Spray paint vandalism (graffiti) has become an epidemic throughout Maryland. Major roadways and even local neighborhoods are being trashed with streams of this visual garbage. Our communities are becoming blighted and beginning to resemble crime-ridden slums. State, county, and city governments throughout Maryland have failed to address this rapidly increasing problem. Government at all levels needs to clean the vandalism properly and needs to firmly prosecute vandals. 

Clean It Properly. Maryland Citizens Against Vandalism (MCAV) wants Governor Hogan to create a statewide program to educate the appropriate government agencies on the simple yet sophisticated methods for cleaning spray paint vandalism. There are a variety of environmental-friendly paint-removal gels that, when used with high-powered washers, simply and effectively remove the vandalism from impacted surfaces without damaging the surfaces or creating so-called "ghosting" that still shows a faded image of the vandalism. And we do not want vandalism to be simply painted over, which just creates an alternative form of blight. 

Prosecute It Firmly. MCAV wants Governor Hogan to lead the way in creating strong legislation to stem the tide of this community destruction. We want him to encourage police and judicial systems at the state, county, and city levels to investigate and prosecute spray paint vandalism to the fullest extent possible. 

For additional information, visit Maryland Citizens Against Vandalism (MCAV) at http://www.citizensagainstvandalism.org