Dear Mr. Bennett:

The City of Fresno’s Graffiti Abatement Team Supervisor, Jet Lim, has brought to my attention the outstanding work the Fresno Christian School students recently performed which resulted in a significant amount of graffiti being removed from public areas.

On Thursday, March 6, 2014, nineteen (19) youths from Fresno Christian School went to the area of Marks and Shields and, for a 2-hour period, removed approximately 7,000 square feet of graffiti.

I want to say “Thank You!” I am encouraged by your school’s hard work and dedication which resulted in a graffiti-free neighborhood. I am extremely proud of the level of energy and tireless efforts shown by the following Fresno Christian School chaperones and students:

Noah Heinz (chaperone)
Mick Fuller (chaperone)
David Ryu
Sydney Belmont
Summer Villanueba
Gillian Rea
Brooklyn Ainley
John Nyberg
Morgan Miller
Bobby Christopher
Shannon Martens
Mojun Pan
Marrisa Parker
Emily Gonzales
Natalia Torres
Sierra Duffy
Elise Winegarden
Alli Breedlove
Grant Flammang
Bryant Nguyen
Katie Uribe

Graffiti often leads to other delinquent activities such as theft, vandalism, as well as, encouraging gang activity. Graffiti represents disorder and a lack of public-spiritedness. It also has a snowball effect on urban decay and undermines the public’s sense of security. Some citizens avoid going to certain places because they feel insecure, business owners get less business, and private and public property deteriorates. The result is that the public always pays the price (parents, neighbors, friends, and business owners).

Graffiti removal creates benefits that affect the community as a whole. Please accept my appreciation the Fresno Christian School’s involvement this summer and, hopefully, we can look forward to future collaborations.

Sincerely,
JERRY P. DYER
Chief of Police