Mayor Taveras Spends Morning Removing Graffiti with his Graffiti Task Force

Work crews on high alert responding to reports of graffiti vandalism, addressing quality-of-life, public safety issue.

Mayor Angel Taveras spent this morning working alongside a crew from the city's Graffiti Task Force to remove graffiti at locations in Providence. With the arrival of summer, the Graffiti Task Force is on high alert working daily to respond to reports of graffiti vandalism.

The Mayor worked alongside a crew to remove graffiti on a retaining wall on North Main Street between Church Street and Star Street and on a brick wall surrounding Hope High School's playing field, near the intersection of Olney Street and Brown Street.

"Graffiti is a quality-of-life issue that has a negative effect on both residential neighborhoods and business districts, and it will not be tolerated in any neighborhood in Providence," said Mayor Taveras.

The Graffiti Task Force has two vans outfitted with high-pressure power washers and paint. The task force removes all graffiti reported as quickly as possible. Graffiti reported on private property will be removed in 7-14 days with the permission of the owner.

For the first time this year, iPhone and Android users can report graffiti to the city while on the move and at the touch of a button, using the city's free ProvConnex app. The ProvConnex app is able to track the GIS location of a service request, and enables iPhone users to take and attach a photo of the graffiti when they report it.

Graffiti removal requests submitted through ProvConnex are sent directly to the Graffiti Task Force and then tracked electronically until the graffiti is removed and the request is closed out. People who submit graffiti removal requests are notified when the request has been closed.

Citizens can also report graffiti by calling the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services at 421-2489, or through the City's website.

Graffiti vandals who are caught pay a fine, as well as restitution for damages and community service. In addition, anyone who sells aerosol paint containers, broad tipped markers, etching equipment, paint sticks or graffiti sticks to a minor without written permission from a parent or guardian may be held criminally responsible.