The ninth annual Graffiti-Free Awareness Month in Phoenix is underway.

“Graffiti is vandalism, and it detracts from the beauty of our great city," Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said.

“We need help from our residents to keep Phoenix clean and send a message that vandalism has no place in our city."

In 2022, the Neighborhood Services Department Graffiti Busters used nearly 12,000 gallons of paint to clean up approximately 50,000 sites of graffiti around Phoenix, according to a city release.

The Graffiti Busters work seven days a week, tracking down graffiti and responding to reports from residents. Crews can cover or remove up to 200 sites of graffiti every day, at no cost to residents or businesses, the release stated.

“Our Graffiti Busters work tirelessly helping to make sure our neighborhoods are desirable, safe places to live," Spencer Self, neighborhood services director, said.

“Fighting graffiti is a collective effort. We rely on reports from our residents so we can respond and remove it as quickly as possible, so it doesn't attract more vandalism."

For more: https://www.phoenix.gov/graffiti