Programs
Rewards
The Rewards Program provides a monetary reward of up to $500 to individuals who provide information which leads to the conviction of a graffiti vandal.
Quick Fact:
The "Fight Graffiti…Get Rewarded" ads are installed in 70 Santa Clarita buses to deter tagging. The Rewards Program is marketed on the Graffiti Task Force website and presented at the anti-graffiti awareness presentations given to local elementary, junior high, and high school students, and at parent meetings..
Quick Fact:
In 2010 over 210 youth participated and removed over 300 tags during TAG projects.
Santa Clarita Community Court (SCCC)
The SCCC defendants are utilized in brush clearance projects once a month to fulfill their community service hours. The Santa Clarita Community Court is a community-based diversion program that provides an alternative to the juvenile justice system for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders. Juvenile offenders who have committed non-violent petty crimes (i.e., shoplifting, speeding, and vandalism), are sentenced by a judge to perform community service, attend diversion classes, and, if necessary, pay financial penalties. If they complete the program, their crime does not go on their record.
Graffiti in Tahiti
Graffiti in Tahiti is a first and only children's book focusing on graffiti vandalism. It targets first through fourth graders, and highlights the problem of graffiti and its solutions, by communicating the positive effects of volunteerism and community pride. Graffiti in Tahiti encourages children of all ages to become part of the solution by participating in community service. Graffiti in Tahiti can be found at the Newhall Community Center where it is used to inform youth on the effects graffiti has on the enviorment.
Paseo Patrol Volunteers
The Paseo Patrol Volunteers are a group of community volunteers who walk the paseos and remove tags on signs, light poles, and railings. Paseo Patrol Volunteers are given a backpack with graffiti removal supplies.
Quick Fact:
In 2010, the Paseo Patrol Volunteers removed over 250 tags from Santa Clarita Paseos and Trails.
STAR (Success Through Awareness and Resistance)
STAR deputies implemented an anti-graffiti awareness component into the STAR presentation to fifth- and sixth-grade students from the Saugus, Newhall, and Sulphur Springs School Districts. Reviewing the cosequences of graffiti is a crucial part of the presentation.
Quick Fact:
Over 3,700 elementary students participated in the anti-graffiti awareness component of STAR in 2010.
Website
The website provides a wealth of information for parents and community members, including: Graffiti Hotline number and eService request link, tips and advice for parents on how to identify if their child may be a tagger, how to volunteer to remove graffiti, a search tool to establish if graffiti is within City boundaries, information about the Rewards Program, and much more. www.santa-clarita.com/graffititaskforce
Quick Fact:
Over 4,000 residents viewed the graffiti webpage in 2010
Paint Matching Trailer
The Paint Matching Trailer is equipped with the nessecary supplies and equipment to assist business and property owners with paint matching for prompt, consistent removal of graffiti. When a property is vandalized, residents may call the graffiti hotline (661) 25- CLEAN (661-252-5326) and leave a detailed message with the location of the property and contact information.
Graffiti Awareness Presentation
The City conducts anti-graffiti awareness presentations to local elementary, junior high, and high school students to educate youth about the consequences of graffiti vandalism, to inspire them to take pride in their City, and to inform them about the City's Reward Program.
The PowerPoint presentation is youth-oriented, clarifies the difference between graffiti art and graffiti vandals, and spells out the severe consequences for graffiti vandalism, both for the tagger and the community, using interactive questions and answers, animation, engaging, and pictures. The "Tag: You're It" DVD is also shown in conjunction with the presentation. The DVD includes first-hand testimony from two youth jailed for graffiti vandalism, and their experience in being arrested, convicted, and spending time in jail. The DVD also includes testimony from the mother of a tagger about her family's experience, as the result of her son being a convicted tagger.
*This comprehensive outreach program includes an educational component for parents – informing them about the signs of a "tagger," and what to do if they suspect their child may be a "tagger."
Quick Fact:
In 2010 over 1,790 students from local schools, and over 70 parents/educators/community members participated in anti-graffiti awareness presentations.
Graffiti Wipes
The City provides "Graffiti Wipes" free of charge to residents. The "Graffiti Wipes" are pre- moistened and can easily and quickly remove graffiti on most surfaces including: bus benches, light poles, and pretty much any other smooth surface marred by graffiti.
Simply stop by the Activities Center - Mezzanine, located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, complete a volunteer waiver and pick up a container of "Graffiti Wipes". "Graffiti Wipes" may be picked up during normal business hours Monday-Thursday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm and on Fridays from 8 am-5pm. If you are unable to come during these hours, please call (661) 250-3749 to make arrangements.