a waiver from private property owners to clean; Philly 311 just goes and cleans.

The graffiti in Cambridge seemed mostly focused on public property - parking meters, signs, etc. The brick and security gate were the notable exceptions.

Cambridge is always an interesting place to visit. Very... very liberal... even for Massachusetts. Doing some extra walking in this trip, I was impressed with the amount of American history... American military history... present. George Washington took command of the Continental Army/militia besieging Boston in 1775 early in the American Revolution and we passed the location where that happened. There are number of historical markers and streets/squares dedicated to individuals, particularly soldiers. Even the synagogue we go to has plaques honoring members who served in the Great War (World War I).

On to the rest of the graffiti... in Philly!

Wednesday July 13

South Columbus Blvd - stop sign.

There was a program at a Rabbi's house at 15th and Catharine. Several things down 16th on the way there.

Thursday July 14 - Bastille Day (and my brother's birthday)

Illegal Dumping - 18th and Catharine

On 18th.

17th and Christian - school parking lot.

Friday July 15

I visited my cat again in Bella Vista.

Wednesday July 20

23rd and Chestnut

Thursday July 21

I95 South - hard to see - as you enter off Morris St.

5th and Lombard - next to synagogue. It got cleaned and then tagged again.

Synagogue fence

4th and Christian

We had the rabbi's son's bar mitzvah at Broad and Locust. Lots of stuff on way there and back particularly on South and on Broad.

18th and Fitzwater - fence of Marian Anderson Rec Center.

Broad and Lombard - Philly 311 rejected it. I had to send it to Center City District.

Friday July 22

5th and South

5th and Bainbridge

5th and South

5th between Bainbridge and South

12th and Christian

Sunday July 24
It was a fast day... but I couldn't resist reporting stuff.

I took the long route to the farmer's market after services.

5th and Lombard across the street from my synagogue.

5th and South

5th and Randolph

5th and South

4th and Gaskill

12th and Lombard

12th and South

I found stuff on the way to and from services at 20th and Chestnut.

18th and Fitzwater

18th and Spruce

Behind Rittenhouse Market at 18th and Spruce.

18th and Spruce

18th and South - Walgreens

The lamp post by the synagogue and a door to the market next to the synagogue and the 2000 block of Ionic (between Chesntut and Sansom) was covered in graffiti. I reported them to Center City District. Update - two weeks later, it wasn't done so I e-mailed them again.