Chinatown mural painted only 5 weeks ago already covered with graffiti
Lorraine Lowe, executive director for the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, sent out a tweet Monday showing the damage.
Bradley Spence, who owns a nearby store, said it’s extremely frustrating, but he is not surprised.
“They just painted that. It’s a beautiful mural and to see it defaced so quickly, like weeks after they just painted it, it’s a shame,” he told Global News Monday.
Spence said he does not know what to do about the recurring vandalism. He said he sees more and more graffiti every day in the neighbourhood.
“It’s the business owners that have to pay,” he said, “and we’re just trying to get by. It’s frustrating when these people don’t realize how they’re hurting businesses when they’re doing it.”
Chinatown merchant writes message to graffiti taggers – May 15, 2022
This comes after Vancouver police said they are investigating a possible hate crime after a senior citizen was bear-sprayed in Chinatown on Friday.
Police are also investigating whether the attack may be related to offensive graffiti that appeared outside the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden on May 20.
The word “Shhh,” written on the red gates in white paint, was interpreted by many as backlash directed at Chinatown residents who have recently spoken up about crime and safety, police said.
According to the VPD, graffiti reports and anti-Asian hate crime incidents in Chinatown increased by 300 per cent and 425 per cent, respectively, in 2020 and 2021.
Mural and street artists work to change Chinatown – May 14, 2022
Spence said officers should be driving around, especially at night, to catch the vandals.
And he has a message for those who are causing the damage: “You’re hurting small business and it doesn’t make any sense why you’re doing that.”