Anti Graffiti

The City of San Jose has a terrific anti graffiti and anti litter program. The will GIVE individuals anti litter and anti graffiti kits. Details for this program can be found here.

Graffiti is a crime. Graffiti is vandalism. Graffiti is not art. There can be no argument in support of vandalism.

The community cannot expect the police department alone to solve the graffiti problem. Graffiti IS a community issue and the police are just one integral part of the solution.

The community and neighborhood watch groups must assume a serious role in the observing and reporting of vandalism.

Rampant graffiti in a neighborhood tends to lower property values and scare away responsible persons who might otherwise buy property and invest in the community. The economic health of a community depends on the social health. We are all responsible for the social health of our towns.

The above excerpts were taken from The Anti-Graffiiti FAQ . Please visit the FAQ for more valuable information about graffiti.

Here's what Alum Rock neighbors can do to report gang related tagging/graffiti in our community

1. Take a digital image of the gang related tagging and document the location. The street where the tagging is located, the surface of the tagging (fence, building, etc.) as well as the nearest intersection is needed.
   
2. Send an email with the location information and the digital image to: Erik Hove of the Metro Graffiti Unit at erik.hove@sanjoseca.gov and
   Keith Cottrell of the Violent Crime Enforcement Team at keith.cottrell@sanjoseca.gov.
   
   The Metro Graffiti Unit and the VCET Unit will use the pictures and location information to track gang activity in the area.
   
3. Contact the Anti Graffiti Hotline at (408) 277- 2758 for graffiti abatement. Gang related graffiti should be covered within 24 hours.
   
4. Please allow a 2 days for the Graffiti Enforcement Team to complete their process but if the tagging is not covered up, or you have not heard back from the Graffiti Enforcement Team, after 4 days please notify Captain Michael Sterner, the Division Commander of the SJPD Foothill Division, at michael.sterner@sanjoseca.gov.

To report graffiti in the unincorporated areas of the county

Contact: LISA ROSE at 282-3166.

You don’t have to take a photo of it. Not always possible. If there is confusion about whether it is in city or county, the staff people do a good job of sharing the info with the other if it is reported to the wrong jurisdiction. The initial report is the important step!

Please report graffiti, gang graffiti is on the rise. Let’s get it out of our neighborhoods ASAP!