MANCHESTER, NH – Parks and Recreation Director Don Pinard was surprised that anyone would want to repost a photo of the graffiti his crew cleaned off a storage building in Veterans Park Monday morning.
“Aren’t you giving the graffiti vandals what they want?” Pinard asked.
Pinard said the vandalism was spotted Sunday just as a downtown music event was about to get underway.
“We were working the event and saw it, and people were starting to come to the park, but it was too late to remove it before the event, so we covered it. Nobody could see it, and it stayed covered until this morning when we removed it,” Pinard said. “It’s gone.”
Gone but not forgotten, as Manchester Police are investigating the vandalism, which reads, “ISIS COMES Fuck USA” on the rear of a building used for storage. The same graffiti message was also found on a privately-owned building on Franklin Street, Pinard said.
Regardless of the content, whoever created the inflammatory acts of vandalism is trying to get a rise out of the public, says Pinard.
He’s hoping it will.
“People have to care. It seems like people have become deadened to it. Either they don’t see it, or they’re focused on other things. Property owners should take some kind of pride in their property,” Pinard said.
He said he is troubled with a notable rise in graffiti vandalism around the city.
Graffiti on city-owned property is addressed daily by Parks & Recreation’s graffiti truck, Pinard said. Intown Manchester also does some graffiti removal.
“As soon as we see it on city property we clean it up – especially something like this one, with profanity in it. We do our best at fighting graffiti, but it’s everywhere,” Pinard said.
Also, the content – which uses the word ISIS – preys on people’s fears, Pinard said.
“I made it a point to note all the graffiti on my drive last week, and was shocked at how many places now have graffiti. You’d be amazed,” Pinard said.
Anyone with information about this crime should contact MPD at 603-668-8711, or contact the Manchester CrimeLine to make an anonymous tip. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest.
Below is the city’s official graffiti removal policy from the City of Manchester website:
Graffiti removal services at both public and private properties are provided free of charge; however, the process for requesting graffiti removal differs depending on its location.
Public Property
To request removal of graffiti from public property, use Manchester NH, Connect or contact the Highway Division.
Private Property
To request removal of graffiti from private property, fill out a Graffiti Removal Authorization. This form must be signed and submitted by the property owner. The form authorizes the City to clean up graffiti on the identified property as it is reported or as the City finds it.
Please note the following:
- Only graffiti that is both visible from the public right-of-way and safely accessible is eligible for removal.
- Graffiti located higher than the first floor of a building or on a non-permanent fixture, such as a trash container or vehicle, is not eligible for removal.
- Personnel use a high-pressure water machine to remove graffiti. In cases where this method is not appropriate, personnel may elect to paint over the graffiti. Available colors are limited, so please keep in mind that paint will not be matched perfectly.
Did You Know?
Intown Manchester has a full time beautification staff called The Clean Team. If you see graffiti downtown or an area that needs some TLC, shoot them an email: thecleanteam@intownmanchester.com.
Graffiti is a Crime
If you witness someone defacing property, call 911. See also the Manchester Police Department’s tips on how to discourage graffiti in your neighborhood.
