Unwanted graffiti ‘is everywhere’ in Mississauga, City says

Mississauga has a big graffiti problem and City officials are urging members of the public to report such vandalism immediately.

Reports of unwanted and illegal graffiti appearing “everywhere” on buildings and other structures operated by the City of Mississauga, Region of Peel and other entities have been constant in recent years.

“Tagging” on buildings, bridges, mail boxes, trash bins and a variety of other targets must be removed immediately, officials with both the City and Peel Regional Police have said repeatedly, if such removal measures are to prove effective.

“Think tagging is fun–think again,” the City said in a post to Twitter. “Unwanted graffiti is everywhere–garbage bins, buildings, electrical boxes, benches, sidewalks and bridges. Help curb this illegal activity by reporting it.”

City officials say the public can easily report graffiti online whenever and wherever they see it. The new reporting system was introduced early last year.

After receiving such a report, the City says it will begin an investigation within five business days and remove the graffiti as quickly as possible under its Graffiti Removal from City Property policy.

Graffiti on private property will be removed by the property owner.

In one recent incident, graffiti was spray-painted over a closed convenience store in the Lakeview area of Mississauga. A new owner has been hoping to reopen the business.

The words “Kill Your Local Pedophile” with an anarchy symbol were scrawled in red along one side of the store. The phrase is also written on the front and reportedly on other places in the area.