More Funds Sought for Graffiti Removal

Los Angeles City Council members Joel Wachs and Laura Chick stepped up pressure on their colleagues Tuesday to increase the budget for graffiti removal and reconvene a Multi-Agency Graffiti Intervention Committee, citing an explosion of vandalism in the city.

A week after Chick’s Government Efficiency Committee recommended the budget be increased by $3.1 million to $5.1 million, Wachs, who heads the Public Works Committee overseeing graffiti cleanup, joined her at a City Hall news conference to say the allocation is justified.

Wachs, who is running for mayor, and Chick, who is running for city controller, jointly introduced a formal motion Tuesday to expand the budget and reconvene the committee.

“Clearly, the costs of not removing graffiti are far greater than the costs to remove it,” the motion said.