San Francisco demands help investigating Bieber graffiti

“As City Attorney, I take the illegal graffiti marketed for Mr. Bieber’s album seriously, and I will aggressively pursue all available penalties and costs from responsible for lawless marketing tactics that intend to financially benefit your respective companies.”

Herrera sent a strongly worded letter to Def Jam Records and Universal Music Group today, promising swift action in pursuit of a graffiti abatement.

Noting that unlike other campaigns, it has “otherwise persisted undiminished through several rainstorms”, Herrera objected to the graffiti on the grounds that it “exploits our City’s walkable neighborhoods and robust tourism”. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

This latest burst of graffiti-style advertising comes at a time when the city is looking at ways to further penalize companies who participate in it. After this latest example, Herrera plans to “substantially enhance civil penalties” for these crimes, with the help of San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin.

Earlier this month, a number of Reddit and Twitter users pointed out that Justin Bieber’s objective had been advertised throughout San Francisco via a white graffiti tag (not unlike the Arcade Fire’s Reflektor ad campaign).

Graffiti promoting Justin Bieber has been spray painted on San Francisco sidewalks.

The so-called guerilla campaigns like this one are becoming a problem in San Francisco.

Herrera, acknowledging the frustration from residents, blasted Def Jam’s CEO Steve Bartels and Universal’s Executive Vice President Jeffrey Harleston. Herrera’s office has successfully resolved similar violations by perpetrators including IBM, NBC Universal, Turner Broadcasting and Zynga; past disputes also involving illegal sidewalk graffiti ads ended with financial settlements to compensate city taxpayers for all costs, civilly punish wrongdoing, and publicly discourage such illicit conduct by other would-be commercial vandals. “Our sidewalks in San Francisco are not canvasses for corporate advertising, and we have made that clear”. The city attorney’s office did not directly address that image.

“Purpose” sold more than 1 million albums in the United States by last week, Billboard reported, his fifth record to do so.