Businesses don't "Love" graffiti

A faded "I Love You" graffiti tag stretches across the bottom of computer repair store Universal Tech Inc. on Commercial Drive. When the store's manager, Kirby Chang, tried to paint over the graffiti, rain washed away the fresh paint, leaving the words still visible.

“As a store owner, all I can do is paint over it, but I’m not in the business of painting,” says Chang, “I’m in the computer business.”

Over the past few months, he says “I Love You” has become a popular tag on the Drive, and like many other business owners, he is not moved by the message.

“I consider it vandalism, yes and it’s a nuisance. It comes very often, sometimes twice a month and every time it costs money to clean up,” says Chang.

The Royal Canadian Legion on the Drive has also had problems with the graffiti, says Chang, who says he's heard the legion has been pressured by the city to remove the graffiti. “Someone from the city came by and gave them a warning. Said if they don’t paint over it they could get a ticket,” he says. “I didn’t realize you can get a ticket if it's your property.”

Charlene Brooke, assistant manager at Grandview Lanes bowling alley agrees it’s a problem in the area, saying it really isn’t any different than any other graffiti.

“You can say it’s a positive message, but it's still vandalism and we still need to take the time to paint over it," she says.

In their battle against graffiti, some local businesses have had to be creative. With help from the city and the Commercial Drive Business Improvement Society, many businesses now have murals adorning their walls. VAP Auto Parts and Services is just one of many businesses in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood that has used murals to deter graffiti.

“Since we’ve had the mural we haven’t had any problems,” says store owner Al Alam.

However, reaction to the graffiti trend hasn't been entirely negative. Jillian Giraid, a waitress at Timbre restaurant, says she likes the positive message.

“Last summer it was painted on the wall across from us for a couple months and at least five people a day were coming and getting their picture taken with it,” says Giraid. “I think it's huge. It's good for people, and keeps them on a positive note.”

While Giraid admits her restaurant's owner wasn't pleased when the tag appeared on their building, she maintains that she is still a fan.

“We had it on one side our building and my boss wasn’t stoked on it at all,” says Giraid, “If [graffiti] were on my property I might feel differently. But if it were the "I Love You" thing, nothing bad can really be said about it.”