Fight the Blight Forum Set

Are you frustrated by your community's declining and decaying appearance? Join local government officials and community activists and learn how to tackle litter and graffiti at Fight the Blight, a conference being held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, at the Wake County Commons Building, off Poole Road in Raleigh.

The keynote speaker, N.C. State University Assistant Research Professor Dr. Deborah Lamm Weisel, is a nationally known expert on vandalism who has written publications and training materials for the Department of Justice Community-Oriented Policing program. As a new resident of the Triangle region, Dr. Weisel says she is eager to combat litter and graffiti. Her speech is entitled "Is Vandalism Contagious? Patterns of Litter and Graffiti."

In addition to exhibits about community solutions to litter and lawlessness, the conference includes several panel discussions. "Litter Enforcement," composed of law-enforcement officers, a district court judge and a waste reduction manager, will discuss the major litter challenges and the shared enforcement authority, as well as Durham's environmental court. Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison will moderate a "Compliance Challenges" panel made up of a variety of commercial waste haulers discussing the economic issues in complying with litter laws. Two afternoon panels will focus on the various aspects of graffiti, including remediation and legislative or enforcement responses. Conference participants will have time to discuss the responsibilities of the media, citizens, law enforcement and property owners in confronting lawless vandalism. The results of this discussion will be posted online at www.wakegov.com/general/environment/keepamer/conference.

To wrap up the day conferees can put their learning into action by removing some graffiti in Raleigh or conducting a Community Litter Index in southeast Raleigh from aboard the Raleigh Trolley.

The Raleigh Appearance Commission, the Triangle J Regional Appearance Committee, and Wake County Keep America Beautiful are sponsoring Fight the Blight. Registration forms can be obtained by calling 919-558-9403, and should be mailed with payment of $15 to Triangle J COG-RAC, PO Box 12276, RTP, NC 27709 by Friday, June 25.