Your Graffiti Problem Is Someone Else’s Art

I believe I have the politically correct view of graffiti.

In your neighborhood, I see graffiti as a populist art form worthy of respect and academic discourse, an existential cry for recognition from youth oppressed by an advertising-besot culture. I urge tolerance.

In my neighborhood, I see graffiti as spray-paint terrorism, just as destructive to the body politic as the herpes virus. I urge Iraqi-style retribution.

My thoughts turned to graffiti after spying a particularly explosive/expressive design on a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 5 near downtown.

A multicolored floral design, provocative yet delicate. Nearby were artists’ names: Asel ‘90, Munch ’90 and Cyko 2320.

I called graffiti experts at CalTrans and San Diego City Hall. Graffiti-wise, the Los Angelesization of San Diego continues.

There are more graffiti everywhere in San Diego. Officialdom’s retrograde response is to order heartless eradication.

Since I live in graffiti-free North County, I am free to be shocked at San Diego’s anti-intellectual attitude toward graffiti and the lack of organized resistance to it.

What happens if a home-grown “Guernica” is whited out? Where’s the ACLU when we need it?

CalTrans will soon sign a contract with a graffiti-busting outfit from L.A., Graffiti Off. The head of San Diego’s anti-graffiti squad attended a graffiti summit conference in L.A.

The goal is to emulate the San Diego trolley system, which is rabidly anti-graffiti. Any trolley car found to have unauthorized artistic expression is immediately removed from service for a good scrubbing.

The result is that trolley riders are deprived of an enriching cross-cultural experience.

I would stop riding the trolley forever the instant I found any graffiti.

But I think you could benefit by a chance to interact with graffiti. And I stand ready to denounce you as insensitive and illiberal for saying otherwise.

Political Potpourri

Passing parade.

* Has the demonization of San Diego Councilwoman Linda Bernhardt gone a bit far? Is Linda I really as bad as George III?

Here’s recall revolutionary Michael Pallamary lecturing the City Council: “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve. . . ..”

Bob Filner called Pallamary a Tom Jefferson wanna-be.

* Good to the last drop.

John Duffy required any Sheriff’s Department employee who wanted to attend the swearing-in of his successor, Jim Roache, to take vacation time to do so.

* The symbols of power.

As his final official act, Duffy was required to turn in his county-issued equipment: One revolver, three 12-gauge shotguns, one walkie-talkie, one beeper, one beeper charger and his Ford LTD Crown Victoria.

* Political consultant Jack Orr has been hired by the San Diego Police Officers Assn. to increase its clout during this year’s City Council races.

The POA is looking for candidates willing to bring the city up to two cops per 1,000 residents.

Orr plans to expand POA fund raising outside police ranks and then run independent campaigns (unfettered by the $250 limit or ban on corporate donations) for favored candidates.

* Ad in lovelorn column of downtown Ad Sheet: “36-year-old male wants 18-year-old girlfriend who likes the Beatles.”

* Sign at peace rally at UC San Diego: “Make Condoms, Not Body Bags.”

Protective Waistcoats

The shot(s) heard round the world.

The London-based Economist magazine, more given to erudite descriptions of world fiscal trends, devotes a half page to the San Diego Police Department’s string of deadly shootings: “Where Cops Are Killers.”

A few facts are misstated (the P.D. is blamed for shootings by sheriff’s deputies and the Border Patrol) but mostly it’s what has been reported locally. Edited English-style.

San Diego cops are said to wear “bullet-proof waistcoats .”