Williams Calls for Graffiti Crackdown

Santa Barbara Councilmember Das Williams announced that a number of downtown business owners have posted reward money for the apprehension and conviction of graffiti artists afflicting State Street properties. Williams said $5,000 has been pledged in total, and that the maximum reward—per conviction—was $1,000. He held a hasty press event in the front of the former Pep Boys storefront, which is owned by real estate investor Ray Maboob, a longtime Williams friend and financial supporter. The city councilmember said business owners have complained that their graffiti cleanup costs have risen by 400 percent in recent months. Williams also said he tries to keeps a graffiti cleanup kit with him at all times: a citrus based nontoxic cleaner, goggles, a face mask, and rags.