So why is it so important to remove graffiti? Does it really hurt anyone? The answer is YES. Graffiti, whether "gang-related" or "generic", has a negative effect on a resident's feeling of safety in their neighborhood. It creates a perception (whether factual or not) that crime is on the rise and gangs are moving into the area. When graffiti appears and is left up indefinitely, it sends a signal that people just don't care, which in turn attracts other forms of crime and delinquency to the neighborhood. In addition, if the graffiti is gang related, it may signify that a particular gang has "claimed" that area as their turf. Often times, this gang graffiti is then crossed out by a rival gang who then puts their gang's tags over it. This can cause friction between gangs and an increase in gang violence.

What Can We Do?

Residents may complete the GRAFFITI REMOVAL REQUEST FORM  at http://www.lacity.org/bpw/ocs/grsr.htm or call the City of Los Angeles Graffiti Removal Hotline, (800) 611-CITY, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report graffiti on public property, or their own privately owned property.

What if the graffiti comes back?

Simply call the Graffiti Removal Hotline, (800) 611-CITY, and request that the graffiti be removed again. However, if a location is frequently targeted by taggers, Operation Clean Sweep encourages property owners or local residents to remove the graffiti themselves as soon as it appears. This is much more effective than continually calling the hotline to request service since the graffiti will remain for several days prior to removal, possibly attracting more graffiti. Operation Clean Sweep will provide paint, rollers and other supplies to persons interested in removing graffiti themselves.