Tags off

If you’ve come to Phoenix, as so many have, from other big cities around the country, you’ve probably noticed a big difference between Arizona’s capital city and your hometown.

I’m not simply talking about February temperatures and the absence of emergency calls from people who are snowed in. I’m just proudly reflecting on how different our public art is from most cities.

Here, most freeways are decorated with symbols of the Southwest. Almost everywhere else, public highways, public transportation vehicles and often entire neighborhoods are covered with graffiti.

Those taggers are virtually free to “express” themselves at the expense of a community. But not here.

Ever since City Hall and local broadcasters made it an important cause several years ago, metro Phoenix has been a remarkably clean population center. Graffiti busters remove it for free and there is a graffiti hotline, 602-495-7014. Because of these programs, the Valley can proudly quote that song, “I Feel Pretty.”

I’m Pat McMahon.

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