Tagging Ohio!

Dayton taggers are taking over.

The city of Dayton, Ohio has saw population decline since the 1970s. Over 50 years and we are still living in the past. Dayton has a population of 132,000, a 4% decrease of more than 5,000 residents leaving.

The city touted it's accomplishments in its "State of the City" address.

During the address, leaders looked back on issues the city faced over the last year, before covering the plan to start fixing those issues and what lays ahead.

Creating a safer community was the cornerstone as Dayton mayor Jeffrey Mims spoke to residents in February. Mayor Mims highlighted plans for economic development but focused on a new peace initiative to combat gun violence in the city — something that he says deserves undivided attention.

He also addressed the OnMain project which stalled since 2019. The project which secured funding from the Biden Administration infrastructure law will break ground in spring 2025.

The Dayton Arcade is nearly rebuilt. The Hilton Garden Inn is expected to open inside the facility in summer 2025. 

The Homefill Community Grocery Store opened in Jan. 2025. The first grocery store in eight years to open inside West Dayton. This might offset the potential closures of Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores announced this year.

Dayton is also tearing down the low income housing projects. The DeSoto Bass complex is one of the city's oldest housing projects. The demolition of sections started in Nov. 2024. 

As the city of Dayton works on the Main Street road diet, the area is plagued with rampant tagging on buildings.

The Dayton Police will relocate their west branch to near U.S. Highway 35. The project will be finished in winter 2025.

New housing is coming to North Riverdale and near the Wright Dunbar/Dayton Aviation Historical National Park.

Dayton is also going to host the NATO summit and First Four NCAA Tournament.

It is also in the crosshairs of the Trump Administration. Dayton is an immigrant friendly city and about a handful of residents are not U.S. citizens.

Vice President JD Vance, who grew up in Middletown and Dayton has openly peddled the false story of Haitian immigrants eating the pets in Springfield.

Then candidate (former president at the time) Donald J. Trump peddled that claim during his only debate with then vice president Kamala Harris. The state of Ohio and its governor Mike DeWine has denounced the claims.

Now that Trump is in power, DeWine has vowed to follow Trump’s orders.

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) have also vowed to support the Trump administration in mass deportation and eliminations of DEI programs.

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) represents 95% of Dayton while Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) represents the remaining 5% of the city. That's in part of the illegal gerrymandered congressional district map that went against the voters. The voters rejected an independent committee to redraw the congressional maps.

Tagging hurts the community.

They are onboard with Trump and Vance when it comes to immigrants.

The Kia Challenge is still an ongoing issue. Yeah, the Kia Challenge which Republicans exploited in their neverending hypocrisy when it comes to law and order.

The Rust Belt is still the same area as it was.

The Rust Belt is a region in the northeastern and midwestern United States that experienced significant industrial decline and job losses in the late 20th century, particularly in manufacturing, steel, and coal industries. 

Dayton is one of the most controversial Rust Belt cities. It is still in relics of segregation. Most big box retailers are not in the city.

The Department of Government Efficiency will have an effect on federal workers who are employed at the Walter Rice U.S. District Court, the Social Security Administration, the National Archives and Records Administration Centers, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Postal Service, the Veterans Administration and Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Wright Patterson Air Force Base is one of the city's largest employers.

The city has a big problem when it comes to vandalism on buildings and vacant properties.

Dayton on the downside as well as red state Ohio.

The city has seen an explosion of vandalism.

Dayton mayor Jeff Mims and police chief Kamran Afzal will eventually start getting tough on taggers.

There are three known taggers who have spread their tags in not only Dayton but the suburbs of Vandalia, Moraine, Harrison Township, Butler Township, Trotwood, Riverside and Kettering.

On North Main Street (Ohio State Route 48), one tagger has over 15 properties with his signature tag.

The other tagger has 50 throughout the community.

Tagging has plagued downtown as well and it has frustrated city leaders.

Sandy Gudorf, the President of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, said people need to realize this is a form of vandalism.

The Downtown Dayton Ambassadors work weekly to get rid of graffiti; they try to tackle the tags within 24 hours. Gudorf said they do not know why the city is seeing this increase in graffiti. She said one of their strategies for deterring this type of vandalism is beautifying the city, like wrapping the utility boxes with art. Last year, only one of the wrapped boxes were tagged.

“We have noticed once spaces are beautified, whether it’s with murals or other art or just well-maintained buildings, quite often those buildings and those murals are left alone. So, it shows a sign of respect,” Gudorf explained.

Gudorf encourages people to call police if they see someone tagging. If someone is caught, they could be charged with a felony and could be required to pay a fine.