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Councilman Greg Stanton's
Arcadia News Column
April 2006
Community, Arcadia News Working with City to Fight Graffiti
Graffiti is a problem that must be taken seriously throughout the city of Phoenix. Defaced walls and fences are a blight that send a negative message to whomever walks or drives past. We must take an aggressive approach to fighting graffiti.
Graffiti is a crime that can start the process of eroding a neighborhood's safety and quality of life. Experts say taking a strong stance on graffiti also prevents other crimes from ever occurring.
Citywide, graffiti crime was up last year, with 33,767 calls from residents reporting graffiti and Graffiti Busters responding to nearly 44,000 sites.
As a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee, I would like to let you know that the city has taken strong, recent steps to fight back, providing more resources to clean up graffiti as quickly as possible. The city is also working to let the community know that volunteers are also key to helping rid the blight of graffiti from our neighborhoods.
The Arcadia News is one example of a partner that has heeded the call.
Thanks to publisher Greg Bruns for his generous contribution to the city’s Graffiti Busters program. In a recent note to the city, Greg wrote, “As a business owner and resident in the East Phoenix area, I take a personal offense to the graffiti taggers who have blighted our neighborhoods with their crude inscriptions.”
That is why we supported the following strategies late last year that have already led to gains:
- approved nearly $300,000 for a new Graffiti Busters crew and customer service workers to help reach the city’s goal of removing graffiti within 48 hours of a call
- strengthened the city ordinance that allows for the pursuit of civil penalties for graffiti crime on city property or in the public right of way
- purchased updated, solar-powered digital cameras to place in strategic areas
- supported a strong, community outreach program, "Commit to Zero Tolerance," through the city's Neighborhood Services Department
Since these actions, the city has formed new partnerships with 16 community organizations and doubled the rate of neighborhood graffiti clean-up efforts. More than 1,000 Phoenix residents are involved and we have added three new classes in paint-sprayer training.
So what can you do to help?
- Your neighborhood group can request paint, rollers and supplies from Graffiti Busters. Call 602-495-7014 to set up a clean-up day.
- Call 602-495-7014 or e-mail graffiti.busters.nsd@phoenix.gov immediately if you see graffiti anywhere in the city.
- If you see someone in the act of painting graffiti or have good information about a graffiti act, you can get a $250 reward. Call the Phoenix Police Graffiti Reward Hotline at 602-262-7327.
With partners like the Arcadia News, we can lessen the impact of the serious crime of graffiti in our neighborhoods. Please help us by taking the important steps that can reinforce the city action aimed at criminals who blight our communities with graffiti.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents Arcadia. If you have any questions about any issues, please feel free to call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district6.
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