City Manager's Message on Graffiti

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Fran Delach wrote:


>>Linda,
>>
>>I know you have already heard from the Mayor, and Lt. Momot will soon be contacting you too. However, I felt it was important to emphasize my position and disdain for graffiti. James Makshanoff, the Public Works Director, has been aggressively working on our plan to declare war on graffiti since his arrival last November. I have also been working closely with Interim Chief Bob Garcia and the Azusa Police as a team effort on the proposed program. We are hoping to bring our proposal to Council for consideration on February 6, 2006. We will be asking for the public's assistance via approvals/agreements to enter private property to remove graffiti when it is visible from the public right-of-way. We will be asking for approval of a contract with a private company to remove graffiti within 48 hours of notification.
>>
>>We have been working with surrounding communities that are experiencing the same problem and are planning to aggressively prosecute the vandals while seeking restitution from them and their families. I hate graffiti and personally feel it is one of the worst types of vandalism directly effecting property values and our quality of life. Believe me that we will make a concentrated effort to make a visible difference in attacking the graffiti epidemic.
>>
>>Thank you for your support,
>>
>>Fran
>>
>>F. M. Delach
>>City Manager
>>
>>

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For those of you concerned about graffiti in our city, take heart in knowing that city officials are making this a priority. Lt . Momot [Mountain Cove's Area Commander] is working aggressively to arrest and seek restitution from local taggers defacing city and private property. Our Mayor and City Manager are working in cooperation with key personnel to ensure prompt identification and removal of graffiti. Thanks to all in Mountain Cove that have spoken out on this issue and thanks to those in the city who are listening and responding! Linda de la Torre

P.S. I haven't seen any graffiti in Mountain Cove either???

[red]

Taggers defacing Azusa property at alarming rate

www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3553895

The city will ratchet up efforts to catch and convict taggers in response to vandalism of nearly 1,000 sites over the past six months.
Azusa officials said they will make graffiti abatement a priority and work on ways to eradicate it from the community. Nearly $45,000 has been set aside this year to tackle the problem, and a proposed plan upgrade would cost taxpayers another $15,000.

Five taggers, all from La Puente and Pomona, were arrested by Azusa police Feb. 20 on suspicion of felony vandalism: Arturo Perez, 19; Marisol Medrano, 18; Omar Rivera, 18; Rosendo Rojo Jr., 18, and one male juvenile have not been charged, police said.

I wonder if it would help to make spray paints less accessable. Or maybe the State should put a heafty tax on spray paint to help pay for the clean up of it. Making the product more costly may also make it harder for the vandals to buy it. I would not care if it was $30 a can.