If you witness an act of graffiti vandalism or observe suspicious activity, immediately report it to the police. Tips can also be reported anonymously by calling 1-800-TAGGERS.

From CHNA's Graffiti Task Force:

Greetings, Friends and Neighbors,

Graffiti and tagging vandalism continue to be problems on College Hill. In addition to being an unsightly public nuisance, graffiti costs our community many thousands of dollars in damage annually. These costs burden us all, as neighbors, taxpayers, and property owners.

This past July, CHNA, in collaboration with Providence Police Department District Nine, the Providence Preservation Society, Fox Point Boys and Girls Club, the Mayor's Graffiti Task Force, Councilman Cliff Wood, and many volunteers from the neighborhood, initiated a clean-up on Benefit Street. Adler's Design Center and Hardware and the Hope Club generously donated the needed supplies. The event was a huge success. We are planning another clean-up on College Hill during the spring.

Meanwhile, the graffiti and tagging must not go unabated. We need your help! If you witness an act of graffiti vandalism or observe suspicious activity, immediately report it to the police. Tips can also be reported anonymously by calling 1-800-TAGGERS. Several recent arrests have been made through the vigilance of neighbors. Also, it is well known that the most effective way to prevent further graffiti vandalism to property is to remove it immediately. If your property is targeted by graffiti vandals, report the incident to the police department, document the damage with photos, and begin clean-up as soon as possible.

Below, you will find our Graffiti Removal Guide, which contains helpful information for effectively removing graffiti from a variety of surfaces. In addition, Adler's Design Center can help you select appropriate graffiti-removal products and matching paint.

We encourage you to join our "Adopt-a-Spot" program. Individuals or groups can identify a spot in their neighborhood that they pledge to keep graffiti-free. This could include public property, such as street lamps, green mailbox receptacles, certain street signage, posts, poles, etc. If you would like to perform graffiti removal on private property, you must first get consent from the property owner. You will need a Graffiti Removal Consent Form for this purpose. If all of us would simply pledge to adopt the area in front of our own homes or businesses, we would go a long way towards ending graffiti vandalism in our neighborhoods.

Thank you for your support and we will be looking for volunteers again for our spring clean-up. If you would like to become part of our anti-graffiti initiative, form a volunteer team with other neighbors or friends, need assistance with graffiti removal, or have any questions or suggestions, please contact us.

Graffiti Removal Guide

Here are some suggestions on materials that work well for us and are readily available at Adler's Design Center and Hardware:

1. Painting is the easiest way to remove graffiti from painted surfaces. It is important that the paint is color matched to the existing surface. A patchwork of paint or large block of a different color creates an ideal canvas for further graffiti. Paint samples can be obtained from Adler's to match fireboxes, fences and green mail receptacles. Adler's can advise on brushes for certain surfaces.

2. Caution must be observed when attempting to remove graffiti from signs so that the lettering is not damaged. Certol™ is a non-toxic, environmentally-friendly, graffiti-removal spray solution that works well on signs and painted metal surfaces. It also works well on masonry surfaces and non-porous brick. This product is far superior to most paint thinners or strippers, which are usually toxic and must be handled with caution.

3. For some masonry surfaces, such as unpolished granite, porous brick or unpainted concrete, power-washing may be required. The Mayor's Graffiti Task Force can assist with power washing, although priority is given to city-owned properties and abatement is discontinued during cold weather. CHNA has considered purchasing power washing equipment in the future to assist neighbors with graffiti-removal, where paint or chemical cleaning is not a good option.

4. Remember, graffiti becomes more difficult to remove with time and it increases the likelihood of future taggings. Vigilance and persistence are the keys to maintaining a graffiti-free environment.

Further information and suggestions can be found at www.GraffitiHurts.org .

The above information can also be downloaded as a printable flyer in pdf format. This flyer includes a Graffiti Removal Consent Form, which when filled out permits municipal and volunteer graffiti clean-up crews to enter and clean up your property.

You will need the Adobe Acrobat® browser to review the above .pdf document.