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Karen Boyd,
information officer at the Public Works Agency
says that if the City is not responsive to
cleaning up grime such as graffiti immediately,
“the message it sends to criminals is that
the city doesn't care and will tolerate a level
of ugly behavior.” The
City “has a commitment to clean up graffiti
in 24 hours” after it is reported and
“zero tolerance for illegal dumping,”
says Boyd.
This concept was behind the
Oakland City Council's blight ordinance last
March. It cracks down on property owners who
leave garbage cans on the streets, or fail to
clean up deteriorated or defaced building
exteriors. The Public Works Agency has hotlines
to report graffiti and illegal dumping, garbage
collection, potholes and sewer maintenance. 
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