Houston Takes Battle on Graffiti to the WWW

Graffiti: noun - "The words, colors, and shapes drawn or scratched on buildings, overpasses, train cars, desks, and other surfaces. It's done without permission and it's against the law."

Fighting graffiti costs Houston tax payers over $1 million per year. The City of Houston has launched a web site (http://www.houstontx.gov/graffiti) designed to help the community battle graffiti through preventive measures. In the news release we received, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Sue Lovell says, "I hope citizens who are concerned about graffiti will use our site. Citizens should keep looking to the site as information is updated and new information is added."

The web site is still a work in progress. Several links point to areas still awaiting content. And, the design could use an infusion of style from the perpetrators being targeted. That approach may be the key to preventing graffiti in the first place.

According to the web site, one method of discouraging graffiti writers is to have a mural painted on walls typically targeted by writers. The approach - depicted in Style Wars - may work. But, then again, graffiti writers are rule breakers, right? Who's to say that won't just tag over the mural (like in Style Wars)?

What's your take on graffiti? Is it an artistic expression or vandalism? If the latter, how should Houston handle it? Tag us with a comment or six.