San Francisco Fleets Get Help with Graffiti Removal

SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) recently announced the establishment of a "Clean and Green Trucks" pilot program to remove graffiti vandalism from commercial vehicles. Under the city's plan, owners of graffiti covered trucks registered in San Francisco can apply to have their vehicle painted green by DPW, if they agree to keep graffiti off their vehicle in the future. 

The "Clean and Green Trucks" program will be made available to 15 truck owners in San Francisco to study costs, effectiveness, and interest. If successful, the city may expand the program or fund other treatments to rid the city of large, vandalized trucks often parked in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Vehicles will be painted "Transformer Green" - a color that has been effective in deterring graffiti on utility poles, trash receptacles, retaining walls, and other public property where it is used, according to the DPW. The dark green color will replace white truck walls that are often seen as an open canvas to graffiti vandals. To date, five trucks have been painted and the program still has 10 opportunities for truck owners to sign on.

Funded with $15,000 from the City Administrator's Community Challenge Grant Program, the "Clean and Green" Trucks Program follows two recent initiatives sponsored by DPW and the San Francisco Arts Commission also aimed at graffiti prevention: StreetsmARTS partners urban artists with private property owners to create vibrant art and make property less likely to be vandalized and the Where Art Lives Program educates students about the differences between community art and vandalism.

"The City spends more than $20 million a year combating graffiti," said Mohammed Nuru, deputy director for the Department of Public Works and Chairperson of the city's Graffiti Advisory Board. "A proactive, innovative program that focuses on graffiti prevention will help curb the spread of graffiti and can ease the financial burden for hardworking business owners and taxpayers."

More than 1,300 San Franciscans have signed the City's Graffiti Pledge - a pledge drive begun last spring at the Zero Graffiti summit to encourage residents to prevent, remove, and report graffiti, according to the DPW. An online pledge form is available at zerograffitisf.org.