Bob Filner: “I rise today to urge support of my amendment to the omnibus crime bill of 1994, an amendment to authorize the use of…”

“I rise today to urge support of my amendment to the omnibus crime bill of 1994, an amendment to authorize the use of juvenile trafficking and gang prevention grants for programs that reduce the incidence of graffiti and promote the removal and prevention of graffiti. This may seem to be a minor amendment--but it addresses a very important piece in the fight against juvenile crime. Graffiti is a huge problem in our cities. Gangs use it to mark territory and to challenge other gangs. It contributes to the decline of neighborhoods and leads to a sense of hopelessness in our communities. As a former member of the San Diego City Council, I discovered that any attempt to regain control of our neighborhoods began with an attack on graffiti. I formed a graffiti patrol with a graffiti hotline to address the problem. We not only helped to paint out graffiti but to mobilize neighbors to continue to keep their neighborhoods clean and graffiti free. The approval of this extremely important amendment will help to make the Federal Government a partner with local government in the fight against blight, against juvenile crime, and the fight to restore hope to our communities. Many local government officials are overwhelmed by this problem. Let's give them a hand.”