LA County Graffiti Fight Is One of Nation's Most Successful.

News Editors/Lifestyle Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2004

The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and Department of Public Works Graffiti Abatement Program has been recognized as one of the most successful County initiatives in the nation. "Prompt

Since 1993, under the leadership and direction of the County Board of Supervisors, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works implemented a Countywide zero-tolerance anti-graffiti effort. The plan is a broad-based, inter-jurisdictional effort to combat serious blight on urban landscape. It includes physical clean-up efforts, legislative strategies, law enforcement and judicial intervention, a proactive public information campaign, as well as focused diversion and prevention efforts.

During the past 7 years, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works has successfully carried out the Board of Supervisors' policy of establishing zero-tolerance graffiti zones in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The Graffiti Abatement Program is designed to remove graffiti quickly and as often as necessary to keep the designated zero-tolerance zones free of graffiti. Examples of these areas include: East Los Angeles, Florence-Firestone, South San Gabriel, San Gabriel Valley, Willowbrook, Rosewood, Rancho Dominguez, Carson, Athens, El Camino Village, Lennox, Del Aire, Baldwin Hills, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, Altadena, Monrovia, Duarte, and many other locations throughout the unincorporated areas of the County. Maps of zero-tolerance zones may be accessed from the T.A.G. - Totally Against Graffiti website at www.4tagla.com.

The quality of life for County residents is improved by minimal occurrences of graffiti in County unincorporated areas. A prompt cleanup is considered preventive from the standpoint that if the marks do not remain for long periods, vandals' satisfaction from seeing their marks and having others see them is limited. Kids, while sometimes responsible for much of the blight, can also learn to report graffiti and take pride in their communities. Indicators of the success of the County's Graffiti Abatement Program include increases in percentage of graffiti removed within 48 hours of notification, which rose from 94.5% in 2001-2002, to 95.7% in 2002-2003; and is projected to reach 97% in 2003-2004. The number of calls received by the Graffiti Hotline (800-675-4357) has risen from 32,102 in 2001-2002 to 59,943 in 2002-2003.

Collaborative partnerships which involve educators, law enforcement, judicial intervention and private removal contractors, who are paid on a flat-fee basis as opposed to a per foot/price concept, encourages a consorted effort to apprehend and prosecute vandals. Graffiti violations can result in a fine of up to $5,000 for only $400 of vandalism.

The Graffiti Abatement Program has sponsored classroom and school assembly educational messages to students each year, reaching 80,000 students in 2001-2002; 180,000 in 2003-2004; and is projected to reach 200,000 in 2003-2004.

The "Stop Graffiti and We All Win" message reached over 800,000 people in 2001-2002; 1,200,000 in 2002-2003; and the Department of Public Works is projecting an audience of 1,400,000 at various events throughout the County in 2003-2004. The County's education and outreach program is designed to motivate and educate children about graffiti, while inspiring them to make a difference in their own neighborhoods.

Coordinated by the County Department of Public Works, Community Clean-Up Days have been a great success, where students, staff and parent volunteers join together to clean-up litter as part of their commitment to serving the community and the environment. Their efforts will include cleaning litter from the streets, painting over graffiti and spreading information to the community about the effects of local pollution.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Graffiti Abatement Program is presenting a Graffiti Summit on January 9, 2004 at the Department Headquarters, 900 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Graffiti Summit focuses on how graffiti costs all of us, regional approaches which address graffiti, public awareness, educational programs, prioritizing graffiti crimes, and a continuing education workshop aimed at law enforcement apprehension, prosecution and convictions.