PRESS RELEASE: Anti-vandalism advocates gathering to fight the blight - 5/4/16

For immediate release: May 3, 2016

Contact: Greg Crump, 415-423-4260

Anti-vandalism advocates gathering to fight the blight

City leaders, residents, artists, neighborhood businesses host free conference to address effective methods to prevent and abate graffiti

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – More than 100 graffiti fighters will gather Wednesday, May 4, to tackle graffiti, offer fresh ideas and share tested means to fight vandalism during an afternoon conference at the San Francisco Hilton Financial District. The interactive 2016 Graffiti Huddle event aims to identify and highlight strategies to eradicate graffiti vandalism through public education, community involvement, the arts and the criminal justice system.

The public is encouraged to attend the free event and share stories and ideas for keeping San Francisco beautiful and free of blight. Neighborhood advocates are teaming up with conference organizers, community leaders, San Francisco Public Works representatives and other government officials to offer their support in the fight against graffiti.

Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Time: 12:00 noon – 5 p.m.; speaking program begins at 1:30 p.m.

Location: Hilton San Francisco Financial District, 750 Kearny St.

Who: Board of Supervisors President London Breed, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, graffiti vandalism fighters, residents, artists, businesses, and members of the San Francisco Graffiti Advisory Board

What: 2016 Graffiti Huddle; FREE event with discussions on ways to partner to clean and prevent graffiti in San Francisco

Special presentations and discussions will center on the themes of education, abatement and law enforcement. There also will be a dialogue about recent overhauls in local legislation to deter graffiti vandalism and public policy initiatives to help equip neighborhoods to stay graffiti-free.

The City spends more than $20 million a year battling graffiti. This will be the fifth “graffiti huddle” San Francisco has hosted in the last 10 years to engage the public and renew the call to action for innovative approaches to fighting the blight.

Registration information and event details can be found at zerograffitisf.com.

The 2016 Graffiti Huddle is presented by the City and County of San Francisco, the Graffiti Advisory Board, Public Works, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Unified School District, the City Attorney’s Office, San Francisco Police Department, San Francisco Hilton, San Francisco Beautiful, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Recology, Academy of Art University, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, Clear Channel, Traffic Wrapz, Center Hardware, Laborers’ Local 261, DFS Green, Rain Guard, the Building Owners and Managers Association, Kelly-Moore Paints, Rapid Renu, and Graffiti Removal Specialists.

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