Graffiti, property rights, and free speech

[Bad Words]

Hello,

I am looking for some ideas here for graffiti to put on the back fence of my property. Mostly interested in quotes, and I will probably put the first amendment up there. Here is my situation:

August 17 - I buy a house that has some graffiti on the back fence. There is a picture of a firecracker, and two instances of "425", which is the area code here. I don't care about the graffiti and don't plan on removing it.

November 2 - I receive a letter from the city of Renton requesting that I remove the graffiti by November 17, saying that the quick removal of graffiti deters further graffiti. I do not mind future graffiti, and if it is anything of substance I would actually welcome it. I decide to take no action.

November 28 - I receive a letter from the City of Renton saying that they will "allow 10 days from the date of this letter to remove all graffiti from property. After December 8, 2007, an on site inspection will be conducted. If the property is not in compliance at this time you will be issued a criminal citation without further contact from this department." This letter kind of ticks me off. I absolutely think that tagging someone's property without their permission is a bad thing, but I do not understand why a property owner would get in trouble for allowing graffiti on their own property. This is not cool by me. So I have decided that rather than remove the graffiti, I would like to put some more up. I would probably like substantial quotes by respectable people, but I was also considering "F*** censorship" (without the asterisks). So I ask you what quotes you would consider appropriate to the situation. By the way, the graffiti is in a very low visibility place. It's a dirt road that only has access to the rears of a few houses, and is closed off on one end. The only people who would ever use it would be the few residents who live along it, and I doubt very many of them would use it because it is full of pot holes and doesn't provide any sort of convenience.

[zabet]

1. ...

MY FENCE, MY PAINT, MY RIGHT.

[JDPriestly]

5. How about a slight change: MY FENCE, MY PAINT, MY GRAFFITI, MY RIGHT

[Bad Words]

8. I like that

Thank you JDPriestly and Citizen Jane. I may go with that.

[1620rock]

2. How about "Is it a police state yet?"

[datadiva]

3. Good luck with that.

Its the same way here. City ordinance.

[Alameda]

4. I love graffiti...

....and have taken time to photograph it...after all, it's your property, what's the big deal. In New York City it's great entertainment to read the graffiti in the subways.

[Warpy]

9. Right, some of it is art. Some property owners here have

commissioned graffiti artists to paint blank walls. Even the city has commissioned some here and there. What I don't like is tagging. That's what is tantamount to pissing on a tree and it's unsightly and can reduce property values by making people afraid of gang activity in the area.

Call the cops and make sure that isn't gang sign of some description. If not, then tell the city fathers that it's art, not tagging, and they can shove it.

If it's in the back of your house, it shouldn't be a concern for anyone else's property values.

[Bad Words]

10. Good point about property values

While I believe that it is my right regardless of its effect on property values, I am considerate enough that I would not want to have that negative impact on my neighbors. This is in such a place that it should not bother anyone, including my neighbors around and behind me. Unless it was the police, then some neighbor must have taken issue with it though. I cannot see how my graffiti is harming anyone, and if I do decide to remove it, I will put some other graffiti in its place.

[JDPriestly]

6. Most people want to rid their property of graffiti.

Here in L.A., graffiti indicates the presence of gangs. It is a serious matter, and no one wants it. If you want to have a mural on your property wall, you have to get a permit. Maybe they will issue you a permit to have the graffiti.

Why don't you check with the ACLU on this? The city has the right to regulate speech, but I don't know if there are any precedents that would apply to your case. The ACLU might know.

[Bad Words]

7. I want more graffiti on my property

There is no way I am applying for a permit to exercise free speech. You can continue to ask the government permission to exercise your constitutionally guaranteed rights, and I'll continue to live by my principles and with the risk of being bitten by an unfavorable court decision.

[JDPriestly]

11. How would you feel if your neighbor put a large neon side on his fence,

a sign that cast a neon red light into your bedroom? Your neighbors may find the graffiti troubling. L.A. also fines people who do not clean up graffiti on their property.

[Bad Words]

12. That has nothing to do with my situation

How I would feel about a sign that interfered with my life has nothing to do with the graffiti in my yard. It is hardly visible to anyone, including any of my surrounding neighbors, and would not present harm to them in any way, whether by property value or anything else. I don't know if it was my neighbors or the city itself that had the problem with the graffiti, but since no neighbor has said anything to my and the city has, I will assume that this is a matter between me and them.

[Indy Lurker]

13. WHAT IS ART? n/t