Phoenix plan aims to clean up graffiti

PHOENIX - Buddy Jensen and his wife run Collette's Uniform Co. on Camelback Road right on the border of Glendale and Phoenix. The store has been around for decades, but in the past couple of years, he's seen a sharp rise in graffiti covering the walls.

"A couple of times a week. It's just a constant battle, you know," Jensen said.

Jensen makes an effort to keep the walls clean. He has several gallons of paint on hand at any given time and tells ABC15 that if he doesn't cover it up, he gets a reminder from the city of Glendale.

"We've had code come by and want to give us a ticket for it."

Now the city of Phoenix looking to get tough on graffiti too.

"The idea is that 'Graffiti Busters' will continue to remove graffiti from the property three times. After the third time, we would go to code enforcement," Tim Boling, Phoenix Neighborhood Services Director said.

"Most of it is just pure vandalism and it destroys properties," Boling said.

The area being tested is between 43th and 59th avenues from Camelback to Thomas roads.

Even though the 'Graffiti Buster' program has a $2 million budget, city leaders want property owners to help foot the bill and encourage residents to be more vigilant.

"If you see graffiti in progress, call 911. The police department will respond very quickly. The police department hates graffiti just as much as we do," Boling said.