By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Thursday, we presented an update on how graffiti bandits have been targeting street signs in the city of Buffalo. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley had a chance to catch up with the commissioner of Public Works about the on-going problem. He says it is costing the city thousands of dollars to clean up.
Public Works Commissioner Joe Giambra says it is very expensive to make repairs when graffiti is sprawled across a public sign. He says it isn't just a matter of washing off the marked up sign. For example, it cost the city about $45 to $50 just to replace a stop sign.
"Anytime someone marks a sign, it's not like you can go over an paint over it," Giambra said. "You have to replace the sign. We are able to reuse the aluminum. But it's still very expensive and costly.
"It's unsafe, too, because people might miss the sign because of the graffiti on it."
But in a cash-strapped city, Giambra says he is now forced to ask the Brown Administration for more funding this Spring when the City budget process begins. In response to some Buffalo Common Council members calling on Public Works to remove the graffiti as soon as possible, Giambra says his crews are doing the best they can to combat the problem.
Giambra says marking up street and other public signs definitely appears to be a new trend in the city. He says over the last year, stop signs have become the biggest target by vandals.