County of Los Angeles Proclaims Friday, January 9 T.A.G. - Totally Against Graffiti Day.

News Editors/Calendar Editors/Assignment Desks

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 2003

The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors have proclaimed Friday, January 9, 2004, as T.A.G. - Totally Against Graffiti Day, in recognition of the success and importance of the county-sponsored program. The proclamation recommendation was submitted by Supervisor Don Knabe in conjunction with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, and was adopted on Tuesday, December 16th, with the unanimous support of the Board.

T.A.G. - Totally Against Graffiti has been recognized as one of the best Public Works programs in the USA by the National Association of Counties, and goes to the root of the graffiti problem in Los Angeles County -- Education. Now in its third year, the program focuses on elementary school children to provide education about the costs and consequences of graffiti, and rewards schools whose students have made significant efforts to report graffiti for cleanup.

"Graffiti is not a simple problem and there is no simple solution. It is not just writing on the wall. It is, in fact, an indicator of urban decay and crime," said Valerie Hill, Graffiti Abatement Program Manager for the County of Los Angeles. "The costs for graffiti removal are enormous, and it is not something that should be minimized. We're very pleased the T.A.G. program has been so effective, and we are very appreciative of the recognition and support we have received from the County."

The proclamation reads as follows:

The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors views graffiti as a serious and pervasive problem affecting all residents, property owners, businesses, and citizens. On September 28, 1993, under the leadership and direction of the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, Public Works implemented a Countywide zero tolerance anti-graffiti effort. The plan is a broad-based, interjurisdictional effort to combat serious blight on urban landscape, which includes physical clean-up efforts, legislative strategies, law enforcement and judicial intervention, a proactive public information campaign, school education, as well as focused diversion and prevention efforts. Millions of public and private dollars are spent annually to clean up and combat graffiti vandalism. Graffiti plagued neighborhoods signals the presence of criminal element; the presence of graffiti has been proven to increase the occurrence of crime. Graffiti decreases the quality of life in our communities; neighborhoods are threatened and the public feels its safety is at risk. County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors is committed to combating graffiti specifically addressing the need to have the community involved.

Supervisors Molina, Burke, Yaroslavsky, Antonovich and Knabe signed the recommendation.

The County Department of Public Works is sponsoring a Graffiti Summit on Friday, January 9, 2004, at the Public Works headquarters, 900 S. Fremont Blvd., Alhambra from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The goal is to provide education about the success of the T.A.G. - Totally Against Graffiti program, a state of the county address regarding the status, successes and challenges in the fight against graffiti, and to update officials on new legislation, new services and new approaches to cleaning up graffiti.

T.A.G. is sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in association with The Department of Public Works Graffiti Abatement Program. Working together with the Los Angeles County Office of Education - Safe Schools Center, T.A.G. educates students and the community about the costs and consequences of graffiti.