Amarillo Graffiti Ordinance Is Going To Cost You Money!

Are you distracted while driving by graffiti?  If so, you need to stop driving, because you have no business behind the wheel.  While I do consider graffiti in random places to be property damage, I don't think our Amarillo commissioners should be focusing so much of their time, energy and resources on this Graffiti Ordinance that is being pushed.

The new Graffiti Ordinance will punish those caught "tagging" buildings and if you have a business with graffiti on it, it's going to hit your bank account!

What if you have a business that wants the graffiti?

Like lawyer Jeff Blackburn.  If your not familiar with it, he has a wall on his office property on 16th that he lets local artists tag up as much as they want.  I've seen it, and trust me, this is REAL art coming from REAL artists!  The wall is absolutely breath-taking!  And it's constantly changing, so it's always a fresh new piece of art to look at.

Well, after lengthy discussions, Blackburn got his building exempt from the ordinance, so it's good to go for all taggers out there.  But for some reason, he's still incredibly worked up about this whole Graffiti Ordinance.

Amarillo Globe News

Oh, no. According to a local Amarillo lawyer, Jeff Blackburn, the city is engaging in a “hideous” power grab. “We sure don’t need an anti-graffiti nanny state right here in Amarillo,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn has an office on 16th Avenue in which he invites graffiti artists to spray-paint his walls to their hearts’ content. His building would be exempted from the ordinance. So it begs the question: Why is he so worked up over this ordinance?

The folks who should — and do — support this initiative are residents whose property is damaged and defaced by those who have no regard for other people’s possessions.

Well I think I have an answer for the proposed question of why Blackburn is so worked up over this, and I also have advice for everyone out there with a building that has been tagged with graffiti!  Your about to owe the city some serious money if you don't step up!

Here's why, the city of Amarillo is about to start the clean up process.  They'll look for buildings that have been tagged with graffiti and they will clean it off or paint over it AND THEN THEY WILL SEND YOU A GIGANTIC BILL FOR THE CLEAN UP!

SAY WHAT!?!

Yeah that's right, you want to have to pay that bill?  Probably not!  I think THIS is why Blackburn is worked up about the ordinance!  He sees his fellow citizens about to get taxed by the city!  This is all just a plot for the city of Amarillo to make a quick buck off you!  See through the tricks folks!  Read between the lines!

Blackburn is on your side in my opinion!

But hey, if you don't want them touching your property, there is something you can do about it!

There is a new rule in place that gives local business owners a whopping 3 days to decide whether the city cleans up the mess or you do.

Either way, the graffiti is going to be cleaned up.  So how you gonna go about it?  You going to pay the city of Amarillo thousands of dollars to clean it up?  Or you going to just do it yourself?  You better make a decision soon and respond to the ordinance 3 day rule!

Get the full story on the Graffiti Ordinance here at Amarillo Globe News.

And see even more here at Connect Amarillo.