Bratton, Garcetti and Board of Public Works President Cynthia Ruiz last year launched a program called "Uniting Neighborhoods to Abolish Graffiti," aimed at decreasing vandalism incidents by 50 percent within two years.
One year into the program, there has been a 62 percent reduction in vandalism within District 13, Garcetti said at a news conference at Lake Street Park."Every community struggles with graffiti, but this proves that no community has to tolerate it," he said. "When you have innovative policing, determination on the part of government and individuals who want to make a difference in their neighborhoods, you can accomplish anything."
As part of the vandalism reduction program, cameras were installed at 13 locations where graffiti was a problem in District 13. In addition, more than 100 people living in Garcetti's district volunteered to report vandalism as soon as they spotted it."What Councilmember Garcetti and the neighborhoods of his district have done together is community-based policing at its best," Bratton said. "I call on community groups and neighborhood councils to use the Uniting Neighborhoods to Abolish Graffiti model in your own back yards."