Desert Cities Show No Interest in Graffiti as Art : Vandalism: Palmdale scraps plan to build blank wall for taggers. Lancaster approves limits on spray-can displays.

The cities of Palmdale and Lancaster are balking at the idea of graffiti as art.

Palmdale City Council members Monday agreed that designating a wall somewhere in the city as an acceptable target for spray-can vandals would be inappropriate in light of efforts made to rid the city of the offensive paint.

“The message has to be clear: ‘We don’t tolerate graffiti. You don’t write on the walls. Period.’ ” Councilman David Myers said.

Also on Monday, council members in Lancaster approved an ordinance requiring retailers to keep the tools of taggers, such as cans of spray-paint, behind lock and key. A similar law was enacted in Palmdale and a Los Angeles County ordinance wouldn’t apply within city limits. Lancaster’s ordinance took effect on its passage Monday night.

At the same time it adopted the graffiti ordinance, the Lancaster council passed on a proposed arts program for graffiti vandals, referring it instead to a valleywide graffiti abatement task force.

Two Lancaster residents last month proposed the graffiti artist program to the Lancaster City Council, saying it would help solve the problem by providing a positive outlet for taggers.

While council members in both cities said they want to do something to put an end to the burgeoning graffiti problem, they also said graffiti does not deserve recognition as an art form.

Lancaster Councilman George Runner said he views taggers as “people who are basically destroying other people’s property.”

Both cities said they will file civil suits against convicted taggers or the parents of convicted minors to recover their expenses. The city of Palmdale is pursuing such action against a number of offenders.

Graffiti has become an increasing problem in the two cities. In the first four months of 1993, Palmdale covered nearly 105,000 square feet of graffiti, more than three times what it removed in the same period a year ago.

With the increased amount of graffiti comes increased cost.

In 1989, Palmdale spent less than $12,000 on graffiti removal. In 1992, that figure escalated to $100,181, said Terry Stubbings, Palmdale community relations officer.

Graffiti has cost Lancaster nearly $115,000 in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, compared with less than $86,000 in the previous year, said Jeff Long, public works director.

“This is a national problem; in fact, it’s an international problem,” Palmdale Councilman Joe Davies said. “Whoever gets the solution is going to be a billionaire.”