Continue reading »]]> Graffiti Removal could keep Rattlesnake Canyon closed longer.

by: San Bernardino Sun

Graffiti Removal could keep Rattlesnake Canyon closed longer. Photo by: LaFonzo Carter

Joshua Tree National Park officials have not yet decided whether Rattlesnake Canyon, hit by a spate of vandalism this year, will reopen as scheduled on Tuesday.

Rattlesnake Canyon is a rugged landscape of granite formations, creosote bushes and yucca plants near the national park’s popular Indian Cove campground.

Park officials closed 308 acres of Rattlesnake Canyon land as of April 8 after discovering vandals had defaced nearly 20 sites in the area. The gateway to Indian Cove is about 20 miles east of Yucca Valley.

Park officials opened a criminal investigation into the vandalism, often painted words or crudely drawn images on rock formations.

They also received aid from 90 students who traveled south from the private Urban School of San Francisco to help remove the graffiti.

Ranger Pat Pilcher said much of the unwanted words and images have been cleaned away, but as of Friday, some of the graffiti remained.

“That’s why we’re still in that stage of deciding how that’s going to work,” he said.

Graffiti can still be seen at a rock formation in the northern area of Rattlesnake Canyon, where two granite boulders lean against each others, creating a gap just large enough for a person or two to take shelter.

Parks officials believe indigenous Californians used the rock formation as a shelter in prehistoric times, Pilcher said.

There have yet to be any arrests or citations issued to anyone suspected of the recent vandalism at Rattlesnake Canyon. Whoever is guilty would face penalties of $5,000 fines, six months in prison and three years’ probation.

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Continue reading »]]> Graffiti vandalism Studies at CSUF.

CSUF professor studies the culture of graffiti vandalism

Graffiti vandalism Studies at CSUF. Photo by: Mariah Carrillo

 

For thousands of years, humans have communicated by leaving their mark on walls. Classically, messages of the hunt, faith and culture were conveyed through rudimentary wall paintings.

In present day, the walls of bathrooms have become a place for students to have their message read by the constant stream of students who use the restrooms on campus.

Karen Stocker, Ph.D., an anthropology professor, leads a study of bathroom graffiti for her Introduction to Cultural Anthropology class.

Stocker has students document the different forms of bathroom graffiti, which has become ever-present on the Cal State Fullerton campus.

She has been studying campus graffiti for about 10 years and said she has noticed both patterns and changes in graffiti.

“When I first started having students document bathroom graffiti, one of the most common forms of graffiti involved the “I (heart) …” construction, in which women’s room walls were emblazoned with declarations of love for named individuals,” Stocker said.

Stocker said those types of statements have declined, but others have stayed more consistent.

“Some patterns that emerge semester after semester have to do with advice, expression of hatred and expression of love,” she said.

Depending on the sex of a person, there appears to be a difference in what is written on the stalls, according to Stocker.

She added that women’s restrooms often contain hatred or denigrate named women on the basis of their perceived sexual activity.

Stocker said she has seen a big difference in terms of how graffiti is used in men’s restrooms versus in women’s restrooms.

Women have a lot of advice asked and given and it is taken seriously by them, whereas men usually do not.

“It is common to see advice sought on women’s rooms walls, and also many written responses in which people weigh in on the issue in question,” said Stocker.

She said her research study is not yet complete and the study needs more involvement by student subjects and would require the permission of the university.

Graffiti has been a consistent issue throughout the years, according to those tasked with its removal.

Graffiti vandalism be it in male or female bathrooms or where ever, should be removed as quickly as possible with an elite graffiti remover like Tagaway Graffiti Remover for smooth and painted surfaces.

Terri Thompson, custodial services manager, has been working at CSUF for 10-and-a-half years and said bathroom vandalism has been occurring since before she stepped foot on campus.

“When the custodian notices the graffiti, they’re supposed to try and remove it themselves with the graffiti remover and often times whatever has been written … sometimes when it’s on tile for example he can’t get that off,” said Thompson.

Thompson said the custodians occasionally have to call in a painter to sand the walls and cover up the graffiti.

“We’ve had wipes, like graffiti removal wipes, we’ve had sprays, we’ve tried a lot of things” said Thompson. “Some of them are really good and some just can’t tackle it.”

The custodians at CSUF should stock up on Tagaway Graffiti Remover for their smooth and painted surface graffiti vandalism.  Tagaway has been removing graffiti since 1997 and has continued to be the main stay for graffiti removal in cities like Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago.  Painting over this type of vandalism should never be an option when elite graffiti removers like Taginator and Tagaway can be utilized.

Although the custodians try to clean the graffiti as soon as they notice it, sometimes it is not easy if they are short staffed, or if they forget, according to Thompson.

“It’s really sad that brand-new buildings go up and students feel like they have to deface it somehow,” she said. “The more buildings we put up, the more graffiti we get it seems.”

Thompson said the buildings with the most graffiti are the Pollak Library, McCarthy Hall and the Humanities Building.

She said the bathrooms are checked multiple times during the day, but sometimes attempting to take care of the graffiti problem can cause the custodians to neglect other cleaning tasks.

If the custodians had a quart of the world’s best  Tagaway Graffiti Remover with them on their carts and a clean rag they could remove the offending graffiti in a fast and economical time frame.  Most tags are able to be removed in under 5 minutes.  See our video’s for demonstrations: Graffiti Removal Videos

Stocker said the reason there is still bathroom graffiti on campus could be due to the fact that it is prevalent elsewhere.

“People grow up seeing it and in that way it becomes established as a form of expression and communication,” Stocker said.

The study that Stocker conducts also probes why a certain building can get a lot of attention from graffitists while others do not.

Stocker said a more in-depth study would have to be done to determine whether or not this has something to do with maintenance schedules.

However, she said it may also have something to do with different cultures prevailing the different colleges on campus.

Stocker said during this study, students often mentioned the “culture” of a given building and that culture dictates what type of expression is deemed appropriate.

“(It) may have to do with the focal point of majors housed in that building or with more formal rules and their degree of enforcement,” said Stocker.

Roxanne Parga, 22, a business administration major, said she thinks the graffiti is funny for the most part.

Parga said she has seen some tasteless things in the bathroom, along with a lot of graffiti asking for advice.

“There are a lot of internet memes on there and when you see it makes you smile,” said Parga. “You have a bad day and you see a Spongebob reference or Doctor Who reference, it’s funny.”

Thompson said bathroom graffiti can be minimized on campus but it will take a collected help from students and faculty.

“It’s not just the custodians responsibility, were not here 24/7, so if anybody sees any kind of graffiti anywhere, they too can call into the extension 3494 and report it and we’ll do what we can to take care of it,” said Thompson. “So it’s really the responsibility of everyone on campus to be aware of it and to help us out.”

This last statement is so true.  Everyone in the “community” should be involved in stopping, reporting and possible removing of the vandalism (with  something like a graffiti clean up weekend).  Students armed with a quart of  the environmentally safe Tagaway Graffiti Remover and some clean towels can do wonders on removing the offending graffiti on any smooth surface with ease.

 

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Continue reading »]]> Chicago Graffiti Removal Program Adds painters.

Chicago Graffiti Removal Program Adds painters. Image courtesy of porbital / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Crews complete more than 7,400 more graffiti removal jobs in first four months of 2013; reduce average weekly service request backlog by 21 percent

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–May 2, 2013.  As outlined in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2013 budget, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) has added five painters to its Graffiti Removal Program to enhance the City’s response to graffiti vandalism, resulting in the completion of  more than 7,400 additional jobs in 2013, and a 21 percent reduction in the City’s average weekly service request backlog.

“Graffiti vandalism impacts not only the property owner, but the entire community,” said Mayor Emanuel.  “By making smarter use of our resources, we have increased our response to graffiti and are working harder to keep neighborhoods clean and safe for our residents.”

By reallocating existing Graffiti Removal Program resources, the City added additional painters while maintaining a program budget level with 2012. Approximately 60 percent of the City’s graffiti removal requests require paint service.

In early 2012, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) implemented grid based reforms within its graffiti program which enabled the City to utilize resources in the most efficient way possible.  In one year, crews have increased their daily productivity by an average of 22 percent.

With the addition of the five painters, DSS currently has 12 blaster crews and 11 paint crews.    As of April 30, graffiti crews have completed more than 45,700 graffiti removal jobs this year—more than twice the number of calls for service received from residents.

“Ensuring residents receive the most efficient and best quality services possible remains our top priority,” said Commissioner Charles L. Williams, Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. “We will continue to assess our Graffiti Removal Program strategies to identify best practices, as well as areas for improvement, as we work to maintain the beauty and vitality of Chicago.

The Graffiti Removal Program employs “blast” trucks that use baking soda under high water pressure to remove painted graffiti from brick, stone and other mineral surfaces. The program also deploys paint trucks to cover graffiti on surfaces such as metal or wood.

To report graffiti vandalism or obtain information about the Graffiti Removal Program, call 3-1-1 or visit www.cityofchicago.org/dss.

Source: cityofchicago.org

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Continue reading »]]> A growing graffiti removal problem is growing in Colorado Springs…

A growing graffiti removal problem is growing in Colorado Springs… photo courtesy of koaa.com

Original story by by Tony Spehar of koaa.com.

The problem of graffiti has been escalating over the past few years according to the Colorado Springs Police Department Graffiti Removal Team and could grow further soon thanks to warmer weather.

A rash of graffiti vandalism was found over the past weekend in neighborhoods surrounding the intersection of South Carefree Circle and Rio Vista Drive. Residents alerted police after finding several houses, fences and walls tagged with graffiti. When officers arrived and code enforcement crews spread through the neighborhoods they found dozens of additional tagging, many of which were vulgar. The vandals had also hit a nearby playground off of the Homestead Trail.

“I would love not to see any graffiti, bad words or not, you know where all these children are,” said neighbor Kimberley Buchanan. “I take my niece up there too, she’s older, she can actually read these bad words.”

Police believe most of the graffiti done over the weekend may have been painted by a man who had been kicked out of a nearby bar on Saturday night, he had yelled some of the statements that had been spray painted on fences as he was ejected from the bar. However, in searching the neighborhood on Sunday and Monday officers found other unrelated graffiti.

By Monday afternoon clean-up crews were able to remove most of the graffiti and were just waiting for consent to clean from owners of the some of the houses that were hit. In the middle of their work, which could go on for the next few days, crews could only estimate the cost of the damage.

“The way we count graffiti is every tag would be $54.11,” explained Mark Davis with the Graffiti Removal Team, pointing towards graffiti on a wall. “So if we were to cover that up, sandblast it off is how we would do it, $54.11 and we probably did 50 of them today.”

Thankfully for the property owners the city covers most of the costs of clean-up including the labor, which is mostly done by graffiti taggers who have been caught. The Graffiti Removal Team has a budget of $30,000 a year and works every day of the year, especially in warmer weather when evening temperatures go up and vandals are more willing to head out in the cover of darkness.

Mark Davis told News 5 the city has established a graffiti hotline where residents can call in any instances of graffiti and clean-up crews have a goal of responding to calls within 24 to 48-hours. The number for the graffiti hotline is 719.634.5713.

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Continue reading »]]> Friends, Family and Followers… Please check out the link BELOW and vote for My Friends beautiful daughter Ashley to be the next winner of the Peggy Knight Alopecia model search.  Just Click the link BELOW add your Name and e-mail, then from the Pull down select #10 ASHLEY and hit the VOTE BUTTON…  Thanks, Lets win this for her!!!  http://peggyknight.com/ashley.php

http://peggyknight.com/ashley.php

Ashley

• Age:5
• Broomall, PA

Ashley has had Alopecia for about 2 years now. She has had no hair at all since May of 2011. She is a very confident little girl who loves herself for who she is.

Please Follow Rules!

YOU MAY VOTE FOR AS MANY CONTESTANTS AS YOU LIKE HOWEVER YOU MAY NOT VOTE FOR THE SAME CONTESTANT TWICE.

IT WILL NOT COUNT… AND THEY CAN TELL!

http://peggyknight.com/ashley.php

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Continue reading »]]> Get 5% to 20% off all your Graffiti Removal Needs!

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Continue reading »]]> Consistent graffiti and litter removal helps Crime Continue to Decline.

• By Sarah Bakhtiari
• Email the author
• January 24, 2013

Crime Continues to Decline in Gwinnett Village Photo by: http://peachtreecorners.patch.com

2012 marks the fifth consecutive year that the Norcross community improvement district, which includes a portion Peachtree Corners, has seen a drop in targeted and overall crime.

 

Statistics show that the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District has seen a drop in targeted and overall crime for 2012.

This is the fifth consecutive year for decreased crime in Gwinnett Village, which is the largest CID in the state of Georgia and covers parts of Norcross and Peachtree Corners along Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Beaver Ruin Road, Indian Trail Road and the I-85 corridor.

The annual statistics, which were provided by Gwinnett County Police, show declines in 2012 in total robbery, commercial burglary and motor vehicle thefts by 6 percent, 35 percent and 6 percent respectively, according to a news release.

Since the start of the decreasing crime rate in 2007, the number of police incidents has actually cut in half.

“The fact that we have seen these results coming in year after year proves that community initiatives are paying dividends,” said Chuck Warbington, executive director for the Gwinnett Village CID.

“I can’t give enough credit to the law enforcement professionals from Gwinnett County PD and Norcross PD who are working day in and day out to make this a safer community. The strength of those partnerships is truly the reason behind the success we’ve seen here.”

The CID has seen a decrease in crime since the implementation of the district’s Targeted Enforcement Zone program, which began in 2007. As an initiative voted unanimously by the Gwinnett Village CID, the program aims to provide additional security coverage for commercial properties in the district.

TEZ is a multi-pronged approach that includes consistent graffiti and litter removal, private security patrols and additional Norcross police patrols, which are all funded by the CID, according to the release. The patrols focus on suspicious activity, vehicles and persons in commercial areas of southwest Gwinnett County.

This has always been ETS Company’s (the maker of the world’s best graffiti removers Taginator ® and Tagaway ®) Philosophy that a graffiti clean area along with other factors will lead to less crime and also an influx of tourism to an area.   Hopefully Gwinnett Village have realized that a graffiti removal project is done easiest with the best products out there, that would be the time tested and proven elite graffiti removal products Taginator ® and Tagaway ®.

Since the inception of TEZ, the number of incidents in targeted crimes have cut in half, as previously stated. From 2007 to 2012, total robberies have gone down by 48 percent, total commercial burglaries have seen a drop of 51 percent and motor vehicle thefts have declined by 55 percent.

“This community is safer and consequently more vibrant and attractive for new business and investment than it has ever been,” said Warbington. “We intend to continue our work to ensure that it stays that way.”

Last week, Norcross Police Chief Warren Summers announced to the city council during their annual retreat that Norcross saw an increase in its 2012 crime stats, particularly in armed robberies and vehicle collisions. The main reason for this increase is the newly annexed area east of Buford Highway, he added. Crime rates had actually decreased in the older parts of the city.

 

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Continue reading »]]> Teen’s graffiti puts mom on hook for $18,000

Teen’s graffiti puts mom on hook for $18,000. photo by: ocregister.com

By SARAH de CRESCENZO / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Raising children is expensive, but most parents likely don’t factor in the cost of paying for their children’s misdeeds.

Teresa Betancourt is the second Lake Forest parent to be hit with a hefty bill in connection with gang-related graffiti. The Sheriff’s Department has accused Betancourt’s of tagging more than a dozen spots in town with gang-related graffiti

In 2011, city officials passed an ordinance to make it easier to recoup costs associated with graffiti cleanup. In November, a Superior Court judge ordered Betancourt to pay more than $18,200. Her son is accused of tagging on residential and business walls, stop signs, utility boxes, poles and a tree.

The city enacted the ordinance after cleanup costs soared, hitting $183,000 in 2010.

In the first full calendar year after the law was implemented, the cost of graffiti removal dropped by roughly half, according to city records. Taggers tend to work in organized crews, sharing information, and the word appears to have gotten out, Silver said.

“I think there’s a very strong connection between the city’s action and the deterrent effect,” said Matt Silver, an attorney representing the city. “I think there is a correlation between the city’s strong stance against graffiti and the reduction we’re seeing.”

The city first sends taggers demand letters asking for restitution. If those are ignored, lawsuits are initiated, Silver said.

Since the ordinance was passed, the city has sent eight such letters. Five have resulted in settlements.

The Betancourt judgment is the second the city has won since the new ordinance went into effect.

In October 2012 Lake Forest parent Maria Gutierrez was fined $15,000.

Police said Gutierrez’s son tagged 23 times in the city, on utility poles, walls and fences, businesses on El Toro Road, and at Heroes Park and in the Ridge Route pedestrian tunnel. The incidents date back to April 2010.

The city is seeking $15,498 in another graffiti case.

No money from the pair of judgments has been secured yet, Silver said, but the city’s ordinance allows it to collect through the parent or teen’s salaries, as well as any property assets for 10 years.

“Those (judgments) are still in the early process of collection, but we fully expect to be paid,” Silver said. “We certainly anticipate recovering every penny.”

Great Article! Also GREAT idea to make the parents once again on the hook for the children’s misdeeds.  We at ETS Company the makers of the world’s best graffiti removers – Taginator ® and Tagaway ® believe if more towns and cities made parents financially and socially responsible for their children’s actions with graffiti, there would be less incidents of graffiti vandalism.  Lets also hope that the city of Lake Forest uses elite graffiti removers Taginator ® and Tagaway ® to remove the graffiti vandalism as well.  These time tested and proven graffiti removers are used in large cities all across America (from Philadelphia to Chicago to Sacramento) to remove unwanted Graffiti.

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