WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Paint vandalism

Thanks for all the tips. We’ve had multiple recent reports of paint vandalism – from tags to specific messages – so it’s time for not only a report but also to revisit what you can do. (Note: We have photos of everything mentioned but WSB policy is to not show graffiti, with few exceptions, such as an investigation when more evidence of a specific vandal’s work were being sought.)

FAUNTLEROY: On the sidewalks around the Endolyne business district’s main intersection – 45th/Wildwood – over the past two nights, someone has stenciled COPS LIVES MATTER in more than 15 spots. In that same area, a resident’s new handmade A-board sign reading BIDEN 2020 had the Democratic candidate’s name painted over and replaced with Trump in blue paint. That sign’s owner says similar vandalism was done to a sign he made for his sister in Seaview.

ALKI: Several spots along the promenade were hit last Thursday night with scrawled messages, mostly in support of “defunding” police. The vandalized spots included the concrete walls atop and alongside stairways, and the brick restroom building near 63rd/Alki.

BEACH DRIVE: A resident who often walks along the north end of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook – north of the area that’s closed for the seawall project – sent a photo this morning of new tags and other paint vandalism on the concrete wall by the water. Far from the first time, but clearly the work of multiple vandals.

DELRIDGE: Recent paint vandalism at Delridge Skatepark is also not the first time, but a neighbor was particularly angry about the profanity the vandal(s) included, given the park is used by very young skaters as well as teens and adults.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT PAINT VANDALISM: Except for the A-board signs, everything mentioned above is/was on city property. This page explains what can be done – report it online, via the Find It Fix It app, or call the hotline, 206-684-7587. Various city crews are assigned to clean graffiti on city property. On private property, it’s the property owner’s responsibility.

29 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Paint vandalism"

  • Rob August 13, 2020 (2:06 pm)

    So painting “COPS LIVES MATTER” is vandalism, but “BLACK LIVES MATTER” isn’t?

    • WSB August 13, 2020 (3:19 pm)

      It’s the act, not the message. Have not heard of BLM or anything else being painted in 15 spots on sidewalks at one intersection, so prolific that more than half a dozen readers had called it to our attention before we wrote this.

      • Fauntleroy Fairy August 13, 2020 (11:59 pm)

        @ WSB  If you’re going to report something then report it correctly. “Cops Lives Matter” was painted OVER the spots where ACAB and BLM was already painted. 

        • WSB August 14, 2020 (9:10 am)

          Good morning.(1) There is nothing incorrect about our report. There were numerous stencilings.(2) If there was pre-existing vandalism at those spots, we would have had to be clairvoyant to know. Not a soul who emailed us/texted us about this mentioned any such thing. Looking at the various photos I have, both from our photographer and from readers, there is only one that suggests a pre-existing painted spot under the stenciling. Another one shows a black square by the stenciling, which itself is directly on the sidewalk. The two photos my photographer brought back show two that were directly on the sidewalk pavement, nothing “covered over” anywhere in view.

      • uncle loco August 14, 2020 (5:18 am)

        You should check out the road on 9th ave and Elmgrove. It was tagged about 3 weeks ago from sidewalk to sidewalk.

    • Zark00 August 14, 2020 (10:46 am)

      @Rob – That is correct. One is in support of a marginalized and threatened segment of Americans who need our support, the other is a racist backlash.

      • Scrounger August 14, 2020 (1:36 pm)

        Exactly. Thanks for making this important distinction.

      • PedroTheLion August 14, 2020 (1:49 pm)

        You are aware that it’s unlawful to discriminate on the basis of political ideology in the city of Seattle, right? I know it’s hard to believe that’s the law with the likes of Sawant; but that’s what the SMC says folks. In short, our city regularly violates its own laws. 

      • Jim August 14, 2020 (2:23 pm)

        Zarkoo – That is such BS.  We shouldn’t tolerate any spray painted graffiti on our beautiful city.  Tolerating vandalism is not supporting their cause.  Might have the opposite effect.

        • zark00 August 14, 2020 (2:57 pm)

          If you can’t make a distinction between the two that says more about what you stand for, or don’t, than about you protecting “our beautiful city”. 

          • Jim August 14, 2020 (4:50 pm)

            Sure deface the city for the “good cause” and condemn those who disagree.  I stand for an end to vandalism.  I guess I’m a racist, right?

          • Zark00 August 15, 2020 (6:56 pm)

            If the shoe fits…

    • Seattlite August 14, 2020 (10:11 pm)

      Thank you for that observation.

    • Widen Our Roads August 21, 2020 (12:36 pm)

      Always this person …always ….it’s such an easy way for racist people to self identify. Such a lazy narrative not brave enough to shout the N word like you do at home and in your car

  • Alki Local August 13, 2020 (2:59 pm)

    Reported the graffiti on Alki this past Monday via the Find It Fix It app. Takes up to two weeks after finding (and reporting) it, to get it fixed.

    • Jim August 13, 2020 (3:52 pm)

      From what I saw on the website for reporting graffiti it said because of covid they’re not enforcing the nuisance ordinance right now which includes cleaning up graffiti 🤷‍♂️ 

      • WSB August 13, 2020 (4:02 pm)

        No, that refers to not enforcing the ordinance that requires private property owners to promptly clean up graffiti, among other things.

        • Jim August 13, 2020 (4:25 pm)

          Okay that makes more sense. I misread what it said on the website

  • spooled August 13, 2020 (5:06 pm)

    It takes a lot longer than two weeks, if ever, unfortunately. On Jun 14 I reported the graffiti at and North of SW Myrtle ST / 18th AVE SW.    (report 20-00105082).  Nothing has yet been done by the city.  They did send me a confirmation saying “your graffiti report has been dispatched to the responsible City department for removal.”  Looks like a private party has tried to overpaint some of it on their own in the last few days.  Good for them!

    • WSB August 13, 2020 (5:17 pm)

      In fauntleroy, one community member tells us she already scrubbed away three of the spots, and someone else tried to chalk over one of them. I don’t know the status of the other areas but we’ll check in a day or two.

    • Alki Local August 13, 2020 (9:33 pm)

      I wonder if the Parks Dept is responsible for Alki Beach graffiti. My earlier report of some different park graffiti was resolved in a week. I have learned that the Parks Dept takes care of trash on the beach side of the road, Seattle Public Utilities does the other side, and King County Metro does the trash container at the bus stop. Perhaps the type of surface and location determines who responds–and how quickly.

  • wscommuter August 13, 2020 (6:06 pm)

    About two weeks ago, some moron started spray-painting anti-BLM graffiti every 100 feet or so on the bike path leaving Harbor Ave/Avalon going east across the low bridge and even onto the bike path along Alaskan Way.  

    • John August 13, 2020 (6:16 pm)

      What do you mean anti-BLM?? (That’s not meant to be aggressive I’m just curious)

    • WSDUDEMAN August 13, 2020 (7:30 pm)

      They are morons no matter the ‘message’. 

    • tsurly August 14, 2020 (3:11 pm)

      Is that the same message I saw painted at regular intervals on the bike route that was both racist and homophobic using one acronym and two words? Given its location, might need to be on the lookout for someone riding a bike with a red MAGA helmet.

  • Jay August 14, 2020 (8:55 am)

    App response is very slow. It’s been like months since the yearly WSHS graffiti on charleston was reported

  • Scrounger August 16, 2020 (11:33 am)

    Spooled: Please tell the truth; the “overpainting” you cite consisted of someone spray painting the word “cops” over the word “black” on what  is a very neatly done “Black Lives Matter” street mural. 

  • Resident August 19, 2020 (3:32 pm)

    Fauntleroy was hit again last night. 

    • WSB August 19, 2020 (3:38 pm)

      Someone just texted a pic of sidewalk cleanup.

Sorry, comment time is over.