Armed with brushes, cans of paint and a desire to rid the city
of unsightly graffiti, volunteers will be helping the Hollister
Police Department paint out graffiti Saturday, according to
police.
Police volunteers have been contacting property owners over the
past several days to identify graffiti throughout the city, said
police spokesman George Ramirez.
As of Wednesday they had permission from 25 property owners to
paint over graffiti.
Hollister – Armed with brushes, cans of paint and a desire to rid the city of unsightly graffiti, volunteers will be helping the Hollister Police Department paint out graffiti Saturday, according to police.
Police volunteers have been contacting property owners over the past several days to identify graffiti throughout the city, said police spokesman George Ramirez.
As of Wednesday they had permission from 25 property owners to paint over graffiti.
“This is an effort possible only through the volunteers,” Ramirez said. “We don’t have the resources to do this, so we appreciate all the volunteers coming out.”About ten volunteers from the police department will be helping with the abatement, and numerous other community organizations will be assisting, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the department is taking an aggressive approach to graffiti by applying an ideology introduced in 1982 by theorist James Wilson known as the “broken window” theory.
The theory states that if one window in a building is broken and not repaired then people will assume no one cares about the building and more windows will be broken – ultimately leaving the building without any windows.
“Based on the broken windows theory, we do care about our community,” Ramirez said. “The message to those responsible is even if you aren’t caught and prosecuted your graffiti isn’t going to last because we do care about our community.”Ramirez didn’t know when the department had its last graffiti abatement day, but said it has been awhile because of recent cutbacks in the department.
The city’s municipal code prohibits a property owner from allowing graffiti to remain on their property for more than three days, he said. Much of the graffiti volunteers will be painting over have been there for a lot longer, Ramirez said.
The department still needs materials and is asking people to donate supplies – specifically brushes, rollers, small cans and latex gloves, according to a department-issued statement.
Anyone who would like to take part in cleaning up graffiti around the city or donate equipment can contact the Hollister Police Department at (831) 636-4330.
Also contact the department for more information on the department’s graffiti abatement program or if you have graffiti on your property you would like removed.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
