1. It hurts you… personally.

Every time property in your neighborhood gets tagged, someone has to clean it up. If it doesn’t get cleaned up the property values go down and crime goes up. (No… we’re not making that up. They’ve been keeping statistics on it for decades now. If graffiti doesn’t get removed property values go down and crime goes up in EVERY place it’s happened.) That means more crime where YOU live because someone thought it was cool to tag a fence, a wall or building. And it hurts even more if you or someone in your family is the one who gets robbed, or beaten or worse. It really is personal.

2. It costs you… personally.

Taggers might as well steal your wallet. It’s just as bad. Why? Because cleaning and preventing graffiti costs money. Real money. In the city of Milwaukee it costs over two million dollars every year! That’s money that doesn’t find its way into other things your neighborhood can use: Safer parks and streets, better libraries with more books and better computers and lots more that affects you every day. Think about how you could make your neighborhood better with a million dollars. Now, think about how a tagger with a spray can just ripped you and your neighborhood off. Feelin’ personal yet?

3. Tagging and Graffiti are NOT art. They’re vandalism, period.

Marking up someone else’s property without their permission is a crime. Imagine someone spray-painting your bike, your board or even your best jacket without your permission. You’d get pretty mad wouldn’t you? It’s the same thing with a fence, a wall or building. They’re all someone’s property just like your stuff. And it’s just as wrong. And here’s the part to remember… If you don’t take a stand to show everybody that graffiti is wrong in any language, then the next time it could be you that’s the victim.

So what can you do?

If you see tagging or know someone who’s involved with it, the best thing to do is to tell an adult you trust; your parents, a teacher or someone at church. If someone tries to get you to be part of it, the simplest thing to do is to just walk away. Notice that we said “simple,” not “easy.” Making the right choice isn't always easy, but it is the right thing to do. 

You can also help big-time by being part of our “Stop Tagging Now” contest. By writing your own radio public service announcement about why it’s important to Stop Tagging Now and sending us your entry, you’ll not only help get the message out, but if you’re one of our three finalists, we’ll pick you up in a limo, you’ll get to hang out at the KISS studios, record your commercial and hear yourself on 103.7 KISS-FM!

You can get started by clicking here! Good luck!