Dear Highland Park Residents, My name is Morton Brown and I am the City's Public Art Manager. It has come to my attention that there is some new graffiti on the Highland Park gateway sculptures. I am writing to let you know that I am taking action on this. On Friday, October 29th, I visited the site, took pictures, called the Pittsburgh Police and filed a report. I have left messages with the City's Graffiti Busters and 311 asking them to not take any action to remove the graffiti until I can speak with some art conservators and evaluate the best remedy for cleaning. The graffiti on these sculptures only occurred on the granite base and I suspect that solvent can remove it without further damage, but I want to make sure before sending a team out. I will attempt to get it removed ASAP as this is the best deterrent for future offenses. I would also ask that you help the City in its vigilance against such offenses. When you see graffiti on artworks or memorials, please call or email my office at the address or phone numbers below. It is always helpful to send pictures as well if possible. You may also use the Mayor's 311 line if you wish, and all calls related to artwork and memorials should come to me. If you see graffiti in your neighborhood on private homes or businesses, please take pictures, call Police (911) and make a report, then clean the graffiti off as soon as possible. Owners of private properties can get cited if graffiti is not removed in a timely fashion, but it is important to document the graffiti by photos so that if a particular graffiti writer is caught any and all other tags associated with that person will add up to perpetrations on that case. Thank you for your time and consideration of this problem and please do not hesitate to call or email with any questions or future violations that you observe. Sincerely, Morton Brown Public Art Manager Department of City Planning 200 Ross Street, 4th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 morton.brown@city.pittsburgh.pa.us office: 412.255.8996 cell: 412.901.1546