Graffiti Hurts ® “Swiss Cheese” PPT for Keep America Beautiful Affiliates Download one or more of the following slide sections for presentations on graffiti

Graffiti Hurts® “Swiss Cheese” PPT for Keep America Beautiful Affiliates Download one or more of the following slide sections for

presentations on graffiti vandalism. Then add any slides with local graffiti data and information. Sections are divided by topic area. Some slides are repeated in one or more sections.

– Basic Graffiti Information/Overview (slides 3-14)– Gang Graffiti (slides 16-17)– Graffiti Prevention Strategies (slides 19-27)– Graffiti Removal (slides 29-31)– What You Can Do To Prevent Graffiti – appropriate for schools and

communities (slides 33-38)– Projects to Prevent Graffiti – appropriate for schools and communities

(slides 40-46)– Resources (slides 48-50)

For additional information or requests, contact [email protected].

Updated: July 2007

Basic Graffiti Information/Overview

(Slides 3-14)

Graffiti…It Hurts Everyone

How Does Graffiti “Hurt”?

Increases citizen fear Reduces retail sales and

pedestrian traffic Property values decline Attracts other forms of crime Cleanup drains city budgets

The Cost of Graffiti Los Angeles County, its 88 cities, MTA, and

Caltrans spent an estimated $28 million in 2006 on graffiti removal (Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, 2006)

Milwaukee and Denver spend about $1 million annually for graffiti removal; in 2006 Chicago budgeted $6.5 million; Las Vegas about $3 million

Vandalism totaled about $1.7 billion in damage in 2002. Graffiti, at 35%, is the most common type of property vandalism (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002)

What is Graffiti? Words, colors, and

shapes drawn or scratched on public or private property without consent

Also includes adhesives, etching, and stencil graffiti

The FBI considers graffiti “vandalism”

What is Graffiti?

The difference between graffiti and art

is PERMISSION

Who Writes Graffiti?

Largely male; 15% are female Most between age 12 and 21 Suburban adolescents create 50% -

70% of graffiti Members of the community

What Motivates Graffiti Writers?

FAME Quality Exposure Quantity Risk

REBELLION

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION Style Originality Technique

POWER Individual power Collective power

Types of Graffiti Vandalism

Primarily Tags (some throw-ups or pieces)

Gang

Other (e.g. hate)

Generic

Gang10% - 15%Generic

5%

Other7%

Tags75% - 80%

Graffiti - “Tags”

Graffiti - “Throw-ups”

Graffiti - “Pieces”

Places at High Risk for Graffiti Transportation systems Highways and road signs Dumpsters, utility boxes, alleys,

and private buildings Areas lacking oversight (littered,

poorly-lit, abandoned) Skateboard parks and other

outdoor public places Areas where graffiti has been

painted over to create a “canvas”

Areas around “legal” walls

Responding to Graffiti Vandalism

Report to law enforcement and graffiti “hotline”

Identify the type of graffiti Document with a photo of

the graffiti Remove graffiti promptly

and completely

Gang Graffiti

(Slides 16-17)

Gang Graffiti

Makes up about 10%-15% of all graffiti (Source: National Council to Prevent Delinquency)

Form of communication using codes (letters, numbers, and symbols) with common meaning; the “newspaper of the street”

May be one of the first indications of gang activity in a community

About 85% of gang members are in large cities and suburban counties (Source: National Youth Gang Survey 2002)

Unlike Tagger Graffiti, Gang Graffiti:

Identifies the gang and marks territory Serves to warn or challenge rival gangs Glorifies the gang; advertises its status

or power Advertises the sale of drugs Memorializes fellow gang members

Graffiti Prevention Strategies

(Slides 19-27)

Most Effective Prevention Strategy Proper and rapid removal (24 - 48 hours)

The Impact of Rapid Removal

Other Ways to Prevent Graffiti:

Ongoing upkeep keep neighborhood

clean and neat remove litter and trash fix broken fences,

windows, stairs, etc. trim landscape install proper lighting


Enforce anti-graffiti laws support law enforcement

efforts at your school and in the community

educate students, community members, and businesses about the law

report graffiti promptly


Involve the Community cleanups adopt-a-spot murals “Paint bank”


Control access natural deterrents/

landscaping controlled exits limit rooftop access metal baffles on signs


Employ graffiti resistant surfaces anti-graffiti coatings textured surfaces dark or colorful

surfaces

Step up security

monitoring cameras “Neighborhood Watch”

or “Business Watch” no “legal walls” or

graffiti “events”


Avoid showing graffiti in the media use small area or

distorted view don’t mention “tag”

names avoid referring to graffiti

vandals as “artists”

Other Ways to Prevent Graffiti: Provide alternatives

youth centers arts/murals community mentors after school and sports

programs volunteerism (cleanups,

anti-graffiti activities)

Graffiti Removal

(Slides 29-31)

Removing Graffiti

Things to Consider surface (wood,

concrete, brick, etc.) appropriate removal

method access costs local restrictions

Removing Graffiti

Paint Out low cost and relatively

safe avoid the “patchwork”

effect prepare the surface area color match to the surface select the right paint ensure proper cleanup

Removing Graffiti Power Washing

best for brick, concrete, tile, and other masonry

water may include chemical or abrasive additives

professional application best

Chemical Removal useful for small cleanups

(utility boxes, light poles, etc.) larger cleanups require

professional application

What You Can Do To Prevent Graffiti – appropriate for schools and communities (Slides 33-38)

What You Can Do To Prevent Graffiti

Keep your school and neighborhood clean and neat: remove litter and trash fix broken fences,


What You Can Do To Prevent Graffiti

Get educated and report graffiti: Learn how graffiti impacts

your school and community Who is responsible for graffiti

prevention and clean-up How can you report graffiti or

locate the number for a graffiti “hotline”

What You Can Do To Prevent Graffiti Volunteer to get involved:

Organize a paint out or clean-up

Plan and create a mural Work with police to assemble

graffiti removal kits Be a mentor; educate grade

schoolers about graffiti vandalism

Help establish a paint bank at the local fire station

What You Can Do To Prevent Graffiti Coordinate a graffiti

awareness campaign Make a presentation Organize a pledge for a “graffiti-

free” community or school Plan an anti-graffiti poster

contest; put the winning art/slogan on t-shirts, hats, etc.

Promote an 800 number for reporting graffiti

Create and distribute Graffiti Hurts® awareness “bracelets”

What You Can Do to Prevent Graffiti “Adopt-a-Wall”

Commit to keeping a wall at your school or community graffiti-free

Plant trees or other greenery near a graffiti-plagued wall

Ask your community to install lighting

Community Projects to Prevent Graffiti – appropriate for schools and communities(Slides 40-46)

Projects to Prevent Graffiti

Organize a paint-out and cleanup remove any graffiti remove litter and trash fix broken fences,



Adopt-a-wall Ensure rapid removal of

any graffiti Ensure adequate lighting Plant trees or other

greenery Keep the area neat and

clean

Project to Prevent Graffiti

Coordinate a mural project Identify a site/s Secure partners and

funding Work with the community

to create a design Recruit volunteers and

gather supplies


Work with police Understand local anti-

graffiti laws Coordinate graffiti

removal efforts Ensure response to

graffiti hotline Coordinate graffiti

education


Establish a paint bank Work with businesses

to organize and contribute

Identify a location that is safe for storage

Coordinate how supplies are checked out and replaced

Projects to Prevent Graffiti Coordinate an awareness

campaign Use Graffiti Hurts® curriculum to

present at schools, community centers, after-school programs

Organize a “graffiti-free” pledge Plan an anti-graffiti poster

contest; promote winning art/slogan on T-shirts, hats, etc.

Create and distribute Graffiti Hurts® awareness “bracelets”


Organize a graffiti summit Bring the community together

to get educated on graffiti Create community awareness;

get media involved Get new volunteers for graffiti

prevention activities Have police and other public

officials present Conclude with a graffiti cleanup

Resources

(Slides 48-50)

Where To Get Resources? Graffiti Hurts®

Grassroots graffiti education and prevention

A program of Keep America Beautiful and its over 550 community affiliates

Supported by The Sherwin-Williams Company since 1995

www.graffitihurts.org

Get Help from Graffiti Hurts®

At www.graffitihurts.org: Facts and statistics “Tips for Businesses” and

“Tips for Homeowners” Prevention strategies Removal techniques Graffiti education (curriculum

supplements) “Ten Things You Can Do”

Wait, There’s More …. At www.graffitihurts.org: Organizing a graffiti cleanup Creating a paint-brush mural Working with police Adopt-a-block Working with the media Graffiti Hurts® Award/Grant

Other resources: National Council to Prevent Delinquency

www.anti-graffiti.orgNo Graffiti Network, Inc.

www.nograffiti.com

Documents

Graffiti Hurts ® “Swiss Cheese” PPT for Keep America Beautiful Affiliates Download one or more of the following slide sections for presentations on graffiti