Mayor Daley's Graffiti Blasters is a bold attack on graffiti. Though city crews always have erased graffiti from public buildings, the city now provides this same service—at no charge—on private property.
The cornerstone of this program is the development of baking soda machines that can erase graffiti from brick, stone, cement and metal. Operated by the Department of Streets and Sanitation, the machines remove graffiti from these surfaces throughout the city, making a big improvement in Chicago's appearance.
Building owners can request this service by signing the permission form, available from aldermen, that gives the City of Chicago authorization to enter the property and remove the graffiti. As soon as the completed waiver is returned by mail or in person, the site will be placed on the work schedule for the next available crew.
Block clubs, community agencies, business groups and others are needed to help circulate these permission forms in their areas. With this type of organized effort, entire blocks can be "sodablasted" at the same time. If a cleaned building is struck by graffiti again, as some will be, the city crews will be scheduled for a return visit as soon as possible. Special efforts will be made to catch graffiti offenders who repeatedly vandalize the same property.
Catching the taggers: To be effective, an anti-graffiti program must include strong action to arrest and successfully prosecute these vandals. City government has worked to increase the number of graffiti offenders who are caught and punished.
Under new state laws sponsored by Mayor Daley, persons convicted of committing graffiti will be compelled to remove similar vandalism as part of their mandatory 30 hours or more of community service. Also, parents are now liable for monetary damages caused by a minor child in the same household who commits graffiti.
Give Graffiti the Brush: "Give Graffiti the Brush" provides free paint to block clubs and other community agencies for covering over graffiti on wood and other painted surfaces where the baking soda is unsuitable. Begun in 1990, the program has distributed over 50,000 gallons of paint to these volunteers. Community groups can help by continuing to host volunteer paint-outs using paint supplied free by the city.
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