Cost of Graffiti
Aside from the significant impact and negative repercussions of illegal graffiti on the social wellbeing of communities, there is a tremendous amount of economic consequences on major cities resulting from graffiti management strategies. Like most of North America, since the 1980s the state of California has experienced a tremendous increase in graffiti vandalism. With a majority of this graffiti being hip-hop and gang graffiti, California news station KPCC reports that over 32 million sq./ft. of graffiti is removed each year in Los Angeles (Mendelson, 2015) with an estimated cost $43 million in 2007 (The Green Eco Services, 2010). Although astronomical, this figure reflects only the graffiti that was reported with many buildings, vehicles, and properties vandalized without being accounted for from a financial, social, or resource level (Weisel, 2011). The cost of reported graffiti in the United States alone is estimated at $12-15 billion annually, with these resources being diverted from other social programs and positive community initiatives in attempt to reduce the negative impact of graffiti (Weisel, 2011). Outside of the US, graffiti has become a major international issue, with a social and financial impact in most major cities throughout the world. More than 14,000 cases of graffiti are reported on rail cars alone in Germany, costing the country over $9 million USD. to remove and repair annually (Schrep, 2013). Across the globe graffiti presents an enormous financial cost to communities, without even beginning to address the intangible damage caused from the erosion of social capital as a result of the presence of graffiti in communities Putnam (1982) and Kelling (2008).
Considering the social and financial ramifications as a result of graffiti, it is of great value to look at the reduction and prevention of graffiti from new perspectives. In navigating pre-emptive approaches in dealing with graffiti issues before they become advanced problems at a community level it is vital to gain an understanding of graffiti vandals and the motivations behind the graffiti they create.