City of Springfield combats graffiti
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Bernard Charlebois has given up on painting over graffiti. He built a long fence facing the bike path near Page Elementary in Springfield. Vandals keep leaving their mark on his property.
"No matter how much I did they'd come back during the night and do it again so I was fighting a losing battle," Charlebois said.
Neighbors near Page Elementary wonder why the graffiti stayed up for so long but Charlebois said he is tired of spending his money to paint over the damage. He estimated he has spent $600 so far painting over graffiti.
Springfield Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery said the city has a new Web site where people can log in and report graffiti.
"Graffiti certainly is a problem," he said. "What we're seeing at Page Elementary may or may not be gang activity. The police department monitors graffiti. When they determine something is gang related, they have an officer that keeps an eye on it."
Springfield High School students have volunteered to clean up graffiti on April 25 for the Day of Caring.
