Tom Lynch

A few dozen gather outside the Wicker Park/Bucktown Chamber of Commerce on Milwaukee Avenue. Down the block, a storefront window has been tagged by an unfixable white substance, a glass etching cream that can be found at most art-supply stores, sort of a liquid sandpaper. Alderman Manuel Flores and his crew seem disgusted. He's out to get the cream.

"Enough is enough," Flores says, who believes the etching graffiti has a worse effect than simple spray paint and that the astronomical property damage shines poor light upon the neighborhood. "We will no longer tolerate harm to our community." An older gentleman, who was the very first on the scene, seems concerned and hounds Flores as he shows the crowd examples of the glass cream. "If you ban [the cream] in stores, will kids still be able to get their hands on it?" he asks. "The reality is this," Flores responds. "People still can get their hands on it, with the advent of the Internet. And, with catalogues, you can still purchase the item."

Flores has created The 1st Ward Anti-Graffiti Task Force, comprised of chambers of commerce, business owners, neighborhood residents, law enforcement and other members of the community, designed to crack down on "tagging" and keep the businesses prosperous. "We're looking for increased fines, a ban on the material, and mandatory community service," Flores explains of his quest for punishment. "Plus, parents will be held accountable when their children are apprehended and convicted." The current fine for this type of property damage is $500; Flores hopes to triple that. "This is not a type of crime where there are no victims," he says. "And this is not a comedown on kids looking for channels to express themselves. We're not simply getting tough on kids." The owner of the tagged building speaks solemnly, saying that the graffiti "deters people" from wanting to rent from him. A Scotchgard Protective Film representative demonstrates how his product can prevent window damage. He scratches the film with a razor blade, illustrates on it with the acid-based window cream. After he removes the film, no damage has been done to the actual window. It works. Flores watches from the back.

A younger man brings up the theory that most taggers are suburban transplants, visiting the city only on weekend excursions. Flores quickly shoots him down. "That is absolutely incorrect," he says. "These are people destroying their own community...what message does that send?" Flores wins the crowd when he mentions the giant amount of cash this graffiti currently costs city taxpayers. "We're not gonna tolerate anybody coming into our community. We are watching you."

(2004-12-07)

Also by Tom Lynch

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