Mississauga sees massive increase in graffiti incidents

There were 925 reported graffiti incidents in Mississauga in 2017 -- a 70-per-cent increase from the 545 incidents reported the year prior.

Thestar.com
March 27, 2018
Racheal Williams

A massive upsurge in graffiti incidents in Mississauga last year has city councillors looking for ways to improve its security and cleanup protocol.

There were 925 reported graffiti incidents in Mississauga in 2017 -- a 70-per-cent increase from the 545 incidents reported the year prior. Of those, 69 were considered hate-related, up from the 12 occurrences identified in 2016.

“We have to be vigilant against the small stuff,” Mayor Bonnie Crombie said. “Otherwise it escalates and people act with impunity because they can get away with it.”

Two high school teens were arrested on Mar. 21 after they allegedly sprayed “derogatory and offensive” graffiti on a sidewalk leading up to Iona Secondary School on South Sheridan Way.

In April 2017, the playground at South Millway Green Park was spray-painted with a racist term. Parents believed the graffiti was in relation to a mixed-race child using the playground the day prior.

“I want our residents to be satisfied and assured that we are one of the safest cities in all of Canada and that’s very critical for quality of life purposes as well as investment into our city,” Crombie noted.

Staff noted 42 per cent of the hate graffiti was attributed to one suspect.

Gary Kent, commissioner of corporate services for the city, also said that the number of reported incidents could be attributed to an uptick in public reporting.

“I’d rather kids be doing graffiti than punching each other in the nose,” quipped Ward 5 Coun. Carolyn Parrish. “But it’s costly.”

In 2017, the city spent $117,576 for graffiti removal. Over the past two years, removal costs totalled $241,213.

The total number of security incidents at city-owned facilities decreased by 7 per cent, with 5,940 reported security breaches in 2017, down from the 6,391 reported the year before.

“My big concern is that it’s not being removed in winter,” said Ward 9 Coun. Pat Saito, adding staff needs to be more vigilant in responding to complaints, no matter what the weather.

Saito’s ward saw the highest increase in graffiti, up 14 per cent in one year.

“The city of Mississauga is a safe and secure place and we are committed to protecting the staff, customers and city property,” said Silvia Fraser, manager of security services with the city.

The city will continue to assess future camera installation, staff deployment, cleanup response time and collaboration with existing community groups.