To lift spirits amid coronavirus, she chalked her Sacramento sidewalk. The city washed it away
As the dog days of quarantine dragged on, Katie Clark decided to brighten her neighbors’ days by leaving colorful quotes from children’s books on the sidewalk outside her Tahoe Park home. She was surprised when city crews showed up last week to power wash the artwork away.
“I like to do crafty things and in our neighborhood here, a lot of people walk and a lot of people are stuck at home, so why not put something out there for people to look at?” Clark said. “I can’t draw so I decided to do kids’ book quotes.”
It’s a trend happening all over the city as well as all over the country, as homebound residents turn to chalk to thank health care workers and delivery workers, as well as encourage their neighbors that brighter days are ahead.
On March 25, Clark started putting out a new quote from Alice in Wonderland each day. On March 30, someone submitted a complaint to the city about graffiti, according to an online city database. The next day, two city workers came out to wash it away.
Those crews, part of the city’s graffiti abatement program, are continuing to work during the coronavirus stay-at-home order, said Kelli Trapani, a city spokeswoman.
“These workers are deemed essential in keeping city property free of public nuisances and blight,” Trapani said in an email. “Graffiti on a public right of way is a safety concern for pedestrian walking.”
It’s unlikely crews will remove more sidewalk chalk.
“Graffiti written with chalk will be evaluated by staff and if it is determined that it can be washed away by rain, then it will be left alone unless the message is gang-related or offensive then it will be removed immediately,” Tripani wrote. “It also depends on forecasted rain.”
The city power washed Clark’s sidewalk because it was “deemed to have a sealant preventing it from being simply washed away naturally by rain,” Trapani said.
Clark said there was no sealant, simply water and hairspray that she applied over the chalk with a paintbrush to give it a glossy look.
Chalk story going viral
When crews arrived, Clark recorded a video of the men power washing. She then posted about the incident on social media platform NextDoor, with the caption: “Thanks to whoever complained, city is here take it off now. FYI for anyone else thinking you can chalk your sidewalk.....”
The post has received more than 600 comments from neighbors supporting her.
“I love the chalk art. When I take the dog out for a walk I look forward to seeing all the sidewalk displays. I think we all need to creatively chalk up our sidewalks!!!” wrote Alex Huerta of East Sacramento.
Others left handwritten notes in her driveway. Some said they were going to chalk the sidewalks in solidarity. Others said they wanted to go to Clark’s street to fill it with chalk art.
“I said no, no, no, but I appreciate the sentiment,” Clark said.
Instead, Clark is encouraging people to chalk in their driveways. That’s what she does these days, moving her and her husband’s cars to the street to create a bigger canvas.
“Seeing everyone’s positivity encouraged me to go back out and do it in the driveway,” Clark said. “I’ve been encouraging driveway chalk just so no one has to deal with the same nonsense.”
On Wednesday morning, she sat in her driveway drawing a Mark Twain quote.
She also included some children’s books in her neighbor’s Little Library, along with pieces of chalk and a note encouraging kids to use the chalk on their driveways.
“I feel like the good stuff’s needed right now,” Clark said.
Clark’s post encouraged others to leave art around the city.
“Katie - you inspired me to chalk more than ever!” wrote Tara Bull of East Sacramento, attaching photos she’d done of Winnie the Pooh and Dora from Finding Nemo. Bull started taking requests from neighbors and showing up outside their houses to chalk their sidewalks with cartoon characters. She got 30 requests in one day, she wrote.
Sidewalk repairs
Several people who commented on Clark’s post questioned why the city requires homeowners pay to repair sidewalks outside their homes the city deems to be public hazards, yet does not allow the homeowners to chalk them.
“Tell our city leadership if we can’t use sidewalk chalk on our sidewalks then stop requiring us to pay for the sidewalks when they need replacement,” wrote Nina Salinas of East Sacramento. Fifteen of her neighbors “liked” it.
The city has put in place a temporary moratorium on requiring property owners to pay for repair of sidewalks in front of their property during the coronavirus crisis, said Grace Nunez, a city spokeswoman.
“Currently, if a property owner is issued a notice for a defective sidewalk, and they prefer to defer the repair, they have the option to have the City provide an interim fix to ensure the sidewalk is safe during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Nunez said in an email. “The property owner pays nothing for the interim fix. The City will contact the property owner about a more permanent fix at a future date, after the coronavirus pandemic has passed.”
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
