Combatting Graffiti

Learn what you can do at: http://denvergov.org/graffiti

Key Points:

• Any Graffiti encourages more graffiti (and crime)
• Report or remove graffiti (see below) ASAP
• Hold residents and businesses on your block accountable for abatement
  

Denver Ordinance: Once notified by the city, graffiti must be removed within 48 hours for non-residential property and 72 hours for residential property



Graffiti Hotline: 720-865-STOP (7867)

Call The HOTLINE To:

• Report Graffiti on any property within the City & County of Denver.
• Request removal assistance for public, residential and business properties.
• Request free paint for "paint outs"
• Find out what you can do to help keep your community graffiti free

If possible, provide digital photographs to DPD “Graffiti Detectives”.
Include address, attach images and email to Officer Reyes Trujillo at: Reyes.trujillo@denvergov.org

Start a neighborhood watch—Know who belongs on your block!!! Again, email Officer Reyes Trujillo at: 720.913.1049 or Reyes.trujillo@denvergov.org

C-WAC Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that our next CWAC meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 6 pm at Mitchell Elementary, 1350 E. 33rd Ave.! Food & Childcare provided. We will be hearing a report at the February meeting on the outcomes of the policing strategies (including foot patrols) that have been utilized in District 2 as a result of this effort, as well as the most recent crime statistics for the area. We will also be hearing reports on the possibilities of combining our efforts with the Whittier and Cole Neighborhood Association meetings. Please RSVP (if you haven’t already) and let us know if you can join us! Thanks, patty

Patricia Lawless
Community Organizer
Metro Organizations for People
(a member of the PICO National Network)
1980 Dahlia St.
Denver, CO 80220
720-297-7091 (cell)
patty@mopdenver.org

"A Crack Pipe By Any Other Name"

Anyone else notice how many of our local convenience stores are publicly displaying and selling drug (crack) paraphernalia?

I'm talking in particular about Rose tubes, Rose Stems, Glass Roses, whatever you want to call them. The presence of these items, while not illegal, is irresponsible, especially given the transitional nature of our neighborhood.

While these items are "marketed" as novelty items, like a cheap gift a boy might get his sweetheart, most retailers are fully aware these items are widely regarded as drug paraphernalia. They're not illegal as of yet in Denver or Colorado, though I'm currently exploring what would be necessary to make that a reality. Here are some good online articles that should provide you a good overview of the item and its misuse and misrepresentation by many convenience store retailers:

http://www.sptimes.com/News/081001/Floridian/A_crack_pipe_by_any_o.shtml

Or,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040401602.html

Or,

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/212336

If you notice a local retailer with these items on the shelf, I highly encourage you to confront them about this choice.

You can say something like:

We're working hard to help our neighborhood get cleaned up, and would appreciate your assistance in doing so, by removing these, and other drug paraphernalia from your counters and store shelves. Members of our neighborhood and our organization are paying customers of your establishment, and we evangelize supporting local businesses that are positive, rather than negative contributors to our neighborhood's progress. We hope you understandy why we think it's entirely unnecessary and irresponsible for your store to be selling these items.

If you have such a conversation with a business owner, please share how it went, either by posting a comment at this blog, or by emailing c-wac@comcast.net.

Thanks, and here's to continued progress in Cole and Whittier!

Please Join Us At The Next C-WAC Meeting, Wednesday September 5th

The Next C-WAC meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 5, 6-7:30 pm at Mitchell Elementary School, 1350 E. 33rd Ave.

In addition to reporting out by the police on crime statistics and strategies being implemented to reduce crime in Cole- Whittier, we will also be getting the report on the Police Survey conducted over the summer. From the community side, we would like to revisit the development of Block Contacts as a way to build greater communication among residents and between residents and police. Being a Block Contact can be as simple as distributing information like the CWAC flier and IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS card, to promoting a Neighborhood Watch group, to creating a block phone tree, to sponsoring a block gathering…Please invite other residents you know to join us for the meeting on Sept. 5 and help us strengthen the web of relationships in Cole-Whittier.

To RSVP for the meeting, please email patty@mopdenver.org.

Dumpster and Light Pole Paint Available

Have graffiti in your alley you want to cover up? Paul Danek has leftover dumpster and light pole paint from this spring's neighborhood cleanup. Contact him at c-wac@comcast.net if you'd like to use them.