Long Beach : Graffiti Reward to Be Raised
First there was a $300 reward that no one knew existed. Now they know it’s there and want to increase it to $500.
At the request of Councilman Clarence Smith, the Long Beach City Council has agreed to raise the amount of a reward available to anyone who helps authorities convict a graffiti artist. Until last week, officials did not realize they even had a reward available.
“I think this is something that got passed and was forgotten,†City Manager James Hankla said after the meeting.
Council members said they need to publicize the program in hopes of cleaning up the streets. Last year, Long Beach spent about $180,000 in graffiti abatement programs.
Michael Fisher, a candidate in the District 8 council race, told the council that in drafting the revised ordinance it should consider the possibility of the violator who “paints and then turns himself in--are we going to pay him, too?â€
The council asked City Atty. John Calhoun to draft the revised law.
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