Graffiti taggers have once again hit San Jose City Hall.
The government building seems to have become a target for graffiti after being tagged early Tuesday, which marked the third time in just weeks.
The graffiti problem also is affecting businesses in the area. Surveillance video from Monday night shows a group of people tagging a restaurant's wall. Video shows the group starting with a garbage can and then worked their way down a 100-foot stretch with cans of black spray paint. The vandalism happened within five minutes.
"Then they just nonchalantly do whatever they do and there's people walking by, and no one says a word to them," said Cody Morgan, general manager for 4th Street Pizza Co.
Morgan said he is used to the vandalism and said the restaurant is tagged about once a week.
"It's very annoying," he said. "Nice place, nice building, nice area right across from City Hall. You wouldn't think you'd have to worry about it, but you do."
About an hour after the pizza shop was hit, vandals tagged City Hall.
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"It's disturbing," San Jose City Councilman Ash Kalra said. "It seems quite clear now that City Hall is a target."
Kalra said the city wants to hire 24/7 security while they find a long-term solution.
"It's not good to hear as we're trying to send a message out to the community that we're trying to do everything we can to tackle graffiti, that we ourselves are getting hit," Kalra said.
The city hopes to have 24-hour private security starting to patrol the area by Wednesday night.
A solution cannot come soon enough for businesses in the area. A manager of one of the local businesses said his team removes about 100 taggings every day in the downtown area.
El Agave restaurant workers said the graffiti is starting to deter customers.
"Disrespect, you know," said Oscar Vazquez with El Agave. "People come here all the time. It's a family restaurant. Just disrespectful."
