BUENA PARK : Fifth-Graders Hatch Anti-Tagger Plots

G. H. Dysinger School fifth-graders are trying to help Buena Park solve its graffiti problems.

The students are participants of Buena Park Police Department’s gang prevention program, “Positive Avenues for Youth,” in which they learn about the laws and consequences of graffiti involvement.

“As part of the program, we like to get some solutions from the kids and make them feel like a part of the process in our city,” said Barbara Baiz, gang prevention adviser, who teaches the program to fifth-graders in Buena Park schools.

“We tell them they are our future leaders and we’re looking for answers from them. They feel a sense of responsibility when they get involved.”

Baiz said students in the program come up with innovative and creative ideas about ways to combat graffiti in their neighborhoods. Some of them are effective, and some fanciful.

Whatever the ideas, she said, the students “are pretty excited about some of their solutions.”

Among the ideas:

* “I think if they’re going to act like animals, they should be put in the zoo with the rest of the animals,” said Krisha Thompson.

* “You could put see-through plastic covers on the walls and then you can throw away the covers when the graffiti builds up too much,” said Jason Krage.

* “Put solar-powered cameras on the walls,” said Dominic Dellera.

* “Make graffiti-repellent walls,” said Jason Tucker.

* “You should take away their driver’s license from them and put them in jail,” said Lucy Liaua’a.

* “Fine them a lot of money,” said Xavier Medina.

* “Get some sort of electronic surveillance. Put undercover cops on the streets. Dress cops as taggers or gang members and then arrest them,” said Raymond Smith.

* “Send some police to some of the clean walls so when someone tags they’ll catch them,” said Luis Lopez.

Baiz said the city of Buena Park spends about $70,000 a year to remove graffiti on public property.

Students in the program also said graffiti makes them feel unsafe, sad, mad, scared and that it looks bad.

By involving the students in finding solutions is not only an effective way to educate them, but gives them accountability, Baiz said.

“What we’re doing is instilling a sense of pride in their community,” Baiz said.