This week students learned that signs with slogans affixed to houses are considered graffiti by city inspectors, even if the homeowners put the signs up themselves.
One of the first students to get a rude awakening to this silly definition of “graffiti” was Jon Taylor, whose house at 262 Earl St. bears a sign that reads “The Lodge”—for now. Taylor’s house has been ordered to remove the sign as part of a campaign by the city to better enforce property standards in the Ghetto. So does this mean all Kingstonians who have signs on their homes should start worrying? Should Kingston residents who proudly display wooden nameplates like “The Smiths” on their homes get their screwdrivers out?
Common sense says no, because signs are not graffiti. For the same reason suburban residents may rightly decide to adorn their homes with signs like “The Smiths” or other decorations, students in the Ghetto choose to put their own unique stamp on their homes. Signs can be expressions of individuality and
sometimes reflect the sense of humour of the occupants.
The presence of signs on a house has no bearing on the quality of housing, or on pressing issues like leaky basements, mould or broken doors and windows. These should be the issues city inspectors focus on, but instead they seem to be hung up on signs. And those that are supposed to represent and advocate for students have decided not to call the city on how they are dodging serious housing issues by focusing on minor esthetics.
“I think students need to be careful what they wish for,” said Town-Gown co-ordinator Joan Jones.
“I would be hesitant to think they would be targeting students,” said AMS Municipal Affairs Commissioner Naomi Lutes.
The attitude of the city when it comes to enforcement of this property standard bylaw is silly. It’s the absolute wrong way to go about improving relations and conditions between students and the city. The city needs to deal with the most pressing issues first (broken doors and windows, for example) before the trivial details.
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