WatchDawg - Help Save Venice Graphiti Removal Funding

From: rcd
Sent: May 7, 2008 9:12 AM

Subject: URGENT. I need just five minutes of your time.

Hi Neighbors:

Yesterday morning at our Graffiti Wall Oversight Committee meeting with the Council Office we discussed the dire budget circumstances of the City and the fear of inadequate graffiti removal funding. We also discussed the very real possibility of losing completely the additional removal crew we secured last year exclusively for the Venice area and the beachfront. As you know, having our own crew in Venice has had a tremendous positive impact on the neighborhood and the speed with which graffiti can get removed.

I'm asking for two things.

1. Send a quick email (see example below, or simply copy and sign it) to Councilman Rosendahl, copying his Chief of Staff, Mike Bonin, and Autoro Pina. The emails do not need to be long.

2. PLEASE Pass this email along to everyone on your email list that lives in Venice. Here's what the emails should include (along with anything additional you feel appropriate).

A. Our neighborhood support for the work that Pacific Graffiti Solutions has done, particularly the fifth crew for Venice, and encouragement of full funding.

B. Our belief that graffiti removal is an essential part of public safety. (Four people have been shot, three being killed, THIS YEAR ALONE while trying to stop taggers from tagging private property.)

C. Thanks for their continued support of a cleaner, safer Venice.

Here's my example email:

(BEGIN)

Dear Councilman Rosendahl and Staff:

I am writing to encourage you to fully fund Pacific Graffiti Solutions for the coming year, particularly the fifth crew they had in place for Venice. As a Venice resident I noticed a huge improvement in the speed with which graffiti was removed in the neighborhoods. I also importantly noticed an increased sense of safety among residents. Their efforts, along with the efforts of countless neighborhood volunteers has had tremendous impact on our streets. As long as the City sponsors graffiti painting locations in Venice, we must have equal, even greater, removal support services in place.

I believe vigilant graffiti removal is a vital and important safety measure that a neighborhood cannot afford to ignore. We have all unfortunately seen in the local papers the violent consequences when graffiti and tagging is not taken seriously, and removed quickly.

I appreciate the hard work and tireless effort you put into making
Venice a cleaner, and safer place for all.
Most sincerely,

Rand Denny
Venice Resident and Business Owner
Venice Neighborhood Council Graffiti Committee Chairman

(END)

As I said, it's perfectly acceptable to copy and paste my letter, along with your signature if you don't have the time to write one. We were told directly in our meeting yesterday that flooding the office with letters will have a great effect during this decision making time.

Send emails to:

Councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org

mike.bonin@lacity.org

Arturo.Pina@lacity.org

Thanks to all of you in advance. I appreciate your help with this. And please don't forget to pass it along to others on your list that live in Venice.

Peace.

Rand Denny
Venice Neighborhood Council Graffiti Committee Chairman