The battles were fought block by block and wall by wall in the 1990s, but a decade later the graffiti that plagued El Paso is under control, said residents and graffiti-fighters preparing for the annual Pride Day cleanup on Saturday.

"I know years ago it was hard for people to think there would be an end in sight," said state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who in 1991 helped create the nonprofit Lee Treviño Improvement Association, which continues efforts as the Eastside Improvement Association.

"It was the worst," Pickett said. "There was graffiti literally in almost every neighborhood in town at some point."

The vandalism peaked in 1996-97, when it was described as a "virus" infecting El Paso, blemishing overhead freeway signs, utility poles and walls, residents said.

Six years ago, vandals would regularly target the walls of Valentine's Bakery at Picasso Drive and Zaragoza Road, but it has been more than a year since the last incident, said Octavio Zavala, whose family owns the shop. "We don't get any graffiti anymore," he said.

Continual removal efforts, specialized police units and stiffer laws have graffiti-fighters saying the problem is under control. When vandalism does occur, it is removed quickly.

Central El Paso retiree Robert Salcido, who founded the volunteer Sun City Graffiti Busters in 1989, said the drop in graffiti has been so drastic that his volunteers plan to pick up tires from a vacant lot on Saturday.

In the 1990s the group received about 10 calls a week, compared with only one or two a month now, Salcido said. He told of how the group once had to have a police escort while cleaning gang graffiti.

In 1997, a half dozen signs on Interstate 10 were vandalized. As a result, a 16-year-old boy was sentenced to boot camp and community service, along with his father. Vandalism to highway signs is now rare.

Six years ago, highway graffiti removal was done five days a week. Now, it's done only as needed, said Gilbert Jordan, maintenance superintendent for the Texas Department of Transportation.

The city's 8-year-old cleanup crew still averages five calls a day, said Fred Pacheco, city graffiti coordinator. Graffiti is removed within 24 hours to prevent it from multiplying.

"We have more of a handle on it now," said Pickett, who warned against complacency. "The taggers had a head start, (but) now there is more cleaning going on than tagging."

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com