This document provides an overview of a report on graffiti in San Fernando. It describes the study area, common types of vandalism, costs of removal, observations on why graffiti occurs, community perspectives, and the city's response. The study area focused on a high foot traffic commercial district aligned with redevelopment plans. Graffiti removal costs businesses an estimated $200,000 annually compared to the city's $245,000 budget. Observations suggest empty spaces and lack of maintenance on city property contribute. Community members see a need for more vigilance and accountability. The city focuses on removal and public outreach but faces challenges with limited resources.
2. overview
Talking Points
• Study Area
• San Fernando Vandalism 101
• Local Observations on Why It Happens
• Community Experiences: Photojournalism
• City Response
• Strategies Towards Addressing the Problem
• Discussion
6. study area
Why this Area
• Area of largest foot traffic in
the city and/or pedestrians
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7. study area
Why this Area
• Area of largest foot traffic in
the city and/or pedestrians
• Aligned with city’s
redevelopment zone
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8. study area
Why this Area
• Area of largest foot traffic in
the city and/or pedestrians
• Aligned with city’s
redevelopment zone
• The region with substantial
empty/dead space
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11. study area
Key Destination Points in Area
• San Fernando Mall
• Specific Corridors Overlay:
Site of Future Development
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12. study area
Key Destination Points in Area
• San Fernando Mall
• Specific Corridors Overlay:
Site of Future Development
• City Hall
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13. study area
Key Destination Points in Area
• San Fernando Mall
• Specific Corridors Overlay:
Site of Future Development
• City Hall
• City Owned Lots: Future
Housing
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14. study area
Key Destination Points in Area
• San Fernando Mall
• Specific Corridors Overlay:
Site of Future Development
• City Hall
• City Owned Lots: Future
Housing
• St. Ferninand’s Parish
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15. study area
Key Destination Points in Area
• San Fernando Mall
• Specific Corridors Overlay:
Site of Future Development
• City Hall
• City Owned Lots: Future
Housing
• St. Ferninand’s Parish
• City Museum
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16. study area
Key Destination Points in Area
• San Fernando Mall
• Specific Corridors Overlay:
Site of Future Development
• City Hall
• City Owned Lots: Future
Housing
• St. Ferninand’s Parish
• City Museum
• Lopez Adobe House
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17. study area
Method of Research
Verizon property on Hollister
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18. study area
Method of Research
• Utilized Property
Management Data
Verizon property on Hollister
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19. study area
Method of Research
• Utilized Property
Management Data
• Conducted interviews with locals
affected by vandalism
Verizon property on Hollister
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20. study area
Method of Research
• Utilized Property
Management Data
• Conducted interviews with locals
affected by vandalism
• Attended City of San Fernando
Graffiti Ordinance Meetings (2)
in October and March
Verizon property on Hollister
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21. study area
Method of Research
• Utilized Property
Management Data
• Conducted interviews with locals
affected by vandalism
• Attended City of San Fernando
Graffiti Ordinance Meetings (2)
in October and March
• Became a pedestrian
Verizon property on Hollister
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22. Vandalism 101
common typologies in San Fernando
spraypaint marker (streak) broken window
etching labels more creative
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26. Vandalism 101
removal costs per item: one property manager’s experience in 2007
$0 to hundreds
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27. Vandalism 101
removal costs per item: one property manager’s experience in 2007
$0 to thousands
$0 to hundreds
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28. Vandalism 101
removal costs per item: one property manager’s experience in 2007
$0 to 10 thousands
$0 to thousands
$0 to hundreds
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35. Vandalism 101
Random Sample of Vandalism Cost over a Year
The vandalism damage for one
San Fernando property alone
summed $5,000+ in 2007.
36. Vandalism 101
Random Sample of Vandalism Cost over a Year
The vandalism damage for one
San Fernando property alone
summed $5,000+ in 2007.
37. Vandalism 101
Vandalism Costs to Business vs. City’s Budget
• Estimated Potential Cost if all Properties Spent
$5,000 a yr all Properties in Study area= + $200,000
• Graffiti Abatement Allocation from General Fund for city in
2007-2008 City Budget= $245,371
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38. Vandalism 101
Vandalism Costs to Business vs. City’s Budget
• Cost of One Sampled Property in Study Area
= $5,000 - $6,000 range
• Estimated Potential Cost if all Properties Spent
$5,000 a yr all Properties in Study area= + $200,000
• Graffiti Abatement Allocation from General Fund for city in
2007-2008 City Budget= $245,371
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40. Vandalism Costs: In Geographic Terms
Allocated from
General Fund to
deal with graffiti in
the entire city:
$245,000
41. Vandalism Costs: In Geographic Terms
Allocated from
General Fund to
deal with graffiti in
the entire city:
$245,000
Yearly estimated
costs by businesses
to deal with
vandalism:
$200,000+
42. Vandalism Costs: In Geographic Terms
Allocated from
General Fund to
deal with graffiti in
the entire city:
$245,000
66,908,160 sq.ft
Yearly estimated
costs by businesses
to deal with
vandalism:
$200,000+
43. Vandalism Costs: In Geographic Terms
Allocated from
General Fund to
deal with graffiti in
the entire city:
$245,000
66,908,160 sq.ft
Yearly estimated
costs by businesses
to deal with
vandalism:
$200,000+
8,136,198 sq.ft (est.) or
12% of the city’s area
78. City Response
Common Themes from Documentaries
• Graffiti is removed almost immediately, depending on the
cost + type
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79. City Response
Common Themes from Documentaries
• Graffiti is removed almost immediately, depending on the
cost + type
• Sense of lack of accountability or city response to their own
problems
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80. City Response
Common Themes from Documentaries
• Graffiti is removed almost immediately, depending on the
cost + type
• Sense of lack of accountability or city response to their own
problems
• Other quality of life issues stimulate graffiti
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81. City Response
Common Themes from Documentaries
• Graffiti is removed almost immediately, depending on the
cost + type
• Sense of lack of accountability or city response to their own
problems
• Other quality of life issues stimulate graffiti
• Deterrence doesn’t really stop those tagging in the community
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82. City Response
Common Themes from Documentaries
• Graffiti is removed almost immediately, depending on the
cost + type
• Sense of lack of accountability or city response to their own
problems
• Other quality of life issues stimulate graffiti
• Deterrence doesn’t really stop those tagging in the community
• Need for More Vigilance
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83. City Response
Common Themes from Documentaries
• Graffiti is removed almost immediately, depending on the
cost + type
• Sense of lack of accountability or city response to their own
problems
• Other quality of life issues stimulate graffiti
• Deterrence doesn’t really stop those tagging in the community
• Need for More Vigilance
• Opportunities exist for collaboration
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84. Responses and Perspectives
Community Views City
• They remove vandalism almost • Will force property owners to
immediately, depending on the cost immediately remove the vandalism
(72 hrs)
• Sense of lack of accountability or
• Business owner’s can opt into a
city response to the vandalism program to have city contracted
issue vendor to remove vandalism
• Inter-relation between other quality • Mandate that businesses make
of life issues and graffiti changes to their property if
vandalized more than five times.
• Deterrence doesn’t really work
• Increase penalties against
taggers as a method of
• Need for More Vigilance
deterrence
• Opportunities to Collaborate • Enhance public outreach,
including the schools
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85. Responses and Perspectives
Community Views City
• They remove vandalism almost • Will force property owners to
immediately, depending on the cost immediately remove the vandalism
(72 hrs)
• Sense of lack of accountability or
• Business owner’s can opt into a
city response to the vandalism program to have city contracted
issue vendor to remove vandalism
• Inter-relation between other quality • Mandate that businesses make
of life issues and graffiti changes to their property if
vandalized more than five times.
• Deterrence doesn’t really work
• Increase penalties against
taggers as a method of
• Need for More Vigilance
deterrence
• Opportunities to Collaborate • Enhance public outreach,
including the schools
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87. city response
Interview w/ City Dept.
• Very little incidents of prosecution and arrests, 4 since 2004
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88. city response
Interview w/ City Dept.
• Very little incidents of prosecution and arrests, 4 since 2004
• Lack of reporting city property incidents to 1-800-794-7384 (hotline) by
the community
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89. city response
Interview w/ City Dept.
• Very little incidents of prosecution and arrests, 4 since 2004
• Lack of reporting city property incidents to 1-800-794-7384 (hotline) by
the community
• Very time consuming and expensive to proactively inspect every public
area for graffiti. They on the community to report incidents
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90. city response
Interview w/ City Dept.
• Very little incidents of prosecution and arrests, 4 since 2004
• Lack of reporting city property incidents to 1-800-794-7384 (hotline) by
the community
• Very time consuming and expensive to proactively inspect every public
area for graffiti. They on the community to report incidents
• They have spent over $300,000+ on graffiti clean up
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91. city response
Interview w/ City Dept.
• Very little incidents of prosecution and arrests, 4 since 2004
• Lack of reporting city property incidents to 1-800-794-7384 (hotline) by
the community
• Very time consuming and expensive to proactively inspect every public
area for graffiti. They on the community to report incidents
• They have spent over $300,000+ on graffiti clean up
• 6,000+ incidents removed from city property since 2004
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92. city response
Interview w/ City Dept.
• Very little incidents of prosecution and arrests, 4 since 2004
• Lack of reporting city property incidents to 1-800-794-7384 (hotline) by
the community
• Very time consuming and expensive to proactively inspect every public
area for graffiti. They on the community to report incidents
• They have spent over $300,000+ on graffiti clean up
• 6,000+ incidents removed from city property since 2004
• 8% of General Fund spent just on graffiti= Less money on trees and
sidewalk maintenance
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95. mitigation strategies
Some Community Wide Ideas
• Create public accessible database
& share vandal information
• Increase community art and/
or beautification
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96. mitigation strategies
Some Community Wide Ideas
• Create public accessible database
& share vandal information
• Increase community art and/
or beautification
• Augment policing efforts
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97. mitigation strategies
Some Community Wide Ideas
• Create public accessible database
& share vandal information
• Increase community art and/
or beautification
• Augment policing efforts
• More community outreach and
partnerships
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98. mitigation strategies
Some Community Wide Ideas
• Create public accessible database
& share vandal information
• Increase community art and/
or beautification
• Augment policing efforts
• More community outreach and
partnerships
• Equally enforce other quality of
life issues: City Museum Example
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103. mitigation strategies
Policing and Community Task force: Examples
• Dedicate patrol car to core business district: takes approximately 40 min to
circulate (15mph +/-), or 36 trips in 24 HR period
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104. mitigation strategies
Policing and Community Task force: Examples
• Dedicate patrol car to core business district: takes approximately 40 min to
circulate (15mph +/-), or 36 trips in 24 HR period
• If the City is becoming more pedestrian friendly, then perhaps our
approaches to policing should as well: Foot / Bicycle Officers
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105. mitigation strategies
Policing and Community Task force: Examples
• Dedicate patrol car to core business district: takes approximately 40 min to
circulate (15mph +/-), or 36 trips in 24 HR period
• If the City is becoming more pedestrian friendly, then perhaps our
approaches to policing should as well: Foot / Bicycle Officers
• Create local graffiti task force
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106. mitigation strategies
Policing and Community Task force: Examples
• Dedicate patrol car to core business district: takes approximately 40 min to
circulate (15mph +/-), or 36 trips in 24 HR period
• If the City is becoming more pedestrian friendly, then perhaps our
approaches to policing should as well: Foot / Bicycle Officers
• Create local graffiti task force
• LA Councilmember Dennis Zine’s People Organized for Safe Secure Environment
(POSSE) deputizes citizens, and works with LAPD to carry out weekly graffiti stings
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107. mitigation strategies
Policing and Community Task force: Examples
• Dedicate patrol car to core business district: takes approximately 40 min to
circulate (15mph +/-), or 36 trips in 24 HR period
• If the City is becoming more pedestrian friendly, then perhaps our
approaches to policing should as well: Foot / Bicycle Officers
• Create local graffiti task force
• LA Councilmember Dennis Zine’s People Organized for Safe Secure Environment
(POSSE) deputizes citizens, and works with LAPD to carry out weekly graffiti stings
• Moorpark Citizen Academy: trains citizens to assist in preventing and solving
crime
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109. mitigation strategies: GPS technology
City Pico Rivera: Interview with Eric Johnson, Public Works Dept.
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110. mitigation strategies: GPS technology
City Pico Rivera: Interview with Eric Johnson, Public Works Dept.
• Arrests have gone up & the amount of graffiti has decreased since
implementation of Graffiti Taskforce
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111. mitigation strategies: GPS technology
City Pico Rivera: Interview with Eric Johnson, Public Works Dept.
• Arrests have gone up & the amount of graffiti has decreased since
implementation of Graffiti Taskforce
• Multi-agency/dept. coordination (Prosecutor, Sheriff Dept., Public Works
and Technology)
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112. mitigation strategies: GPS technology
City Pico Rivera: Interview with Eric Johnson, Public Works Dept.
• Arrests have gone up & the amount of graffiti has decreased since
implementation of Graffiti Taskforce
• Multi-agency/dept. coordination (Prosecutor, Sheriff Dept., Public Works
and Technology)
• GPS System used to track, arrest, and prosecute graffiti vandals
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113. mitigation strategies: GPS technology
City Pico Rivera: Interview with Eric Johnson, Public Works Dept.
• Arrests have gone up & the amount of graffiti has decreased since
implementation of Graffiti Taskforce
• Multi-agency/dept. coordination (Prosecutor, Sheriff Dept., Public Works
and Technology)
• GPS System used to track, arrest, and prosecute graffiti vandals
• System has paid for itself ($18,000 annually) with all the the restitution fees
they have collected from prosecutions
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114. solutions elsewhere: technology and pedestrian patrol
City of Montebello: Combating vandalism is on new Chief of
Police’s agenda
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115. solutions elsewhere: technology and pedestrian patrol
City of Montebello: Combating vandalism is on new Chief of
Police’s agenda
• Montebello Police Department is adding bicycle units
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116. solutions elsewhere: technology and pedestrian patrol
City of Montebello: Combating vandalism is on new Chief of
Police’s agenda
• Montebello Police Department is adding bicycle units
• Close connection between local school and the Police
Department
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117. solutions elsewhere: technology and pedestrian patrol
City of Montebello: Combating vandalism is on new Chief of
Police’s agenda
• Montebello Police Department is adding bicycle units
• Close connection between local school and the Police
Department
• Citizen patrol volunteers to man the camera system
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119. simple best practices
Ideas for Businesses to Deter
• Control access points: place trash dumpsters away from wall, and
don’t park freight vehicles against wall
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120. simple best practices
Ideas for Businesses to Deter
• Control access points: place trash dumpsters away from wall, and
don’t park freight vehicles against wall
• Use vegetation as a defensive
mechanism on walls
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121. simple best practices
Ideas for Businesses to Deter
• Control access points: place trash dumpsters away from wall, and
don’t park freight vehicles against wall
• Use vegetation as a defensive
mechanism on walls
• Improve lighting
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122. simple best practices
Ideas for Businesses to Deter
• Control access points: place trash dumpsters away from wall, and
don’t park freight vehicles against wall
• Use vegetation as a defensive
mechanism on walls
• Improve lighting
• Upkeep landscaping and
property
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123. simple best practices
Ideas for Businesses to Deter
• Control access points: place trash dumpsters away from wall, and
don’t park freight vehicles against wall
• Use vegetation as a defensive
mechanism on walls
• Improve lighting
• Upkeep landscaping and
property
• Report public graffiti as well
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