Anti-Graffiti Hotline

The City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) operates an Anti-Graffiti Hotline. Citizens can call an report locations of graffiti. DNS will try to contact the owner, advise them of any options and hopefully have the graffiti removed quickly. If the owner fails to comply an order will be issued. In some cases the City will do the work and assess the costs to the owner.

The most effective weapon against graffiti is the quick removal of it. The longer it is up, the greater the chances of its return.

Call the City of Milwaukee Anti-Graffiti hotline at 414-286-8715 to report graffiti. If you see someone in the act of graffiti vandalism, call the police at 911. If you are the owner of the property and have graffiti, you should report it to the police non-emergency number of 933-4444.

Now Online!
Citizens can now leave a complaint about a graffiti problem on a new E-mail address. Contact graffiti@milwaukee.gov please provide as much information as possible especially address, location of graffiti, type of graffiti (spray paint, black marker) and date first noticed.

Background
The establishment of the Anti-Graffiti Program in 1994 was triggered by a growing presence of graffiti vandalism. Residents and policy makers alike recognized that if this problem was ignored, it had the potential to destroy neighborhoods by driving property values down and residents and jobs out. To address this quality of life issue, the Mayor, Common Council, Department of Neighborhood Services, Department of Public Works, and the Milwaukee Police Department have implemented a zero tolerance plan involving eradication, education, enforcement, and restitution.

Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee
This is a televised standing committee of the Common Council. It meets at the call of the chair and has been doing so at roughly two-month intervals. City Staff representatives report on agenda items related to graffiti related projects. Members of the public and other agencies regularly appear and testify. These members include but are not limited to: Milwaukee County Transit, US Postal Service, the District Attorney's Office, waste disposal companies and representatives of many business improvement districts.

Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) Enforcement Process
The department receives complaints through referrals from many sources and calls received on the Graffiti Hotline. An advisory letter is sent to the owners of the property asking him/her to clean up the graffiti. If the owner does not comply with the advisory, the department issues an order to the owner. If the graffiti is not cleaned up in the required time, the department has the power to have the graffiti on the private property abated and place the charges for doing so on the owner's next tax bill. There were over 4,000 calls to the Graffiti Hotline in 2000, and over 22,000 calls since its inception.

Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)
A Milwaukee Police Department Captain meets monthly with DNS staff and serves as the liaison between DNS and the MPD. The captain works with DNS staff, the Business Associations and Department of Public Works (DPW) to define problem areas, possible sting operations and possible sites to use the newly purchased camera. DNS staff also works with MPD to check out stores, which sell wide tipped markers and spray paint to see if they are meeting the ordinance requirements for storage and sales. MPD has developed a process for the Business Associations to report graffiti hits on private property in their areas. It is important to get that information into the police department database for deployment purposes and for restitution if any of the cases are prosecuted in court. Prior to this process this information was not captured by any City department.

Department of Public Works
DPW is responsible for removing graffiti from public structures. They have a team, truck and a soda blaster to use for graffiti removal.

Information/Education
DNS spends large percentage of resources on providing information and education to various groups in the City. The department plans an annual spring kickoff. The department has two brochures related to graffiti information. One is new in 2000. DNS staff members work with businesses, talk to surrounding communities and city community groups to discuss trends and problems. DNS staff also attend Landlord Training sessions and give presentations on the products that are available for removing graffiti. The department has hosted visitors from Sweden, Canada, and Illinois to investigate our program.

Business Associations
DNS has a working relationship with approximately 12 business associations in the City. They have signed agreements, which reimburse them 50% of their abatement costs up to a maximum of $5,000. (The maximum might increase depending on fund availability). The association members meet on a regular basis with DNS staff. Many of the business organizations also abate graffiti on public property (light poles, benches, planters, etc.) with their own funds.

Railroads
Graffiti on railroad property is a major problem. Recently, DNS staff members have identified contacts with the Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads (two of four major railroads that own property within the City limits) and are working with them to identify and abate graffiti on their structures. Staff has invited the railroad representatives to attend both the monthly staff meetings and the Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee meetings.

Dumpsters
Private waste collector containers are an area of concern. Department efforts were diminished considering all the time and effort put into abatement on the building while the waste container graffiti stood out. DNS sponsored an ordinance change which requires the waste management companies to have a plan for abatement and also sets fines if abatement efforts are not taken. Several companies have given us contact numbers for referrals and response time for abatement has improved.

Need help getting rid of graffiti? Here's our brochure listing the latest tips and tricks.

 2000 Anti-Graffiti Program Kick Off

2001 Anti-Graffiti Program Kick Off