Freeway Graffiti Get the Brush-Off From Volunteers : Cleanup: Families and community groups are among those that have ‘adopted’ areas for two years, providing free labor in a time of tight budgets.

Spray-painted names aren’t the only monikers to be found lately on freeway walls.

Residents, community groups and businesses are also adding their names--emblazoned on blue metal signs--as a reward for promising to keep a portion of wall free of graffiti.

Through a state Department of Transportation program, volunteers are “adopting” freeway walls, agreeing to paint over for two years any graffiti that appear on the masonry barriers.

So far, the response has been mixed. Fourteen groups in Los Angeles County--four of them in the San Fernando Valley--have been approved since the program was launched in February.

Caltrans officials blame the dearth of participants on the major commitment that must be made. But Caltrans concedes that it may be partly to blame.

Only one full-time employee works exclusively on the program, and other duties are handled by various supervisors and workers. Meanwhile, 35 applications from interested volunteers countywide are stacking up.

“We believe we’re getting a handle on it, but we need more people involved,” said Joel Fonseca, Adopt-A-Wall coordinator.

The intent of the Adopt-A-Wall program is to provide much-needed free labor at a time of tight budgets. Last year, Caltrans spent $600,000 on graffiti removal in the county when $2.5 million was needed to do the job right, according to Caltrans spokesman Russell Snyder.

So far, Caltrans officials have not calculated the cost of the Adopt-A-Wall program.

Those who are involved are finding that diligence pays off.

Barry Leonard, a Panorama City optometrist and head of the Panorama City Graffiti Busters, said his group of six volunteers started its two-year commitment with a clean slate by cleaning up walls on both sides of the San Diego Freeway. The group, sponsored by the Mid-San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, had adopted two sections of freeway wall on the northbound side only, from Roscoe Boulevard to Nordhoff Street.

His anti-graffiti corps is out every weekend painting throughout Panorama City and neighboring communities. They check the freeway frequently for new markings.

“The walls are highly visible. They are going to go for any highly visible place,” Leonard said. “But if you get it off right away, the graffiti won’t come back as fast.”

To Leonard, keeping freeway walls graffiti-free is a matter of pride.

“People flying by on the freeway will get a bad impression of Panorama City without even driving through it,” he said. “Graffiti is definitely linked to gangs and crime. It brings down the neighborhoods and community pride.”

Not all of the cleanup is being done by community service groups.

Three families have adopted two sections of wall on the San Diego Freeway opposite those overseen by Leonard’s group. The sign at the Nordhoff Street southbound entrance reads: “Wall adopted by the Doodies, the Gabins and the ‘Z’s,” representing Judy and Terry West (called the Doodies after her nickname, Judy Doodie), Ken and Rayna Gabin, and Michelle and Steve Zuckerman. The sign on the other section of wall will plug the Gabins’ plumbing business.

The families, who met six years ago after forming a Cub Scout pack in the Valley, will also solicit the help of the Wests’ 16-year-old son, Philip Johnson. Other children in the families will be able to help at 16.

“We’re a group that hangs together and tries to help people. It’s important to be a role model. Now our kids will think twice if they even consider painting something with graffiti,” said Judy West, who is from North Hollywood.

Interested volunteers are first requested to send a letter to Fonseca explaining their reasons for wanting to participate and stating that they understand their commitment. The wall proposed for adoption is then checked by Caltrans workers to make sure that volunteers will not be too close to traffic when painting. The distance from the edge of the pavement to the wall must be at least 10 feet, unless there is a barrier to protect the workers.

Once the site has been approved, volunteers are given a safety lesson by a Caltrans supervisor. Topping the list of safety tips is designating a person to watch for cars veering off the roadway. If lookouts should see a car getting close to the shoulder, they are to alert the others so they can run or take cover behind their vehicle parked on the side of the freeway.

Volunteers are limited to painting at off-peak hours, which usually means that they will be doing their job on the weekends. They are required to give Caltrans at least three days warning so transportation officials can inform California Highway Patrol officers that they will be present.

They wear orange vests and white helmets to distinguish them from the inmates and community service workers who wear orange helmets.

Since their safety lesson in September, the families haven’t had a chance to get out and paint. The wall has been clean.

“It’s always been covered, but now it is clean. We can’t wait to get out there,” said Michelle Zuckerman, a Van Nuys resident.

Some groups have been involved in graffiti removal for years but still want more. After keeping the “community” side of a freeway wall clean for a year, the Arleta Chamber of Commerce and Residents Assn. decided to adopt a wall on the northbound side of the Golden State Freeway between Osborne and Terra Bella streets.

“People expect the government to do it. Nobody picks up a brush or a roller,” said Joe Bonilla, founder and director of the group’s anti-graffiti program.

“In Arleta, we ain’t waiting. We’re doing it.”