PALM SPRINGS — If you see graffiti in Palm Springs, the city has two easy ways to report it and is seeking your help.

The  two primary methods to report graffiti include:

  • Graffiti Hotline (760) 778-8469
  • Palm Springs “At Your Service” application for reporting on-line, found  here.

Graffiti, a crime, is the most common type of property vandalism (35%) according to the Bureau of Justice statistics. The most effective way to prevent the unsightly scrawls is to remove it promptly. Studies show that removal within 24-48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of recurrence. That is exactly what the city of Palm Springs aims to do.

The City Council on Wednesday approved a one-year contract, not to exceed $90,000, with Graffiti Protective Coatings (GPC) of Los Angeles to remove graffiti citywide. The contract could save the city about $20,000 per year.

As the volume of graffiti abatement has significantly increased, the city spends an estimated $110,000 annually in staff costs, according to City Manager David H. Ready. Additionally, removing graffiti pulls facilities and maintenance staff from other assignments, reducing the department’s overall effectiveness.

Since the 2015-2016 fiscal year, staff has tracked approximately 4,400 requests for graffiti abatement annually, according to Ready.

GPC is a company that serves more than 1,000 municipalities, government agencies and private clients. GPC’s technique leaves virtually no trace of past vandalism and provides a minimum 98 percent color match guarantee of the original color.

Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs have similar contracts with GPC. Cathedral City has had its contract since September 2015.

GPC offers a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, including holidays, response to any report of graffiti. They will also provide a 60-minute or less response time to emergencies.

There becomes no incentive to tag if the object is covered almost instantly. However, the city needs residents to help alert it of where the tagging occurs as soon as you notice it.

All calls received on the Graffiti Hotline or through the “At Your Service” application are coordinated by staff, assigned, and abated. Staff monitors all labor and material costs associated with graffiti removal and the locations of the reported graffiti.

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