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Groups reach out to citizens for help

By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Monday, October 19, 2009 10:30 PM MST

Graffiti and vandalism is a growing problem in Lake Havasu City — but officials and various community groups are looking to combat the problem head on.

The Development Services Department organized the second annual Community Outreach Monday night to help get the word out about issues facing the city. Several organizations, including Allied Waste, Keep Havasu Beautiful, the Mohave County Department of Public Health, The Western Arizona Humane Society and police and fire departments, provided information and answered questions at the meeting.

Officials are hoping the increased awareness will make the city a safer and more vibrant place to live. It made a positive impact on Malinda Bradley, who said she became a victim of several crimes in recent years.

“I came to see last year’s presentation and the people in these organizations helped me a great deal,” she said, adding that she had witnessed the effects of graffiti in the city. “I walk down to Rotary Park often and I’ve seen it there several times. But we have to thank our volunteer firefighters because they do a great job of getting it cleaned up quickly.”

About 25 volunteer firefighters are responsible for cleaning up the city’s graffiti and operate off of donated supplies from Sherwin Williams.

“After taking over the graffiti issue just last year, we responded to and cleaned up 22 jobs,” Volunteer Firefighter Joey Blanchard said. “This is a problem in Havasu and it’s going to get bigger if we don’t let people know about it.”

Blanchard acknowledged that ignorance could be the biggest issue in regards to graffiti and vandalism in the city.

“I didn’t know we had a problem until I became a victim myself,” he said. “I saw an opportunity in the newspaper to join the program to clean it up, and I knew it was an awesome opportunity to get out and do some good and retaliate against the people that do this.”

DSD Code Enforcement Investigator Adelita Smith presented a special recognition award to Blanchard for his dedication and hard work.

“He is always on the ball about getting things cleaned up,” she said. “He’s also always calling me to find out what he can do and he’s been a tremendous help.”

Smith said she was pleased with the turnout at the outreach but hoped more residents would contact local officials about becoming involved in various city programs.

“This is a great thing we have here for people and it would be nice if we could let people know that didn’t get a chance to come out,” she said. “People should know that so many organizations are available to answer questions and concerns and we should be thankful we have so many people interested in helping.”

Smith said the help would not be available without the members of the various organizations and she also thanked Someplace Special Bakery, Smith’s Grocery Store, Michael’s Craft Store and Safeway Grocery Store for donations and contributions.

Those with further questions on becoming involved with various programs are asked to contact Smith at 928-453-4148 ext. 4380.

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com

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Reader Comments

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Reader Comments

O'really wrote on Oct 27, 2009 10:19 PM:

" Havasu Resident. Anyone who runs into a burning building is a hero in my book. They save lives everyday in very real ways. They do not show up after the fire is out and write a report, they do not make up fires to make sure the fire judge can be the profitable in AZ, there is not "come to Havasu and leave on fire" motto being bantered around by former vistors. The FD are all great people, paid or not, politics or not. I do respect your opinion and will not say "wait until you have to call 911" because it is not needed in the case of firefighters. "

LosTacos wrote on Oct 27, 2009 1:31 AM:

" "Gangs are even turning up in towns as small as Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Lake Havasu City, Ariz. They’ve arrived in rural Indian Country as well." (Gangs of Zion, CNN) I forgot Sureños, Norteños, Tongan Crips. Not too mention MC clubs Vagos, Angels, Mongols, and Devils Deciples (but these guys "bikers" have more respect for their community and don't tag.)Wake up people these are tags, go online , Myspace has the 928's. Yes these kids have internet too. "

LosTacos wrote on Oct 27, 2009 1:10 AM:

" Get rid of the gang bangers and wanna be gang bangers in Havasu. some just local kids yet most are tags from Trekkle Park Crips out here frm pheonix area, MS13, and Loco 928's(Havasu/Parker Crips). I can hear the public out cry..."Oh there just kids." yup kids with guns marking there blocks and slingin weed and meth. Goknights, That's because the FD keeps cleaning it up. If you know where to look it's there. Problem is most don't want to admit gangs here and the rest just don't have a clue. Paradise is a horse on the way to the glue factory with blinders on. "

signcraft wrote on Oct 26, 2009 6:44 PM:

" let us know if we can help "

Havasu Resident wrote on Oct 23, 2009 1:37 PM:

" O'really & MN

Lets be very clear and kindly allow me to bring this to your attention.

Volunteer Firefighter are true Heroes because they do it for no pay! The Lake Havasu City Fire Dept Forcefully opposes ANY Volunteer Firefighters in our community!

Not only that, They DO NOT get along with Desert Hills Fire Dept. who are some of the nicest, non political people you could meet! You can ask them yourself & find out the politics Havasu Fire PLAYS! "

goknights wrote on Oct 21, 2009 6:50 PM:

" Oh, and my mistake i meant to put: "Lake Havasu is one of the towns with LEAST active graffiti vandals" "

goknights wrote on Oct 21, 2009 12:43 PM:

" My goal wasn't to be off subject, I was certainly pointing out the first sentence in this article, where they mix graffiti & vandalism as two separate things. I don't really care what the rest is about. Graffiti is a problem, don't get me wrong...but not in this town. Sure the city does alot to prevent it. I would know, trust me. I know all about graffiti, illegal or not. I won't bother reading the rest, if you want to do something about it get off the screen and step into the streets, no offense to anyone. Just stating the facts. Good Day. "

gatekeeper wrote on Oct 20, 2009 10:11 PM:

" Goknights: You ended your statement indicating you don’t think graffiti is a problem? This is in direct opposition of those who maintain first hand dealings for the issue. It seems when graffiti is located a police report is made following those who immediately respond to clean the destruction in an effort to maintain the City's appearance. One volunteer reported cleaning 22 locations. Let’s remain aware of property owners who are responsible to clean their own damage, an issue not spoken about within this article, and also, the other people who clean who go out and clean. This City has long taken strides to perceptually ensure a tranquil environment, when in reality; a fourth of the town is supporting a drug habit forcing secondary criminal occurrences. Every beautiful sculpture will melt if left unprotected, and before long an irreversible trend will bleed through the transitory band aid forcing a costly crisis. We must pay implement protective stratagies, or we will undoubtedly pay later. "

O'really wrote on Oct 20, 2009 3:05 PM:

" Let me point out a few things. First, great job fightfighters! Once again you are proven that you are real life superheroes.

Why was the PD mentioned in the article at all? Where is the great "detectives"? I thought they were so great like supercops according to Intellectual. I guess unless someone comes in and admits guilt they have a hard time solving the case, but we got some shiney new motorcycles, low profile lights, and hundreds of man hours in the channel for tourist fleecings. "

law wrote on Oct 20, 2009 2:50 PM:

" Over the last 6 weeks I have seen 6 seperate areas where fences were sprayed with Graffiti in the typical gang type fonts.

I have not seen this before in Havasu so lets make this city a NO TOLERANCE CITY concerning Graffiti. The problem is that how do you make a 8th grader pay for the clean up when his parents are out of work.
You could make the kid do the clean up in other areas of the city. "

lakemom wrote on Oct 20, 2009 10:58 AM:

" I hope this problem with graffiti is stricly enforced. Children and adults need to know exactly what the consequences would be. One of the reasons why I left my old city and moved here was because I noticed little or none here (graffiti). If they want to use it as art, maybe they should move to L.A. and feel free to add to the beautiful artwork under the freeways there. I say if they are caught penalties need to be striclty enforced!! "

havasu♥lover wrote on Oct 20, 2009 10:47 AM:

" I'm usually not in support of more authoritarianism, but when it comes to graffiti, I'm all for it. I'll support any legislation that's introduced to further combat and punish lowlife scumbag taggers. I believe that the penalty for being caught tagging should be stiffer that DUI's. Way stiffer! Taggers are one of society's most cancerous infections, and their vandalism not only costs us a ton of money to clean up, but it causes incalculable pain, hatred & judgment among the victims who have to clean it up or pay to have it cleaned up, and society in general, who have to constantly look at it in disgust.

Here's what I would like to see: The first offense should cost a person a minimum of $10k + clean-up fees, 30 days of jail time with Sheriff Joe & psychological evaluation, 6 months of community service and 2 years probation. A second offense should land a person in the can with Sherriff Joe for a minimum of 6 months, in addition to another $20k worth of penalties & loss of drivers license (if they are old enough to have one), 1 year of community service and 5 years of probation. A 3rd Offense should be a felony, requiring 2 years with Sherriff Joe, $100k in penalties, 2 years of community service and 5 years probation. If that doesn't cure a tagger's desire to cause pain & hatred through their vandalism, a 4th offense should land them behind bars for life - take the trash to the dump! "

law wrote on Oct 20, 2009 7:20 AM:

" I have also noticed the graffiti around Lake Havasu and it really bothers me. Lets all keep on eye on our city and not let these kids or others turn our city into a ugly city.

Do not let the graffiti stay on the walls. Remove it now!!!!! "

motherofanangel wrote on Oct 20, 2009 6:40 AM:

" This is a wonderful thing. Thank you to the volunteers who clean up the mess left by ignorant people. "

MN wrote on Oct 20, 2009 3:41 AM:

" AGAIN~THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS and everyone else involved in the clean up! Nothing looks worse in a city than graffitti and it is so important to "cover it up" before it is seen by too many tourists...the big question is, how to STOP it?? Parents need to keep a better eye on their children, to see if they have paint or smell paint on them! Also, parents need to teach their children to respect others and others properties!! It all starts at home! "

goknights wrote on Oct 19, 2009 11:15 PM:

" Graffiti & vandalism are two separate things that can be classified under one. Vandalism is a crime...it falls under criminal damage, graffiti CAN be criminal damage when it is used to vandalize other peoples property. There is no such criminal charge as "graffiti", since it falls under criminal damage as well. Of course you may all argue that graffiti may or not be an art, but it sure is a crime when you do it illegally to vandalize. Anyways, graffiti in Havasu? Really? Where? Lake Havasu is one of the towns with active graffiti vandals, at least thats my opinion. I don't consider graffiti to be a big problem in this town. "

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