Flood Bakersfield Ministries has partnered with the Bakersfield Police Department, the City's 32-ERASE program, and the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful ("KBB") Anti-Graffiti Task Force to address the graffiti problem in the area with Flood Graffiti Wash. Flood Graffiti Wash is the new pilot "Adopt a Neighborhood" program. The goal is to eradicate graffiti in the area while using community residents as volunteers, especially those of Flood. Adopt a Neighborhood is a component of the City of Bakersfield's comprehensive graffiti removal program. Flood has decided to clean up its neighborhood, making it safer and more secure for fellow residents and businesses, as a pilot project of the Adopt a Neighborhood program. This is accomplished by graffiti removal, trash pick up and other beautification efforts.
The objective of Flood Graffiti Wash is to make a defined neighborhood graffiti free while working with and educating surrounding businesses, residents and volunteers to eradicate graffiti. We want to create meaningful volunteer work for those receiving assistance from Flood Bakersfield Ministries and others in the community while cleaning up its neighborhood and preventing crime. The project actively eliminates existing graffiti and provides knowledge of ways to prevent graffiti to the local community. Flood Graffiti Wash is also incorporating local schools, youth groups, and other organizations in Bakersfield to clean up the neighborhood. The program kicked off on May 20, 2009 with students from Stockdale Christian Junior High working alongside Flood volunteers beginning the process of graffiti eradication in the neighborhood.
Graffiti negatively affects the health of a neighborhood and the residents there. If left untreated, it will continue to plague of the community and do more harm. Vandalism, especially graffiti, costs communities millions of dollars and will continue to hurt these communities if not treated rapidly and aggressively. This is where Flood Graffiti Wash comes in. The program is designed to check for graffiti incidents daily and clean them up immediately.
Through the partnership of the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Anti-Graffiti Task Force, the Bakersfield Police Department Crime Prevention Unit, the city of Bakersfield's 32-ERASE program, and Flood Bakersfield Ministries, this program is truly making a difference. Flood Graffiti Wash assists the Bakersfield Police Department Crime Prevention Unit by preventing vandalism from getting out of control and making the neighborhood less apt for crime. The City of Bakersfield's 32-ERASE program has supported the graffiti removal by providing a quantity of supplies and paint needed. The Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Anti-Graffiti Task Force consists of state, county, and city agencies working with education, probation, local law enforcement, the art community and local political representatives and has helped in removing graffiti not able to be eradicated by our project. Flood Graffiti Wash works with all of the above partners and in addition works with recovery home residents, the homeless, motel dwellers, and those entrenched in generational poverty to create opportunities for them to have meaningful volunteer work through Flood Bakersfield Ministries.
This anti-graffiti program is also working with surrounding businesses to educate them on graffiti. Many of the businesses have just stopped abating their graffiti altogether because of the continued maintenance it takes. However, Bakersfield Municipal Code 9.36.030 states that graffiti is a public nuisance and must be abated. If not abated, the city may commence a civil or criminal proceeding against the property owner to abate the public nuisance. Having an actual enforceable ordinance greatly increases the chance for the pilot program to succeed. When a property owner is approached before the clean up occurs a color flyer is given that outlines important numbers to call including 32-ERASE if suspects of graffiti is observed in the neighborhood.
Flood Graffiti Wash assists residents and businesses alike in abating their graffiti. Volunteers also go to those in the community with information on what the project is, how it is accomplished, and how they can do their part in making their neighborhood a safer place. It is very important for those in the community to be aware of the effects of graffiti, which is why the program is so committed to educating and communicating with residents and business owners.
"When Flood asked me to head up the graffiti removal program, I had goose bumps. I was so honored. I had been volunteering at Flood here and there when they asked me. I had never expected someone like me could be in charge of something so important. Since then, my self esteem is much higher. I actually feel good about myself. Helping with Flood Graffiti Wash has changed my life. Instead of taking from the community as I was, I am now giving back. This program is doing some good things and I am thankful to be a part of it." - Tom Sprain, lead volunteer of Flood Graffiti Wash and resident of the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
"There is already significant improvement in the neighborhood as a result of these eradification efforts. I wholeheartedly endorse this new program." - Sue Benham, City Councilmember
"Flood Graffiti Wash has shown great determination in being efficient and thorough in their project. The Bakersfield Police Department commends them for their efforts and concern for the people of Bakersfield and the beauty of the inner-city." - W.R. Rector, Chief of Police, Bakersfield Police Department
If you would like to learn more about Flood Graffiti Wash or volunteer, please call the Flood office at 661-32-FLOOD.
