By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
March 11, 2004

Denver Public Works crews last year removed graffiti from public and private property equal in size to 40 football fields.

That's about 1.9 million square feet of buildings, homes, cars and bridges tagged with spray paint, according to a report to the Denver City Council Public Works Committee Wednesday.

The problem has become so pervasive that city officials urged residents to do more to report graffiti vandalism.

Since 1993, the square footage of graffiti removed has more than tripled. The expected cost of removal this year is $1.5 million.

The hardest hit areas are north and west Denver, as well as lower downtown, the 16th Street Mall and the Platte Valley area near the Denver's skate park.

"It's a cultural thing," said Denver police Sgt. Kirk Hon.

"If you look at the map, the area it's most prevalent is on the west side of town. They're more accepting of it. Rather than attacking this as a citywide problem, we need to address the problem where it is happening."

City officials said that most of the vandalism is being carried out by street gangs, skateboarders and graffiti artists.

The problem has hit close to home for some council members.

Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez complained that her council aide's car window was recently tagged with spray paint.

"It's a problem I take very personally," Rodriguez said. "My constituents are living with it every day."

In 2003, the number of graffiti reports to police stood at 423. The city Public Works Department's graffiti hot line fields most complaints.

"It's an education issue," said Danamarie Schmitt, Denver's operations superintendent for solid-waste management.

"We need to create a partnership with the public. We have a choice in how clean we want our city to be. We're trying to make it as easy as possible for people to report graffiti."

Defacing property is a Class 2 or 3 misdemeanor carrying up to a year in jail and fines of up to $1,000.

Residents can help

• To report graffiti vandalism, call Denver Partners Against Graffiti at 720-865-STOP.