Mayor highlights Graffiti Busters team

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff/file)

By John C. Drake, Globe Staff

Dozens of trucks and city officials descended on Mission Hill this morning as a work crew took aim at graffiti on Farragut Elementary School.

The crews from the city's Graffiti Busters team doused the spray-painted tag with a chemical before washing the wall. The gathering of city officials marked the start of Mayor Thomas M. Menino's "Wipe It Clean" week, which will focus on the city's five most vandalized neighborhoods -- Mission Hill, Back Bay, East Boston, Dorchester, and Allston/Brighton.

"This is a quality of life issue that affects every neighborhood in Boston, but five neighborhoods in particular have to deal with it more than others," Menino said in a statement. "Graffiti is an act of vandalism. If you see it, call us and we will have crews remove it, because a community that looks and feels safe is a community where criminals know they aren’t welcome."

"Wipe It Clean" week will not provide any additional funding for the five-member Graffiti Busters team, which has existed since 1996. To step up efforts, the Graffiti Busters will be joined by workers from other organizations and city departments, including Public Works, Transportation, Inspectional Services, Parks, and Public Schools.

The Graffiti Busters team works year-round responding to complaints from residents. Graffiti can be reported to the city’s 24-hour hot line at 617-635-4500. The mayor's office is also encouraging the work of a city team that paints murals on walls repeatedly tagged by graffiti. For more information, call 617-635-3911.

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