Keeping walls and other surfaces as free as possible from the highly annoying form of criminal vandalism called graffiti is — and should be — an important priority.

It falls under the well-known “broken window” category of crime prevention — that is, more serious crimes occur in neighborhoods where broken windows aren’t quickly repaired, because the area gets the reputation that no one cares what happens there.

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Graffiti artwork covers a wall designated for the activity at the Asylum nightclub in Portland. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

The same is true for graffiti, and that’s why cleaning it up is important.

So there’s a good reason behind a proposed Portland ordinance to crack down on vandalism in a number of ways. The ordinance would fine vandals $500 and impose cleanup and restitution penalties on them. Parents of minors convicted of the crime would be held responsible for those costs, and sales of spray paint and markers would be banned to minors.

Those are good ideas, but the proposal’s most controversial feature is a provision mandating that property owners must have graffiti removed within 10 days of being notified by the city to do so, or face a fine themselves. Many residents see this as unjust, as the owners had nothing to do with the damage. However, graffiti’s negative impact is real, and shouldn’t be allowed to spread.

The idea was suggested in part by the city’s new “neighborhood prosecutor,” Trish McAllister, who said it would help those who are actively trying to keep their premises clean, and be one way to reach “negligent absentee landlords” who now don’t do anything about the problem.

Local residents might look to Augusta, where Kathleen Sukey Sikora almost single-handedly rid the city of graffiti. If one woman could accomplish such a task there, surely concerned citizens could come together to combat the problem in Portland.

Those who find fines for property owners offensive should be challenged to come up with better ideas. For example, the local chamber could seek contributions from residents and businesses to help those owners who find the cleanup expense too big a burden.

Since everyone benefits from graffiti removal, everyone has an interest in supporting it.

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