Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association, Inc.

GRAFFITI DETERRENT

Fox Canyon Style

Cleaning does not only means an explosion of junk all over our community, on clean up day, like the one we just had. It also means, fixing and implementing creative and innovative solutions to avoid, stop and control our runaway pollution problems like trash, litter and graffiti. It also means quiet, responsible and dedicated ownership.

Graffiti has become a royal pain in the crown all over our City in general and on our beloved Fox Canyon in particular. Visual pollution that cost thousands of dollars in vandalism, and it's hard to eradicate, if you are not constantly vigilant and on it before the taggers do.

In our community, we do not have all the answers, nor do we claim to be scientific about anything. As a matter of fact, here, very few people have college degrees. Speak with the same accent, and/or write English well. As we are a majority of working class residents.

But, boy, if we know how to work hard in improving our own and our neighbor's lot. For years, we did what we were told, as good workers do. "Get up early in the morning and go out to help paint-over graffiti." And so we did day-after-day, year-after-year, with paint and tools donated by Project Clean, Frazee and many others. Our thanks to all them as, we are quite sure that we will need them again.

Until one day, we discovered FIRE!

The fire within, which made us, tried something new. It's not scientific. We could not even afford it with our own finantial means. But here it is. Come look at it (corner Euclid/Lantana) and see if works.

Wall was prepared, mural painted, trellises install, and potato vines planted. Our only hope is that graffiti begone from this HOT SPOT and soon we can sleep a bit latet or take on different assignments. If not dedicate those free hours to catch the culprits that graffiti out walls.

ORGANIZATION FOR THIS PROJECT

„?? Blue & white paint and primer for wall preparation, donated by Jose Lopez.
„?? Artist, Jerry Scott of Fox Canyon
„?? Wall prepared (professionally) by volunteer worker Jose Maximo Gomez, who donated the work of two afternoons.
„?? Mural Paint donated by Artist Jerry Scott.
„?? Graffiti protection, trellises and potato vine plants purchased from a grant, administered by the "Graffiti Control Program," Sonya Ollison, Manager.
„?? Purchaser, runner: Elyse Olson (CD7)
„?? Planting crew directed by artist Jerry Scott, work by Jose Chacon and other neighbors.
„?? Project accomplished on June 14, 2003, Clean Up day.

If we list the organization of this project is only to show that community projects of this magniture (big or small), requires grants and/or donations, everyone's input, long hours of hard work, patience and lots of quiet, but consistent ownership. And not just to take credit for work well done.

We are happy and very proud of our neighbors and friends that made his improvement possible. As we are in desperate need of both, funds and workers to realize our dreams.