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Politics & Government

Graffiti Policy Reviewed After Shootings

Property owners required to remove graffiti within 15 days as strategy to suppress means of communication between rival gangs.

A graffiti control program developed in response to the August in Half Moon Bay will be discussed at tonight's city council meeting for review and approval.

The program's goal of preventing and removing graffiti soon after it appears is an effort to suppress one means of communication known to escalate tension between rival gangs.

It is also aimed at "beautifying" the city and removing "short-term blight," according to a city staff report.

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The program emphasizes the following:

  • Private property owners must remove graffiti within 15 days. Removal should only take place after it is photographed and reported through email (graffiti@co.sanmateo.us) or the Graffiti Abatement Hotline number (650-712-7310).
  • Graffiti not removed within 15 days will be removed by city staff. The property owner will be charged for the costs of removal.
  • Water quality regulations (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements) must be folllowed when removing graffiti; wastewater discharge must conform to the requirements of the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside.

For a handout listing "Best Practices for Graffiti Removal Around Sewers and Storm Drains," as well as more information about the abatement program, see the PDF document in the media box at right.

Find out what's happening in Half Moon Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Since the initial gang shootings, a new graffiti removal effort led by high school student Thomas Perkins - under the guidance of Half Moon Bay City Councilmember Rick Kowalczyk - brought residents together on October 1.

Over 8,000 square feet of graffiti in Half Moon Bay was covered over the course of the day, according to Kowalczyk.

Perkins is organizing the "Half Moon Bay Graffiti Cleanup" program as his Eagle Scout Project.

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