Alderman Moreno Launches Anti-Graffiti Initiative
The 1st Ward is a vibrant, active community and I take pride in walking the streets of our ward. Unfortunately, there are some that see our neighborhoods as a place to spray graffiti and damage property.
I want to curb this blight on our neighborhood. I am taking a proactive approach to this problem and have assembled a team of volunteers to remove graffiti in our most frequently hit areas to help alleviate the problem. This is a self-funded effort, with volunteer labor, that will complement the work of the Graffiti Blasters.
Additionally, my staff and I tour the ward regularly, and immediately report the graffiti we see. I will also be meeting with community groups and businesses in the area to develop a more aggressive anti-graffiti approach.
Yesterday, the Graffiti Blasters went out to “Blitz” the rear of vandalized buildings on Milwaukee Avenue which runs directly through our ward. On the stretch of Milwaukee Avenue alone, we had over 7,000 graffiti removal jobs completed last year.
Although this effort is significant and should be applauded, we must do more to actively remove graffiti, which is why I have assembled our team of volunteers to add resources to this ongoing issue.
We are encouraging participation in the Court Advocacy program through the C.A.P.S. Offices to aggressively pursue the persecution of any vandals who have been caught. I have asked the Commander of the 14th Police District to provide graffiti hot spots with special attention.
We need your help too. When reporting graffiti, please provide the type of surface the graffiti is on and the exact address. Graffiti removal is a constant challenge but with your assistance and suggestions, I feel we can significantly curb graffiti and help keep the 1st Ward beautiful.
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