CLEARLAKE — Clearlake Police Officer Lauren Vance is anxious to get started on the re-establishment of the Graffiti Removal Intervention Program (GRIP). However, she said a lack of response from area homeowners is stalling the program”s launch.
Vance said in order conduct the work, which entails painting over the blighting graffiti around the city, she must first obtain written permission from the home or property owner. She said several authorization requests have been sent to those homeowners where graffiti has been identified, but the permission slips are not being returned.
“We can”t just go out and start painting over this graffiti without getting permission from the property owner to do so,” she said. “We have enough supplies to get us going, but we can”t get started until we get those permission slips back.”
The GRIP utilizes the services of youth required to perform community service. “This program gets those troubled youth involved in something positive,” she said. “The GRIP not only provides those youth with an opportunity to pay back their debt to society, but also, hopefully, it will help them gain some pride in their community. The more pride our youth have in their community the less-likely it is that they will vandalize it.”
Vance said while area businesses such as Mendo Mill and Lumber and Four Corners Builders Supply have been very generous in donating paint and supplies to support the program, more paint and supplies, such as paint rollers, brushes and trays will be needed. For donation information, contact Officer Vance at 994-8251. Vance said she also welcomes calls from home and/or property owners who would like to utilize GRIP services.
