When there is graffiti in a community it is difficult not to notice. It not only stands out as an irritation but has substantial consequences. According to national surveys, many fear it is the warning beacon that community safety has declined and crime is on the rise.
Graffiti cleanup has the potential to drain municipal budgets and create a loss of local revenue. The US Department of Justice identifies that graffiti contributes to lost revenue associated with reduced ridership on transit systems, reduced retail sales and declines in property value.
Graffiti experts estimate that it costs $1-3 dollars per person to remove graffiti. In Santa Cruz County, this would generate a minimum expense of over $250,0000 per year.
“Graffiti has the potential to drain community resources. Fortunately for Santa Cruz County residents, The Volunteer Center Graffiti Removal Project, has helped turn the tide on graffiti’s negative impact,” states County Supervisor Ellen Pirie.
“The Program is a true success story. My constituents and I have turned to the program time and again to have graffiti removed from our neighborhoods, making them more attractive and safer.” states Pirie.
The Project’s mission is to make local neighborhoods graffiti- free through sustained education and removal efforts. Studies indicate that consistent removal within 24-48 hours leads to a significant drop in vandalism. In the past year alone they have mobilized 300 concerned citizens to remove 219, 448 square feet of graffiti.
“This is equivalent to a 1 ft retaining wall than spans 41 miles. The amount of work completed by our volunteers is truly staggering “, states Program Coordinator Sara Winterburn.
“As community members, we may take note that a new mural has gone up, a wall in our neighborhood has been white washed, or a stop sign has been cleaned of graffiti. But how often do we stop to think about who is responsible for making this landscape more pleasing to the eye?”, states Winterburn.
The Graffiti Removal Project offers a range of services for individuals and neighborhoods in the unincorporated area of the county. Homeowners and businesses that have been victims of graffiti vandalism can call the graffiti hotline to request that it be removed from their property free of charge.
Community paint -outs are regularly organized with volunteer groups to clean-up areas targeted by vandals and free prevention workshops are provided with information on strategies to reduce the incidence of graffiti through lighting, special paints, murals, and plantings.
The Graffiti Removal Project also maintains the initiative “Project Neighborhood Pride” encouraging neighbors to adopt areas in their neighborhoods and pledge to keep them clean. All materials and paint are provided free of charge.
Bradley Piper, a local firefighter and community volunteer who has dedicated hundreds of hours to the project states, “The Graffiti Removal Project has changed our neighborhood. Several years ago the streets of Live Oak were a frequent target for taggers. With intense focus and program support, the streets have been largely cleaned. The sustained efforts of the Graffiti Project have played a vital role in keeping our neighborhood graffiti free ”
As a lead volunteer for Neighborhood Pride, Piper has been trained to respond to graffiti calls from the hotline and take action in his neighborhood. “With removal kits provided by the GRP, I along with other volunteers can be ready at a moments notice to remove graffiti and assist the Sheriff’s department. The prompt removal of graffiti has been a key deterrent”, states Piper.
The program was initially created 15 years ago in partnership with Santa Cruz County to tackle rising blight on private property and public spaces in the unincorporated areas of the county.
“ We are looking at a very different landscape these days in terms of graffiti abatement. After extensive work with the business community to take on various prevention measures, we have seen a substantial decrease in the number of graffiti complaints by private property owners.”, states Program Coordinator Sara Winterburn
“When the program began we were inundated with calls from private property owners. This year 95% of the graffiti cleaned up was on public sites. We see this as a huge success”, states Winterburn.
All materials and paint are provided to the public free of charge. The program boasts a small budget of less than $80,000 with 2 part time staff working to handle hotline calls, identify sites, procure donations, and coordinate volunteers. Project funds come from both private donations and public sector funds
“ We have always been fortunate to work with local paint supply stores to garner donations for the program. We have additionally been able to leverage county dollars to maintain the program. Last year, through our newest initiative working directly with graffiti vandalism offenders, we were able to clean-up over $39,000 dollars worth of gang related graffiti.” States Winterburn.
In partnership with Santa Cruz County Probation and the District Attorneys Office, The Graffiti Removal project launched the “Offenders Restitution Initiative” in October 2009. The Initiative trains community volunteers to support and supervise vandalism offenders as they remove graffiti.
“Despite excellent benchmarks and a clear demonstration that prevention is working, our program has fallen under the strains of the current budget crisis. We are currently looking at a budget shortfall of $5,000 dollars. It would be extremely unfortunate to backslide in our ability to maintain county neighborhoods as safe and beautiful places to live”, states Winterburn.
“Success has been possible due to the vigilance and tireless effort of thousands of volunteers who have supported the project over the years. In honor of their stewardship and the safety of our neighborhoods, we are stepping out to the community to ask for immediate financial support”, states Winterburn.
Donations can additionally be mailed to the Graffiti Removal Project at 1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz CA, 95060.
