Law Hits the Mark Against Graffiti : Workers in Annual Cleanup Turn to Other Tasks to Keep Busy

An anti-graffiti law adopted last year in Glendale has so effectively reduced tagging that organizers of the city’s annual cleanup day had to dream up new tasks for workers.

In addition to wiping out graffiti, about 250 volunteers helped clear trash from public areas Saturday, and even spruced up yards for some elderly residents.

“The incidents of spray-painting are significantly down, which caused us to rethink the event,” said Sam Engel, administrator of the city’s neighborhood services program. “We just don’t have the extent of vandalism that we had before.”

Still, recycled paints and solvents donated to the city were used to clean an estimated 70,000 square feet of graffiti, compared with 120,000 square feet removed in the Great Graffiti Paint Out in 1991.

The anti-graffiti ordinance prohibits sale of aerosol spray paints and marker pens to those under 18. Spray paint and markers, which often are stolen from hardware stores and other suppliers by would-be vandals, must be kept in locked cabinets, City Atty. Scott Howard said.

City crews and volunteers regularly remove graffiti. Engel said about 10,000 square feet of vandalism was recorded in April, compared with more than 36,000 square feet in April, 1991, two months before the new law took effect.

Among the graffiti removed this year were scribblings along the Los Angeles River, on bus benches and other targets on main streets and in alleys, said Lori Snyder, neighborhood services coordinator.

In all, more than four tons of debris was hauled off after three hours of work by volunteers ages 8 to 80.

In addition to volunteering for the Saturday cleanup, officials said residents were encouraged to look around their own yards and neighborhoods for cleanup jobs.

Paints, motor oil, pesticide containers and other household hazardous materials may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. June 13 at the city’s Environmental Management Center, 780 Flower St. The center, open the second Saturday of each month, accepts hazardous materials without charge from Glendale residents.