How should the city of Denver respond to the

problem of Graffiti in our community?

Abraham Lincoln High School

Diana Gonzalez, Elias Medellin, Karina Madrigal and Myrna Hernandez

The Problem

The streets in South West Denver are dirty and vandalized by graffiti

Graffiti makes the city look unclean and it gives it an unsafe environment

Graffiti can be related to gang activity More then 30% of gangs and crews

are doing graffiti The city seems to be powerless in

controlling graffiti

Graffiti affects the economy of Southwest DenverProperty valueBusiness activity

Graffiti can lead to break-ins and homicidesGang activity

Graffiti is being spread at a faster rate in home owners propertiesPrivate property vs Public Property

Pictures of graffiti in Denver, CO

Conducted Surveys in our communityGraffiti is a problem in the

Community

75%

25%Yes

No

Knows somebody who has graffiti

77%

23%

Yes No

Have witness somebody graffiting

65%

35%

Yes No

People willing to help prevent or remove graffiti

85%

15%

YesNo

Alternative Policies

Denver Partners Against Graffiti would use a coating solution.

This aerosol coating would be used with every clean up in the City of Denver.

The coating would make it easier for anybody to remove graffiti.

Some coatings do not allow any graffiti to stick on the surface

Denver Partners Against Graffiti using Anti-Graffiti Coating

Advantages Prevents graffiti from

reoccurring It would discourage

taggers from graffiti People could remove

graffiti by themselves without the need of the city

Disadvantages It would increase the

cost of clean up in Denver

It requires the help of the community since people still need to call in or request a clean up.

It would require more people to spend more time in each clean up

Continue…

Process of coating

Santa Clarita Policy

Santa Clarita, California The policy includes volunteers cleaning

up the city. Two groups participate, they are Pride

Committee and Teens Against Graffiti (TAG)

Graffiti is removed and streets are clean

Continue…

Advantages It cost less due to

volunteers It creates pride in

the community It encourages

teenagers to participate in clean-up

Disadvantages It relies on

volunteers Volunteers clean

up only one week out of the whole year.

Our Policy

Our Policy

An incentive policy that would motivate people to participate in the community keep the neighborhood clean build a community of support

2 - part Advertise the Denver Partners Against Graffiti in

bus stops and billboards Provide Community service and internships

opportunities for those volunteering

Continue…

Advantages Community service

hours are offered for teens

Provides teens an extra curricular activity

It gives teenagers a opportunity to succeed in the future

Disadvantages It will cost the city a lot of

money It requires the city of

Denver to spend more time on recruiting more people

Denver Partners Against Graffiti would include a special task for teenagers

Teenagers will be allowed to participate in graffiti clean-up

In return…Community services hoursOpportunities for internships

“Teens working against graffiti”a partnership with Denver Partners Against Graffiti

Surveys

We survey 100 people in the community to discuss our policy

Question Regarding:Participation for community services

hoursparticipation for some form of help for

college?

Would help clean up for Community Service hours

50%50% yes

no

Would clean up graffiti for Help in College

83%

17%

Yes

No

Denver partners against graffitiOpportunities to keep Denver Opportunities to keep Denver

beautiful by creating a cleanup beautiful by creating a cleanup crew twice a month.crew twice a month.

Minimum age 14.Minimum age 14.City officials will supervise City officials will supervise

volunteersvolunteersCity will help teenagers with City will help teenagers with

internships opportunities internships opportunities

Promoting the Graffiti Hotline Advertise the Graffiti Hotline in the

neighborhood so more people could become involved In bus stops and billboards

Allow citizens to take over the community

DPAG offers you"one stop shopping"

with the 

Graffiti Hotline720-865-STOP (7867)

 Call The HOTLINE To: • Sign up for free graffiti removal assistance on your residential or

business property. (You must sign up in order to receive free removal assistance.)

• Report graffiti on any public, residential or business property within the City & County of Denver.

• Request free graffiti removal assistance on your residential or business property.

• Request free paint and other graffiti cleanup supplies to cover graffiti. • Find out how easy it is to help keep your community graffiti free.

      

Action Plan

Action Plan

Talked to Denver Partners Against Graffiti

Emailed City Council members Interviewed people from the

community Created Advertisement for Denver

Partners Against Graffiti

Denver Partners Against Graffiti Would support policy Wanted to schedule an appointment Would like to join forces with our

policy

Email to City Council

Requested support for policy Requested ideas to improve policy Requested an appointment with any

of them

Interviews

Asked: What do you think about our policy“I think it is a fantastic policy or idea, and I hope you

get a lot of people to do it”“ I believe is a good policy and I wish you good luck”“It would work, but needs a lot of folks to help you

all”“I would sign up”“The policy is great”

To motivate people to participate talk to people in order for them to understand

our policy and the things our policy has to bring

Give out flyers that include our information Send more information to the people over e-

mail

“Teens working against graffiti”a partnership with Denver Partners Against Graffiti

Advertisements Bus Stops & Billboards

We created ads for people to call in if they been attacked by graffiti. The ads will be showed in bus stops and billboards