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Bay Area
Graffiti Fighters Convene in San Francisco
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KQED/Dan Brekke
A bus shelter sign announcing the Zero Graffiti International conference, and a response from a passer-by.
Host: Graffiti fighters from 52 cities are in San Francisco this week for the first conference of Zero Graffiti International. KQED’s Peter Jon Shuler reports, hundreds of police officers, public works officials and others are sharing tips about an expensive problem.
Shuler: The conference grew out of a website that helps people report graffiti. Organizer Drew Lindner says people are fearful when they see graffiti and are often afraid to report it. But he says the best way to fight it is to get rid of it.
Lindner: "It’s like a weed in your garden. You’ll see one tag, and if you don’t take care of it within a couple hours or a day, you’ll see another tag. And if you don’t take care of it, it snowballs."
Shuler: Lindner says graffiti abatement cost local governments $17 billion nationwide in 2009. The conference features effective anti-graffiti programs and exhibits of cleaners and graffiti-resistant coatings.
