The Hollister Police Department will be painting the city gray
this Saturday in its efforts to eradicate unsightly graffiti and
put a damper on the city’s growing gang problem in the process,
according to police.
Hollister – The Hollister Police Department will be painting the city gray this Saturday in its efforts to eradicate unsightly graffiti and put a damper on the city’s growing gang problem in the process, according to police.
The cleanup day will mark the third graffiti abatement day the police department has hosted in the last five months – as a way to keep the city looking nice and curb gang activity, said police spokesman George Ramirez.
“We do see quite a bit of gang-related graffiti. By cleaning it up we’re sending a message that we do care and we will not let our community go to gangs,” Ramirez said. “We want to keep our community clean and let anyone putting it up know that it’s not going to last. Hollister is not the place.”
During the first graffiti abatement day about 35 community volunteers, including Volunteers in Policing, high school students and teens from the League of United Latin American Citizens participated in painting over nearly 20 different locations throughout the city, Ramirez said.
While he hasn’t designated the spots that will be targeted on Saturday, Ramirez encouraged any resident with graffiti on their property to contact a graffiti report line through Juvenile Hall so volunteers can wipe out the capricious inscriptions.
“People should know that the municipal code prohibits property owners from allowing graffiti to stay on their property,” Ramirez said. “So it’s in their best interest to have us take care of it.”
Anyone wishing to take part in the graffiti clean up who can’t donate their time and energy can drop off extra paint brushes, rollers, latex gloves and rags to help the department’s cause, Ramirez said.
All community members are welcome to attend the clean up, but anyone under 18 must contact the police department in advance to obtain a parental consent form before volunteering, he said.
Volunteers will meet at the City Corporation Yard, located in the 1200 block of South Street, at 9am on Saturday. Clean up should be over by noon, he said.
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating supplies should call the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330, or to report graffiti contact Juvenile Hall at 636-4070.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
