Long Beach : Graffiti Removal Studied as Condition of Permits

The Long Beach City Council has decided to look at another way to fight graffiti. The council has voted to study whether merchants receiving conditional use permits should be required to remove graffiti from their buildings within 24 hours. The matter was referred to the Planning Commission.

Mayor Ernie Kell, who advanced the idea, said he recommended the graffiti-removal condition when a beer and wine sales use permit was granted Aug. 2 for a Norwalk Boulevard convenience store.

Kell noted that the city spends $300,000 a year in a losing war against graffiti. By forcing business owners to remove graffiti, “it will certainly help city forces in their battle against graffiti,” the mayor said.