GRAFFITI CRACKDOWN

for the city to paint over graffiti on private businesses, the owner must give consent. but rather than trying to receive permission for a free graffiti removal-a long and sometimes difficult process-a new council bill would make businesses owners have to opt out of the service.

council member gale brewer introduced the bill that would give owners 30 days to opt out of the city's program, graffiti free nyc, after the city notifies them of the graffiti removal.

"taggers and defacers start with a big advantage: graffiti is quick and easy to get up, and time consuming and expensive to remove," brewer said in a statement. "despite our best efforts year after year, i recognize that we need a new approach."