Half Million for untagging

By newsroom staff, published 05 12 05 on www.server213.com

Los Angeles -- City council has unanimously voted this week to establish and fund a city-wide anti-graffiti program which will employ controversial means to wage war on tagging.

The program will be based on the already established UNTAG network, which stands for Uniting Neighborhoods to Abolish Graffiti. UNTAG depend on volunteer agents called block captains who take pictures, follow suspects and file reports with the police.

The work of this "block captain" system will be expanded to include surveillance cameras will be placed in areas that authorities should be monitored.

"UNTAG has been a terrific success, building a network of community volunteers who know how to clean up their neighbourhoods block by block," said LA councilman Eric Garcetti. "I look forward to seeing block captains take charge and point out graffiti all across Los Angeles."