At first blush, graffiti removal might not seem like it warrants
a high place on the city’s list of priorities.
But a look at the dividends the city’s focus on preventing,
prosecuting and especially, removing, graffiti have paid prove that
first impressions are often wrong. Getting rid of graffiti is
important for numerous reasons.
At first blush, graffiti removal might not seem like it warrants a high place on the city’s list of priorities.
But a look at the dividends the city’s focus on preventing, prosecuting and especially, removing, graffiti have paid prove that first impressions are often wrong. Getting rid of graffiti is important for numerous reasons.
First, graffiti tags are often the work of gang members. Removing their markings often leads to reduced gang activity and reduced crime rates.
Second, it removes a visual blight that gives a poor impression of our beautiful city to visitors – whether they are money-spending tourists or job-creating business leaders.
Third, graffiti saps our own sense of pride in our community. It attempts to steal our community self-esteem.
Fourth, the fact that someone cares enough to volunteer to remove it – as big-hearted people like Al Gagliardi has done for decades – lifts our community spirit and increases our civic pride.
The city has implemented a three-pronged approach to fighting graffiti that has become a model for other local governments, including Santa Clara County:
• Prosecute – In both civil and criminal courts – those responsible for graffiti.
• Prevent – Make it difficult for taggers to get access to the tools of their trade by restricting the sale of spray paint and felt-tip markers.
• Remove – Cover graffiti tags as quickly as possible. The city has professional paint contractors on call to paint out large or high-priority tags and a dedicated band of volunteers armed with donated paint who cover other tags.
Removing graffiti quickly greatly reduces the incentive for taggers to spend their time and spray paint in Gilroy. This facet of the program is the heart of the anti-graffiti effort and all Gilroyans owe a great debt of gratitude to the volunteers who have devoted countless hours of their free time painting dumpsters, bridges, electrical boxes, the Uvas Levee path and various signage.
Here’s a hearty “well done” to all those who’ve participated in the fight to make Gilroy graffiti-free. But it’s incomplete without a reminder that we can’t rest on our laurels. We must remain vigilant in the battle to make Gilroy a more attractive and safe place by eliminating graffiti.
If you see graffiti, call the city’s graffiti hotline at 846-0395.
If you see someone perpetrating the crime, call police immediately.
If you have time, volunteer to become a part of the small army that has successfully beaten back the defacing punks who spew their ugly venom on public property.
This is a battle that can only be won one phone call and one brush at a time. Gilroy has stemmed the tide of graffiti with its efforts – and that’s something we should all be proud of.
