October 26, 2005

San Francisco Green Patrol

By Jonathan Farrell
Special to the Neighborhood Newswire

Tired of seeing litter and graffiti in his Mission Dolores neighborhood, Gideon Kramer decided to do something about it. Kramer started the “San Francisco Green Patrol” to keep his community clean and graffiti-free.

SF Green Patrol’s goal is to eliminate graffiti, remove illegal posting/advertising on public property, and clean-up weeds and debris from sidewalks and storm drains. Until last summer, when the Patrol negotiated a seven-month pilot contract with the San Francisco Department of Public Works and the Clean City Coalition, its efforts were provided free-of-charge by Kramer and a small group of volunteers.

According to DPW Deputy Director Mohammed Nuru, "Graffiti is a huge problem. For a city this size it is out of control."

On Mission Street by 9:00 every morning, Kramer makes his rounds, taking particular care to remove hazards to pedestrians, bicycles, and cars, such as broken glass and discarded household appliances.

The SF Green Patrol’s turf includes 850 street fixtures – parking meters, street signs, light posts, utility poles, garbage cans, public phones, transit shelters and mailboxes – located in a 10 block radius, from 16th to 25th Streets.

“I know each one by location and address,” Kramer said. Over the past five months Kramer and his crew of two Mission District residents have cleaned every fixture on the Patrol’s beat.

In addition to keeping the area clean, Kramer helps enforce municipal laws that prohibit graffiti and property defacement. He provides DPW with photographs and written documentation of illegal activity: posting of stickers/signs, graffiti, and illegal dumping of trash. The Department uses this information to pursue violators.

“So far the efforts of the SF Green Patrol have been very successful. When the pilot program is completed, we hope it will serve as a model for other neighborhoods,” said Gia Grant, Executive Director of Clean City Coalition, a non-profit organization founded in 1991.

A graphic artist by profession, Kramer appreciates art in just about any form. “But the crucial difference is respect of space and permission,” he said.

As he passes Factory 2-U, a clothing store on the 2600 block of Mission Street, he sees a scribble on the window. Kramer quickly removes it with some spray cleaner. But there are instances when even heavy-duty cleaners won’t work. “Hydrofluoric acid is a problem. Usually a person doing graffiti wants the tag to last. This type of acid eats away at the surface of the glass making a permanent scar on the window,” said Kramer.

Aggressive graffiti is not the only challenge; Kramer regularly contends with illegal dumping. Many large items, such as computer monitors, hard-drives, furniture and even major household appliances are discarded on the street. “It is illegal to just leave stuff like that on the street,” said Kramer.

Kramer points out that Norcal provides up to two large-item collections a year at no extra charge. “People can also take their stuff to the dump on their own if they want,” said Kramer.

Citing a popular sociological theory that emerged out of 1980s New York, Kramer believes that if a broken window is not repaired immediately, within a short time all the windows in the building will be broken. “It only takes 24 to 48 hours for more graffiti and litter to appear, that is why it is important to take care of it right-away,” he said.
Kramer isn’t alone in his vision of a cleaner Mission District.

“I make sure the sidewalk is swept at least three times a day,” said Walgreens store manager, Abe Bitar. Bitar has managed the 2690 Mission Street store for more than a decade, and considers it a part of the community. “I treat this store as if it was a neighborhood store. I like to look after the needs of my customers and the community,” said Bitar.

Like Kramer, he’s not afraid to take on extra responsibilities. “I am used to the challenge of high traffic, by four in the afternoon this area gets messy again,” Bitar said.
Bitar is pleased with SF Green Patrol’s work. A Mission District resident for more than two decades, Bitar believes that for the Mission to thrive people must work together. “It is all part of a package - the cleaning of the street, the investment of the merchants/landlords and the cooperation/presence of police. It all has to come together,” Bitar said.

DPW’s Nuru hopes that more people will follow the Patrol’s lead and help bring about positive change to their neighborhoods. Phil Lesser, president of the Mission Merchant Association, also applauds the SF Green Patrol, and hopes to support it through the newly-created Business Improvement District. Kramer “...is an angel,” he said. “I hope the city canonizes him… No one likes graffiti and litter. Everything about it is negative.”

For more information about the SF Green Patrol contact Gideon Kramer at: sfgreenpatrol@earthlink.net