The STOP GRAFFITI NOW! Program and How it Works

A group of NPCA volunteers started the Stop Graffiti Now! program because we wanted to do something about what seemed like increasing amounts of vandalism in North Park.  Graffiti is a common problem in all urban areas throughout the world…not just North Park.  And the best way to fight it is to (1) photograph it, (2) report it to the police and (3) PROMPTLY remove it. Its prompt removal discourages graffiti vandals from doing it again. After a while, the taggers get frustrated and stop or move on.

The STOP GRAFFITI NOW! program is a program specific to North Park and was created by the NPCA  in 2008 to remove the blight of graffiti from North Park. It is a two pronged approach to BOTH remove the graffiti promptly AND report it to the SDPD so that the vandals can be caught and punished.  Thus, it is both a short term AND long term solution.

It consists of periodic, community wide Graffiti Removal and Paint Out Days and a network of Key Neighbors who monitor, report and remove graffiti, if they wish, from the immediate areas near where they live.

What We Have Accomplished

1. Reported and removed THOUSANDS of graffiti tags and stickers over the past year and a half.  At a commercial rate of approximately $3/square foot and over 7,000 square feet removed (not including the City's contractor), the NPCA and its volunteers has saved the City over $20,000 since we started this program.

2. Established close, cooperative relations with the San Diego Police Department, City of San Diego, Urban Corps, the Business Improvement Districts, local businesses, Urban Corps and other important groups.

3. Compiled procedures and a comprehensive list of contacts to which to report graffiti for removal.

4. Identified a key supplier of graffiti removal supplies, learned how to use them, established a good working relationship and negotiated significant discounts.

5. Conducted two, annual, community-wide Graffiti  Removal events in which over 100 volunteers were involved each time.

6. Established a network of 30 Key Neighbors who regularly monitor, report and remove graffiti in their specific Key Neighbor area.

7. Obtained funding to purchase graffiti removal supplies for Graffiti Removal and Paint Out Days and the continuing efforts of the Key Neighbors.

How you Can Help or Get Involved

We can always use more Key Neighbors on our team. We have pretty good coverage south of University Avenue, but coverage north of University is very spotty.   Please contact Graham Blair at Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla to join our team. The more Key Neighbors we have, the easier it becomes and the more effective we become.  And, working with us, you can help keep North Park a beautiful, safe and enjoyable place to live.

Overall Responsibilities of a Key Neighbor

Keep your Key Area clean of graffiti. This can be done through any combination of reporting it to the SDPD and appropriate agencies, removing it yourself or enlisting your neighbors to assist you. TEAMS are an effective and fun way to keep your area clean of graffiti.

Key Neighbors are the heart of the Stop Graffiti Now! program since they are the “eyes in the immediate neighborhood” and have access to information and resources their  neighbors do not.  There are many agencies and resources that will remove graffiti, but unless it is reported to them, it will, most likely, never be removed!

Detailed Key Neighbor Responsibilities

1. Monitor and report graffiti in your Key Neighbor area or any part of North Park.  Make a quick inspection of your area at least quarterly and, preferably, once a month.  The quicker graffiti is removed, the better. Taggers will get discouraged and move on.

2.  If you wish, take the initiative yourself to remove graffiti in you Key Neighbor area.  Removal supplies and instructions will be provided to you.   Enlist other neighbors to help you report and remove graffiti. Teams work much better than just individuals.