Livermore Mayor Honored with 2016 Graffiti Fighter Award

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore Mayor John Marchand was honored with the 2016 Graffiti Fighter Award by Zero Graffiti International on September 19 in Sacramento. More than two years ago, he started a local initiative called “GLAD: Graffiti and Litter Abatement Daily." He and many other citizen volunteers work on removing tags found throughout Livermore whenever they find them.

“Marchand was recognized for his leadership and program, which has motivated dozens of
Livermore residents become graffiti fighters,” city officials said in a statement. “Using a free, simple clean-up kit, Livermore’s graffiti fighters do not merely paint over graffiti, but actually remove it with a special spray bottle cleaner and wipes.”

Marchand, who keeps a custom graffiti clean-up kit in his truck, estimates he has removed hundreds of graffiti tags over the years in the city. He hopes that leading by example will inspire others to do the same.

Marchand said, “I am very proud of this program and the resident volunteers who have stepped up to take care of their community. Resident survey results show that people value the City’s appealing appearance, economic vitality, high level of safety, and great quality of life. Graffiti fighting contributes to these positive qualities, and I encourage more people to join me and the rest of the team.”

In July, Marchand came to aid of the resident who was a victim of vandalism. The victim said her car, driveway and front door were defaced with the words "racist" and "Trump" spray painted on the surfaces.

After reading about the vandalism on Livermore Patch, Marchand stopped by the victim’s house on his way home from city hall and he cleaned up the graffiti. Marchand keeps a graffiti clean-up kit in his truck at all times.

Read More:

• Vandals Graffiti Livermore Home, Car

“I was glad that I could help,” Marchand said in a previous Patch article.

Marchand says the initiative encourages people to look after their city and he reminds residents to use the free phone application to report larger graffiti tags.

Livermore residents can pick up graffiti clean-up kits at the Maintenance Service Center at 3500 Robertson Park Road between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The City also recently upgraded its online system for residents to report maintenance issues such as graffiti, potholes, non-working streetlights, and more. Click here for the new system link.

Residents are encouraged to report maintenance problems via the City’s mobile phone app. To download it, click the link in the bottom, right-hand corner of the www.cityoflivermore.net homepage.

Lead photo caption: ZGI’s Drew Lindner (left) congratulates Mayor John Marchand (right) on his award. Photo courtesy City of Livermore
Photo #2 contributed