New Legislation Allows NYC to Remove Graffiti

NEW YORK (AP) -- The city wants to make it easier for property owners to deal with graffiti.

Stan Brooks reports

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council are working on legislation that would place the burden with the city.

Now, owners must allow the city to clean up graffiti on their property. The new legislation would give the city authority to remove graffiti unless a property owner says otherwise.

Officials say the change allows property owners to keep graffiti they consider artwork, and speeds up the removal of vandalism.

So far in 2009, Bloomberg's graffiti removal team has cleaned an estimated 2.5 million square feet of space at nearly 4,000 sites. Other city agencies have also cleaned graffiti, for a total of 6 million square feet removed to date in 2009.

Twilight Saga

Caliente!

Runway

Flashback

'New Moon' Screening

It's the movie everyone is talking about. See who was at the New York screening of "New Moon."

Sexiest Men of '09

This year's "Sexiest Man Alive'' is Johnny Depp. See who else made People's list.

Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret sent some hot looks down the runway at its New York fashion show.

Then & Now

Recognize this face? Check out pics of your favorite stars before they were famous.