How to fix the How to fix the overlook of Federal overlook of Federal

Blvd and its Blvd and its surroundingssurroundingsAbraham Lincoln High SchoolAbraham Lincoln High School

CivicsCivics20082008

Marisela Angel, Alex Douglas, Monica Galvan, Efren Nunez, Marisela Angel, Alex Douglas, Monica Galvan, Efren Nunez, April VangApril Vang

The ProblemThe Problem

The ProblemThe Problem

Over the years Federal Blvd has been Over the years Federal Blvd has been one of the highest streets in Denver one of the highest streets in Denver with number of deaths per year with number of deaths per year

Sidewalks have been neglected Sidewalks have been neglected Landscaping has been neglectedLandscaping has been neglected Around 20 percent of road fatalities Around 20 percent of road fatalities

are accounted for Federal Blvd.are accounted for Federal Blvd. LitteringLittering Graffiti Graffiti

Surveys to the publicSurveys to the public

Survey people in the community Survey people in the community and schooland school

Five question askedFive question asked Around 140 were surveyedAround 140 were surveyed1.1. In a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the In a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the

improvement on Federal Blvdimprovement on Federal Blvd

2.2. Is it dangerous to walk along Federal Blvd?Is it dangerous to walk along Federal Blvd?

Question 1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

In a scale from 1 - 10, how would you rate the improvement on Federal Blvd?

Is it dangerous to walk along Federal Blvd?

YES

NO

TransitionTransition

The road it self is not the problem:The road it self is not the problem: The trash in our streets reflects our The trash in our streets reflects our

communitycommunity The graffiti around the neighborhood The graffiti around the neighborhood

keeps increasingkeeps increasing Participation in our neighborhood is Participation in our neighborhood is

decreasingdecreasing People are unaware of what they can doPeople are unaware of what they can do

The Alternative The Alternative PoliciesPolicies

The Alternative PoliciesThe Alternative Policies

Denver Partnership Against GraffitiDenver Partnership Against Graffiti Equipment to prevent GraffitiEquipment to prevent Graffiti Denver’s partnership to maintain Denver’s partnership to maintain

Denver CleanDenver Clean Economic Stimulus for Southwest Economic Stimulus for Southwest

DenverDenver Increasing number of businessIncreasing number of business Promoting economic growth Promoting economic growth

Denver Partners Against Denver Partners Against GraffitiGraffiti

Graffiti PreventionGraffiti Prevention““What is the City doing about this What is the City doing about this

problem, and how can you help?” problem, and how can you help?” 4-pronged strategy: 4-pronged strategy: 1.1. enforcement (legislation and policing of graffiti enforcement (legislation and policing of graffiti

crimes)crimes)2.2. abatement (removal or cleanup of graffiti)abatement (removal or cleanup of graffiti)3.3. education (increase public awareness and education (increase public awareness and

understanding of graffiti)understanding of graffiti)4.4. empowerment (support and promote empowerment (support and promote

community involvement)community involvement)

The most effective tool against graffiti vandalism is you! Here’s how you can help. Contact Denver Partners Against Graffiti to:Report graffiti when you see it.Authorize the City to remove graffiti from your property.Volunteer to help remove graffiti around your community.

To request free services, volunteer, or get more information, contact Denver Partners Against Graffiti, 720-865-STOP (7867), www.denvergov.org/graffiti

PROS/CONSPROS/CONS ProsPros Support the efforts of Support the efforts of

conscientious owners and conscientious owners and tenants who maintain tenants who maintain propertyproperty

Makes nearby properties Makes nearby properties less vulnerable to graffiti less vulnerable to graffiti vandalismvandalism

Keep are community Keep are community clean by preventing clean by preventing graffiti graffiti

The person who reports The person who reports it will remain anonymousit will remain anonymous

ConsCons No one in class or No one in class or

their families knew their families knew about itabout it

It needs authorization It needs authorization for the city to clean it for the city to clean it from buildingsfrom buildings

If people are not If people are not apathetic then they apathetic then they will not participatewill not participate

Economic Stimulus Economic Stimulus

The southwest area of The southwest area of Denver could use Denver could use businesses around the businesses around the area that can benefit our area that can benefit our community in many ways.community in many ways.

For example:For example:

-Lincoln students and Star -Lincoln students and Star BucksBucks

-Travel for shorter distances-Travel for shorter distances

-The construction of a gym -The construction of a gym for example Bally Total for example Bally Total Fitness.Fitness.

Business EstimatesBusiness Estimates

Star BucksStar Bucks

Category: Category: RestaurantRestaurant

Start up cost:Start up cost:$50,000-$90,000$50,000-$90,000

Maintenance:Maintenance:

$45,000 or more$45,000 or more

$Business Estimate$$Business Estimate$

Bally Total FitnessBally Total Fitness

Category: Health & Category: Health & BeautyBeauty

Start up:$165,000-Start up:$165,000-$440,000$440,000

Pros/Cons Pros/Cons Of New Businesses Of New Businesses

ProsPros Enjoy more Enjoy more

establishmentsestablishments Stimulate the Stimulate the

economyeconomy People would be People would be

more concerned more concerned about the about the communitycommunity

Add a nice scenery Add a nice scenery

ConsCons Major investment Major investment Replace current Replace current

businesses businesses The communities The communities

response may not response may not be very goodbe very good

What importance does it What importance does it have?have?

-provide funds for road-provide funds for road -We make a difference-We make a difference -”Our Community, Our -”Our Community, Our

Representation”Representation”

Our PolicyOur Policy

Our PolicyOur Policy

An incentive policy that wouldAn incentive policy that would motivate people to participate in the motivate people to participate in the

communitycommunity keep the neighborhood cleankeep the neighborhood clean build a community of supportbuild a community of support

3- parts 3- parts Advertise the Graffiti HotlineAdvertise the Graffiti Hotline Create “Wall” mural for taggersCreate “Wall” mural for taggers Provide Community service for those Provide Community service for those

volunteering volunteering

Promoting the Graffiti Promoting the Graffiti HotlineHotline

Advertise the Graffiti Hotline in the Advertise the Graffiti Hotline in the neighborhood so more people could neighborhood so more people could become involvedbecome involved

Provide some sort of monetary Provide some sort of monetary reward for those providing reward for those providing information that will lead to a information that will lead to a successful arrest of a taggersuccessful arrest of a tagger

Allow citizens to take over the Allow citizens to take over the communitycommunity

DPAG offers you"one stop shopping"

with the 

Graffiti Hotline720-865-STOP (7867)

 Call The HOTLINE To: • Sign up for free graffiti removal assistance on your

residential or business property. (You must sign up in order to receive free removal assistance.)

• Report graffiti on any public, residential or business property within the City & County of Denver.

• Request free graffiti removal assistance on your residential or business property.

• Request free paint and other graffiti cleanup supplies to cover graffiti.

• Find out how easy it is to help keep your community graffiti free.

      

The WallThe Wall

Allow taggers to have an are where Allow taggers to have an are where they can display their art and creativitythey can display their art and creativity

Have some sort of fee or requirement Have some sort of fee or requirement for taggers to participate in the wallfor taggers to participate in the wall

A place where real taggers can come A place where real taggers can come and do some “pieces” instead of and do some “pieces” instead of crew members just “hitting up” their crew members just “hitting up” their setset

What do Graffiti walls What do Graffiti walls look like?look like?

Providing community Providing community serviceservice

Providing community service hours Providing community service hours for people willing to volunteer in for people willing to volunteer in Keep Denver BeautifulKeep Denver Beautiful Opportunities to keep Denver beautiful Opportunities to keep Denver beautiful

by creating your own cleanup or joining by creating your own cleanup or joining in any of the hundreds of cleanups that in any of the hundreds of cleanups that occur every year. occur every year.

Minimum age is 6 with adult Minimum age is 6 with adult supervision, 16 without. supervision, 16 without.

SurveysSurveys

We survey around 160 people in the We survey around 160 people in the community to discuss our policycommunity to discuss our policy

Questions regarding:Questions regarding: MuralMural Volunteering to clean upVolunteering to clean up Fines for those who tagFines for those who tag

Question 1

1. Mural fortaggers Yes

1. Mural fortaggers No

Question 2

2. help clean up thestreets Yes

2. help clean up thestreets No

Question 4

4. tagger like theidea of mural Yes

4. tagger like theidea of mural No

Question 5

5. taggers shouldpay for damage Yes

5. taggers shouldpay for damage No

The Action PlanThe Action Plan

Action planAction plan

Create PostersCreate Posters Create Brochure of PolicyCreate Brochure of Policy Email State Representatives, Email State Representatives,

Senators, and City Council for our Senators, and City Council for our districtdistrict

Hold meetings with people Hold meetings with people interested in our policyinterested in our policy

Interview TaggersInterview Taggers

PosterPoster

Call Now720-865-STOPHelp Us Stop Vandalism!

Because Our Neighborhood Matters

BrochureBrochureThe Wall

Building a huge mural in Denver which would allow taggers to let their skills be displayed can benefit the community. In a legally way, taggers would be displaying their art. The mural would be a privilege , it would be a place where real taggers can come and do some “pieces” instead of crew members just “hitting up” their set.

Promoting the Graffiti Hotline

Our class policy pushes the community to unite forces with the Denver Partners Against Graffiti in promoting the Graffiti Hotline.

As propaganda we will promote the Denver’s Partners Against Graffiti tools;

The most effective tool against graffiti vandalism is you!

Here’s how you can help. Contact Denver Partners Against Graffiti to:

1.      Report graffiti when you see it.2.      Authorize the City to remove graffiti from your property.

3.      Volunteer to help remove graffiti around your community

Call the Graffiti Hotline Now!

The City provides free paint and free graffiti removal assistance to Denver property owners and tenants. City employees are also available to attend your association and community meetings to answer your graffiti-related questions

Our Neighborhood is in Our Hands

Community Service

Denver residents can always be counted on to pitch in. This is why we know people would volunteer to help maintain the community clean and safe.

Volunteer to promote cleanup. Every planned cleanup needs to be promoted. Flyers require distributing and neighbors need to be informed. When a cleanup is scheduled in your neighborhood, the neighborhood can use everybody’s help

Combine forces with Keep Denver Beautiful which provides safety information, trash bags and arranges for pickup of collected trash. Minimum age is 6 with adult supervision, 16 without. Volunteers should plan on 2 to 4 hours per event. BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Join a cleanup or plan your own! This is a great way for groups and individuals to make a difference on an occasional or one time basis.  

In return, if you are a high school student or college student, you may receive community service hours for

your support

Because our Neighborhood Matters!

720-863-STOPwww.denvergov.com/graffiti

Dear Council member:We are civics students from Abraham Lincoln High School. The reason we have

contacted you is because we wanted to inform you about a policy, our class has created. We have been working on this project since the beginning of the year and are very proud of it.

Our policy would help us change the overall outlook of Federal Blvd. Our school, sits right net to Federal Blvd., we see much graffiti and trash covering our sidewalks, streets and even around, our schools and homes.

Our policy is composed by three parts, which will help decrease these problems within the community and on Federal Boulevard:Advertising the Graffiti hotline: In Denver an estimate $2.5 million each year is used to clean up graffiti and business pays about $200- $300 to replace windows and doors. The Denver’s Partners against Graffiti will send someone from the city to remove graffiti for free. We want to advertise the hotline since many people don’t know about it. We would work on creating posters and propaganda about this hotline.Making a “Wall”: The wall would be created as a “Free Zone” area where taggers could come create art without affecting the look of Federal in a non-professional way. This is a way to encourage graffiti art in a positive and productive way.Community Service opportunities: We want to bring people from the community to help out Federal Blvd. Community Service consists of helping business clean up graffiti and help cleaning up Federal Blvd. form trash. We would also have volunteers doing a maintenance walk; to look out for possible areas the street may need repair. Community service would also empower many members of the community by taking power over taggers. We are also hoping to create a sense of pride in our community and increase citizen participation.

We would like to thank you for taking your time to read our policy. We really appreciate it. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact us at:

Email: Correascivic@yahoo.comThank You,Abraham Lincoln High SchoolCivics Class

Dear Civics Class, I’m pleased Abraham Lincoln students are interested in helping solve the graffiti problem.  I do want you to know about my opposition to a “wall.”  When the city had a graffiti summit, inviting leaders from other states who had success in fighting graffiti, we learned a “wall” can encourage graffiti throughout adjacent neighborhoods, completely contrary to your intentions.  While I would be delighted to have you promote the graffiti hotline and encourage community service opportunities, I would ask your class to revisit the suggestion of a free zone “wall.” Thanks to all of you for your leadership on this important issue.   I might add that we share an interest in Abraham Lincoln High School .  Not only is the school in my council district, but my daughter graduated from it and I taught there in the 1980’s. Jeanne FaatzCouncilwoman, District #2 

Dear Ms. Leslie, Thank you for contacting me, and I think that your class has some great ideas. Right now, we are in the last two weeks of the 2008 Session, and I cannot get away from the Capitol for any meetings.  However, we are due to finish up on May 2, and I know that public schools are not out until late May or early June.  Is there a time after later in May that I could come and discuss this (and other issues) with your class? Rep. Labuda

Dear Abraham Lincoln High School Civics Class,

Thank you for contacting our office with your policy. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into the issue of graffiti and trash around your school. Have you had a chance to share your ideas with the senator and representative from your area? If not, here's their contact info.:

Sen. Paula Sandoval, paula.sandoval.senate@state.co.us Rep. Jerry Frangas, kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us

Best of luck with this project!

Sincerely,

Travis GasperAssistant to the Speaker of the HouseState Capitol200 East Colfax Ave., Room 246Denver, Colorado 80203

Responses from emailResponses from email

Thank YouThank You