For Immediate Release 

January 20, 2007

Contact: Christine Falvey

Tel: (415) 554-6920

***PRESS RELEASE***

PUBLIC WORKS AND GRAFFITI ADVISORY BOARD CONDUCT

ANTI-GRAFFITI SUPER HUDDLE

San Francisco, CA – More than 120 concerned community members and Graffiti Watch volunteers joined the Department of Public Works and the Graffiti Advisory Board of the City and County of San Francisco at a special meeting today to discuss the escalating crisis of graffiti vandalism in the City. Advisory Board members and attendees shared information about graffiti enforcement, abatement and education and outreach.

The Huddle program also included a progress report on the City's abatement program and Graffiti Ordinance; a presentation on best practices in removing graffiti from public property; a discussion about how the courts are prosecuting graffiti vandalism; and a neighborhood perspective on how to recruit new volunteers. Panelists urged participants to join Graffiti Watch and Court Watch to abate and prevent graffiti.

"Graffiti is a problem afflicting all parts of San Francisco," said Mayor Newsom. "As we step-up our enforcement and explore artistic alternatives to graffiti, it is absolutely imperative that the community engage in the process, so we can cut the cost of cleanup for all of the city's tax-paying residents," continued the Mayor.

Graffiti Watch volunteers are trained and supplied by the Department of Public Works. Each individual or group who signs up makes a commitment to remove graffiti from public property, such as city receptacles, utility poles, street parking signs and any other structures that have become targets of graffiti vandalism. The program began in January 2005 and has more than 80 active members who cover more than 300 blocks. Court Watch is a program run by the District Attorney's Office to solicit community support and engagement in addressing the impacts of graffiti in the court system.