SEATTLE — A well-known business in the Chinatown International District continues to be a target for graffiti.
Saigon Deli located at 1237 S Jackson St. got a notice posted on their business asking them to remove the graffiti or be penalized.
The owner, Quoc Dang, told KOMO News this has been an ongoing issue and said it costs them a lot of money to clean things up.
“The city, they want us to clean up all the graffiti in our building,” said Dang.
In the letter that was posted on their door by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), it states that Dang’s business is a potential graffiti nuisance property based on the persistent graffiti on the building. The notice said if he doesn’t clean it up he will be fined $100 a day or up to $5,000, but Dang said it’s a cycle that seems never-ending.
“Sometimes it’s every day, sometimes every week, we don’t know because we can’t control it, it even happens in the daytime we see it but we can’t do anything,” Dang added.
Dang has been running this deli for over 30 years and said vandalism has been a constant problem in the area which is why so many businesses have closed. While that’s been something businesses have had to face, some customers say they’re glad Saigon Deli is still standing.
“I am very happy that his business has stayed here and seeing change over so many businesses that can’t afford to continue staying here and the violence and different things along this street that have happened,” said Lindsay Oliveira.
Oliveira said there has to be something more that can be done to help support these businesses instead of penalizing them.
“Can we provide them with tools that that they can remove the graffiti and not again have a sign go up and a penalty saying that if you don’t remove this within 10 days, the businesses are trying their best to stay and I want us to applaud them for being able to stay in this neighborhood,” Oliveira added.
KOMO News reached out to SPU who posted the notice on the business. They shared in a statement:
SPU knows property owners whose buildings are tagged are victims of a crime, that’s why we offer resources like paint and supplies to support graffiti removal at no cost to the property owner or business. Our goal is to support impacted businesses and property owners, deter vandalism, and foster a clean and beautified environment for residents, workers, and visitors.
Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 118082 , also known as the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance, was passed in 1996 and requires property owners to remove graffiti on their property to protect public health, safety, and welfare. The ordinance states that property owners must remove the graffiti after the City requests that they do so.
SPU is the city department responsible for enforcing the ordinance. While property owners who don’t remove graffiti can be subject to fines, this rarely happens.
When a report of graffiti is made through the City’s Find It Fix It app, online, or graffiti reporting line, SPU sends a letter that informs the property owner of the report, their responsibility under the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance, resources like paint and supplies to help them remove graffiti on their property, and tips for making the property more graffiti-resistant.
In the notification letter, SPU also informs the property owner that a City inspector will visit the property in 10 days to see if the graffiti has been removed. If it has not been removed, a second letter is sent informing the property owner that the graffiti must be removed within 10 days, or the property will be considered a graffiti nuisance property, and a court date will be set with the City’s Hearing Examiner.
Property owners can sign a waiver to have graffiti painted out by the city or a volunteer group. The city can also provide property owners with basic colors, such as gray or brown, to remove graffiti themselves. This is usually the quickest way to get rid of the graffiti and discourages future tagging since the taggers know their work will be painted over. The city aims to partner with the community to ensure prompt graffiti removal.
There are also opportunities for people to volunteer to abate graffiti through our Adopt a Street program.
