West Loop, Chicago
In early June, I took this photo of some street writing outside our office then in mid June I saw Mayor Daley’s Graffiti Blasters, who I didn’t even know existed, doing their best to get rid of it.
Mayor Daley’s Graffiti Blasters
August 4th, 2006 · 2 Comments
Tags: Chicago·daley·graffiti·graffiti blasters·mayor daley·street writing·west loop
2 responses so far ↓
1 JP // Aug 4, 2006 at 2:57 pm
I think it says ‘Graffiti Blasters’…
2 Ethan // Aug 22, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Ya the blasters started painting over the graffiti back in the late 90’s, at about the same time the near north’s rundown industrial scene (used to be visible from the Brown line) was converted to expensive condos. I remember thinking of how much a shame it was because they painted over stuff indiscriminately. It was ok for the ugly scrall that was removed, but they also painted over some really beautiful street murals, including ones the CTA commissioned! (Brown line’s Western stop, Red line’s North/Clybourn stop, etc.) One day a vibrant and gritty masterpiece, the next a putrid brown wall. I mean I’m sure there is some truth to the Broken Windows theory, but it just feels like part of my childhood was robbed in the clean-up.
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