Neighborhood services dedicated to graffiti

The city's Neighborhood Services Division has created and implemented many innovative ideas to address the severe graffiti problem in Commerce City.

The goal of Neighborhood Services is to eradicate graffiti throughout the city. One step that Neighborhood Services staff has taken to meet that goal is to provide a timely response to graffiti removal requests from residents.

The division's strategy is to remove graffiti as quickly as possible, which eliminates the opportunity for the graffiti to "grow." It also re-establishes the visual appearance of Commerce City.

Neighborhood Services staff members have made it their personal crusade to eliminate graffiti - and not just between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Many staff members are volunteering their time and resources. As a team, they take pride in the community in which they work and live to provide this important service at no extra cost to residents.

This team of volunteers works tirelessly to restore neighborhoods and properties to their original graffiti-free condition, while discouraging further vandalism. Since its inception, this pilot program has saved more than $19,000. The division is confident its goal of saving taxpayers $27,000 in graffiti removal expenses by the end of 2009 will be achieved. Projected savings are based on amounts billed by graffiti removal contractors for similar projects.

No surface is safe from graffiti: transformers, utility boxes, fences, walls, cement barriers, signs, power boxes, utility poles, mailboxes, playground equipment, brick pillars, garage doors, bridge supports, bus benches, busses, semi-trailers, campers, telephone boxes, curbs, equipment, paper boxes, doors, trash cans, dumpsters, vending machines, ice machines, gas pumps, and trucks are examples of some of the items recently vandalized with graffiti within the city.

Digital photos are taken of the vandalized property and detailed; estimated monthly savings are tracked. Other cost savings are realized through the donation of some paint supplies; the majority of these supplies, including paint, brushes and gloves, are donated by volunteers.

Restoring vandalized areas is done by using an environmentally friendly, biodegradable product distributed by Certol International, LLC, called Remover Magic Graffiti Remover. Remover Magic works well for the removal of graffiti from metal. Larger areas such as walls and fences - ranging from 300 to 2,100 square feet - require painting.

It is important to have a zero tolerance approach towards graffiti and to remove it as soon as it appears. Neighborhood Services is devoted to raising the level of community awareness and in assisting the community to prevent further spread. Tolerance of these acts could invite additional graffiti vandalism. National studies have shown that small acts of vandalism can escalate to other offenses.

Posters are temporarily placed at graffiti incident locations and are removed after the clean up is completed. The poster encourages the public to stop graffiti. There is also a $250 reward for providing information that leads to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for graffiti. The graffiti hotline number is 303-289-3664.