'Seattle News Weekly': Graffiti crackdowns, teen violence
SEATTLE - Over the last two years, the city of Everett has spent approximately $150,000 to clean up graffiti, which has led the city to consider a new law to curb graffiti tags.
On episode one of the "Seattle News Weekly" podcast, FOX 13 Seattle Anchor Hana Kim and Reporter AJ Janavel break down what the potential law could entail, how the community is reacting and the firm differences between graffiti tagging and intentional street art.
'Seattle News Weekly S1E1': Graffiti crackdown and teen violence
FOX 13's Hana Kim and AJ Janavel are in the FOX Den discussing recent graffiti crackdowns happening in multiple cities in the Puget Sound, plus the rise in teen violence -- and what it will take to reverse the trend.
On the podcast, Janavel shares the sharply divided reactions from his TikTok followers.
"Street art is art," one commenter said. While another commenter said, "there are vastly more important things to worry about."
Graffiti tags are classified as a misdemeanor in Everett, which sometimes makes it difficult to hold graffiti taggers accountable. With this potential new law, officials would have another option: Law enforcement could write graffiti taggers a ticket. Police officials say the burden of proof for a citation is much smaller than a misdemeanor.
On the first episode of "Seattle News Weekly," Kim and Janavel also explore teen violence, its connection to high absentee rates and chronic absenteeism in schools, and the broader impact on communities.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible, or YouTube.
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