Zero Graffiti for a Beautiful City
Zero Graffiti Newsletter   Volume 5 December 2010

Dear Friends,
 
As we head into a new year, we can all be proud of the fact that our efforts in the campaign to stop graffiti vandalism are showing results. We are seeing less graffiti on public property and are making huge strides in how the city works with private property owners to keep their space graffiti-free.

This year DPW expanded its partnerships and grew graffiti prevention programs like StreetSmARTs and Where Art Lives. We also launched the pilot Free Wall Project, which will start up again in March.

This edition of the Zero Graffiti Newsletter also touches on three very important areas that are key to keeping our neighborhoods graffiti-free: neighborhood empowerment through volunteerism, the importance of reporting graffiti vandalism, and an update on the City's effective, first-of-its-kind Spruce Up program. Plus, there is news of a major victory for the City in a sidewalk graffiti 'corporate vandalism' case. Please take a look.

Thank you and Happy New Year,  
Mohammed Nuru 
Mohammed Nuru
San Francisco Graffiti Advisory Board Chair
Read about:
Volunteer Awarded
Graffiti Rewards
Ad Firm Settles Sidewalk Graffiti Case
Spruce Up Graffiti Stats
Member Update
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Graffiti Advisory Board (meets January 13th)

Graffiti Watch Volunteer of the Year Award

Graffiti Volunteer Award
Graffiti Watch Volunteer of the Year, Bob Finnell (right)
This year's Graffiti Watch Volunteer of the Year was announced at the NEN Awards on November 17th. Robert Finnell, a long time volunteer and anti-graffiti vandalism advocate, received the honor in recognition for his dedication to keeping his neighborhood graffiti-free. Congratulations Robert!

After an onslaught of graffiti vandalism occurred one Sunday evening in October 2008 in Bob's neighborhood, he was inspired to take action and join Graffiti Watch.  Since then, he has maintained the six block "adopted" area in the SOMA: on Bryant Street and at the foot of the Bay Bridge.

He typically spends Monday and Tuesday mornings (and sometimes Sunday mornings) painting out graffiti vandalism after his 7am jogs along The Embarcadero. 

Bob is an inspiring volunteer and a tremendous asset to his neighborhood and the City. His efforts are a shining example of what is possible when a resident passionately takes ownership of his neighborhood and partners with the city to produce positive outcomes.

Congratulations Bob on this well deserved recognition. Keep up the good work! And thank you to all of the Graffiti Watch volunteers out there for your commitment.
Two New Graffiti Rewards Fund Checks Issued
DPW is announcing this week that it will be issuing a pair of $250 reward checks to two good samaritans who made reports of graffiti vandalism that led to the arrest and conviction of the taggers.

The checks are a part of the City's Graffiti Rewards Fund, a collaboration between DPW, the San Francisco Police Department and the Office of the District Attorney.

In one case, the resident spotted taggers in the act near 18th Street and Mission Street and called 911. The other case occurred near Fulton Street by 44th Avenue, where a resident reported to 911 that he observed a suspect spray painting the trailer body of an unoccupied truck.

The Graffiti Rewards Fund encourages residents to report the crime of graffiti vandalism to 911 when they see it. It offers $250 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals. Three previous rewards were handed out this year. Access more details about the Fund

Ad firm pays $45,000 for sidewalk graffiti

Zynga stickersA guerilla marketing ad firm agreed to pay $45,000 to the City and County of San Francisco for vandalizing sidewalks in 75 locations around the City, in an ad scheme that glued over 4,000 stickers to sidewalks in front of homes and businesses.

The Office of the City Attorney announced in November that Davis Elen Advertising would pay the settlement and had taken full responsibility for the tags. Read the press release. DPW worked closely with the City Attorney's Office to supply reports of locations and cleanup costs. "Graffiti vandalism is illegal, and when it's done as corporate advertising, it's also actionable as an unlawful business practice," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera. "We take these violations seriously, and I'll continue to pursue them aggressively to make sure there's no profit motive for defacing our neighborhoods."

Thank you Dennis Herrera for diligently pursuing the case and everyone who made reports. If you see tagging or vandalism of any type, please report to 3-1-1 immediately.      

Spruce Up By Sun Up Update: Graffiti a focus

Spruce Up on 24th StreetTo date, the Spruce Up team has walked along and reviewed 240 blocks of the City's busiest corridors. Crews have identified and cited for 2,408 instances of graffiti on public and private property. 38% of the 6,291 citations written have been graffiti and blight related. The inspections will last through February.

The corridors with the most instances of graffiti vandalism were on Mission Street and on 24th Street. The corridors with the least number of instances were at Bayshore Boulevard (from Key to Sunnydale) and at Leland Avenue (from Bayshore to Cora).

Spruce Up by Sun Up is an early morning inspection program focusing on chronic cleanliness issues. DPW inspectors set out before dawn three days each week to check for violations along the busiest merchant corridors in the City.

Learn more about the Spruce Up by Sun Up program and look up the scheduled date for when the Spruce Up team will visit a neighborhood near you.

      

Graffiti Advisory Board member update

Paula Mulhall
Paula Mulhall sworn in on December 21st by Mayor Newsom.
Please join us in welcoming two of the newest members of the Graffiti Advisory Board. For the District Eleven Seat, Grace D'Anca begins her appointment in January. She has been active in the Excelsior District for over 17 years and is eager to be a part of the solution to the challenges of graffiti.

Paula Mulhall will be starting in January as the Mayoral Appointee. She was sworn in by Mayor Gavin Newsom on December 21st. Paula is a high energy business woman who has been cleaning up graffiti around the City for years and believes in persistence.

Lastly, a very big THANK YOU to one of the Board's most passionate and vocal advocates, Eric Dash. Eric will be leaving his post as the representative in District Six after serving for over three and a half years. Eric championed many beautification efforts in the SOMA neighborhood and throughout the City, long before he sat on the Board. Eric has been a reliable and consistent voice of reason, and the City is better off because of his service. Thank you Eric. You will be missed. (Watch Eric in the Zero Graffiti video.)      
Report Graffiti When You See It
Remember:
Call 311, when you see graffiti on public or private property. Or report graffiti online.
Call 911, when you see graffiti vandalism in action.
If you witness someone tagging on MUNI, notify the MUNI bus driver immediately and call 911.
You may also 'tweet' your images of graffiti to @sfdpw and @sf311.