Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Graffiti abatement programs survive cuts

This is no easy time for the City Council or Mayor as they begin the slicing and dicing of the city's massive budget.

But word coming down from the top floors of City Hall is that one program that might survive the proverbial chopping block is a new graffiti abatement program coming from the Mayor's office.

The program would create a graffiti abatement coordinator that will string together department heads from all over the city to get them to remove graffiti from their property — such as parks, public works and others.

The program would also create more awareness, cooperation and help among neighborhoods, which are dealing with much of the graffiti by themselves.

There is still no word, though on how much of the programs proposed $200,000 will make it though the final budget process. Today the city heard from Northeast representatives asking for funding for programs here in Northeast.