Brooklyn's Progress
June 2003

Borough President Marty Markowitz officially launched his Graffiti-Free Brooklyn campaign on May 19 by unveiling two, high tech graffiti removal trucks that are dedicated to cleaning up both residential and commercial properties across Brooklyn.  Borough President Markowitz, who is partnering with the New York City Economic Development Corporation in the program, helped remove graffiti that covered a building owned by the Glorious Church of God in Christ in Bedford-Stuyvesant.  Bishop Perry Lindsay was thrilled to watch all of the graffiti being removed.  Borough President Markowitz was also able to arrange with NYCEDC for an additional 10 trucks to blitz various Brooklyn commercial districts throughout the week that have been repeatedly victimized by graffiti.  These additional trucks worked throughout Brooklyn - Monday through Friday from 2:00am till 10:00am.

"I was thrilled to be able to purchase these trucks and work with EDC on making Brooklyn even more beautiful than it already is," Borough President Markowitz said.  "Graffiti damages more than just property, it also destroys neighborhood pride.  Removing graffiti rejuvenates a neighborhood economically and improves the quality of life for one and all.  Graffiti-Free Brooklyn is another important program that continues the revitalization of communities throughout our borough."

"Helping the boroughs to clean up their neighborhoods is an important component of Mayor Bloomberg's initiatives to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers," said NYCEDC President Andrew M. Alper. "Beautifying our commercial and residential areas makes them not only aesthetically more attractive and inviting, it also makes them safer."

The trucks, which cost $130,000, combine both high volume paint spraying and power washing capabilities and will be staffed and operated by NYCEDC.  They are totally self-contained and highly mobile units that allow the trucks to responded quickly and navigate narrow streets.  Each truck can clean up to 20,000 square feet of graffiti per day versus only 2,000 square feet using rollers and brushes.  Each truck can erase up to 1 million square feet of graffiti a year. 

By Brooklyn Borough President's Office