It has been about a decade since NYC officials eradicated most of the spray painted graffitti vandalism in their subway system. Despite this progress, ever resourceful criminal “taggers” are now using acid to leave their mark of more lasting destruction.
According to the NY Times, “the most common material used by the new breed of graffiti vandals is Armor Etch-All, an etching acid sold in art supply stores that is used by craftspeople to etch into glass or other materials. To create graffiti with the acid, it is mixed with paint or shoe polish, Mr. Albert said. And when applied to subway windows, it most commonly leaves broad, sweeping, indelible marks, which subway crews cannot remove in subway yards, as they do with painted graffiti.”
How soon before Los Angeles is hit with this latest import from the Big Apple? And will the MTA sit back while our subway is assaulted by these nihilistic thugs?
Here in Van Nuys 
Rod wrote:
I blame overzealous art classes at the public schools for teaching acid etching instead of respect or others.
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Most urban school districts cannot even afford basic supplies for the 3 Rs classes, let alone art supplies, which are outrageously expensive on the retail end. The taggers learned of these through their cliques.
How to solve the tagging problem? Well, many people have cell phones with cameras. Take stills or videos of them in the act. Use discretion as to which taggers you collar, and never do this beyond a 1:1 ratio. Strength in numbers and all.
I think that the tagging problem will be resolved when taggers are punished by treble damages. Criminal punishment is counterproductive since the taggers just learn to better their craft while locked up. Suing them civilly means that there’s a lower threshhold for liability and they can be fined three times the actual cost of the damage.
Since many of these taggers are unemployable anyway, part of the damages can be paid off through a Beautification Crew. They’ll go out and paint walls and do other menial civic work.
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Sorry to say, but this type of tagging has been going on for years and years… I blame overzealous art classes at the public schools for teaching acid etching instead of respect or others.
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I have already seen it here over the last several years. I noticed yesterday that the Sherman Oaks Branch of the LAPL was hit. It is a hideous thing to do as the only method I know to remove it is to replace the window.
Also, I have noticed that graffiti is waaaaay up in the city. I have noticed that this happens over the typical Spring break and during the beginning of Summer break, but it is ugly. Every mural on the 101 downtown has been horribly defaced, worse than I have seen in years.
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