Enact a law requiring property owners to remove graffiti within a set period after notification.
In the past seven years, Bob Moss has removed over 4700 tags all over Palo Alto, plus some in neighboring cities such as Mountain View and Los Altos.
In September 1992 there was a major outbreak of graffiti throughout Palo Alto, and particularly along school routes in Barron Park. Bob Moss began cleaning and removing the graffiti from hundreds of locations - signs, lamp posts, trash cans, walls, walks, etc. In January 1993, he made a formal presentation to the City Council during oral communications to make them aware of the problem, and to urge the City to take an active role in removing graffiti, particularly that which was gang-related. The Council and staff did not respond at first, but after repeated requests by Bob Moss, including examples of graffiti removal kits, and photo displays of badly defaced locations which had been cleaned, staff agreed to establish and fund a graffiti removal office, and the City Council appropriated funds to support graffiti abatement.
In January 1994 the City Council passed a formal resolution recognizing Bob Moss for his outstanding efforts at graffiti removal. His efforts also have been recognized by the San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, and KCBS,
He still is an active graffiti removal volunteer, devoting several hours each month to keeping our community cleaner and better, free of graffiti.
There still is some unfinished business regarding graffiti removal. Some property owners refuse to clean up their buildings or remove graffiti despite repeated requests by City staff. One large tag on a building on San Antonio east of Charleston has been up more than two years.
