Venice’s Graffiti Removal Program Threatened
Another worthy program faces a cut.
As previously discussed here, graffiti removal in Venice works pretty well. Simply dial 311, give the location and surface the tag is on and within a few days city contractors remove it. However the program will be gutted if Miguel Santana has his way. Who is this Santana? As Los Angeles’ City Administrative Officer, he’s LA’s top non-elected official and chief financial watchdog.
Santana wants to slash the graffiti removal program in half despite the fact that most of the funding goes to 13 non-profit groups and will only save the city $1.5 million. Graffiti is not usually a problem in affluent LA neighborhoods like Hancock Park or Bel Air. However, it’s a major issue in places like Venice, South LA and Boyle Heights.
Gangs use graffiti to mark their territory. They take it seriously; gangs have shot and killed property owners trying to stop them from applying it. Graffiti depresses property values and encourages more of the same. We can barely stay on top of it as it is.
Santana will present his recommendations to City Council on Wednesday.
Ed Reyes, Boyle Heights’ City Councilman, has vowed to fight the cut. Let our City Councilman, Bill Rosendahl, know that you’d like to keep the program intact. In the meantime, I’ve got to go to report the latest tag on my Venice block, seen here.
Do you think we should keep Venice's graffiti removal program intact?
Tell us in the comments.
Sara Catania
11:05 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
It would really be a shame if the city cut back its funding for graffiti removal. The benefits of this program far exceed the cost.
Anna Bakalis
11:08 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Alas, another worthy program that the city is cutting to balance it's $430 million shortfall. Public parking garages are also going to be a victims of budget slashes, and parking costs will rise as they become privatized. It's a shame.
Winter Johnson
11:08 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
So, the city would rather have the graffiti than pay for it to be removed? Venice is a wonderful place and a beautiful area, and most graffiti just acts as a blight on the face of the community.
Nancy C. Rodriguez
11:15 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Graffiti is definitely a big problem and city officials should do everything they can to stop it. Not only that, but some taggers have become really aggressive toward residents who speak up. That's what happened to the lady in Pico Rivera not that long ago. She was killed for trying to stop a tagger. I think city officials should think about the consequences...if residents take matters into their own hands, it may cost them their life.
Linda Lucks
11:03 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Please contact Councilman Bill Rosendahl to let him know how important a graffiti removal program is to the health and welfare of our community. We cannot allow graffiti to remain anywhere on our streets and walls and without funding, it will happen.
You can call him at 213 473-7011 or email at: Councilman.Rosendahl@lacity.org
Jennifer Halligan
2:13 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
I'm guessing Mr. Sandoval doesn't live in Venice or any one of the neighborhoods that are being continually defaced by ugly graffiti or tagging. As a property owner in Venice I have used the graffiti removal service numerous times in addition to painting over it myself. I'm also the parent of 2 children and don't want them growing up thinking it's okay to vandalize or deface another person's property.
Diane
9:49 pm on Monday, January 24, 2011
About two weeks ago LAPD caught a tagger that ravaged the canals and an area all along Washington. They said taggers are typically on foot and tag between 3 and 5 a.m. This tagger was out about midnight and alert eyes and fast calls to the police helped catch this kid. He did a lot of damage.