The smell of fresh paint being mixed could be detected throughout the trail at Soledad Canyon Road and Camp Plenty Way. On Nov. 8, the City of Santa Clarita held its fourth annual Graffiti Removal Day, an opportunity for residents to learn more about the process of cleaning up tags and interacting with the City’s Graffiti Removal Team.
Pre-registered volunteers arrived at the registration booth at 8 a.m. When the staff confirmed that everyone was present, groups walked down to the trail at Soledad Canyon Road, where a bridge covered in graffiti was visible. Volunteers were tasked with covering up the graffiti using paint rollers and paint provided by the City’s Graffiti Removal Team. They were also encouraged to pick up any trash seen in the area.
West Ranch junior Jayden Carty had participated in the event. “I want to help out with the community. Get rid of the graffiti and spread positivity in a way,” Carty shared. “I think it helps get everybody together, connect more and just spread kindness throughout the community.”
Brandon Mejia, a Graffiti Specialist for the City of Santa Clarita and organizer of the event, noted that this event provided a good opportunity for residents to learn more about graffiti cleanup and the process that makes it possible.
Meija stated that “At the end of the day, [graffiti] is a public nuisance. In some instances, it is very artistic, but in most cases, it’s just kind of an eyesore. It can have the unintentional side effect of making people feel unsafe where they are. In Santa Clarita, we have a no-tolerance policy, and at the end of the day, if you ask, most residents appreciate not having graffiti in the city.”
Gabby Vera, the City’s Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, reinforces that it is important to volunteer , “because it’s one of the ways to know all that your community is involved in. It’s a beautiful introduction to city facilities, city programs and special events.”
For people who want to participate in this event in the future, visit SantaClaritaVolunteers.com to learn about future days and pre-register to volunteer. For Volunteer Engagement Program questions and information, call (661) 250-3708 or email [email protected].
Cats, make sure you’re supporting your community and volunteering!
