Concerned Parents of Pueblo

Graffiti has been around when the caveman first put his hand on the wall to let people know he was there. Graffiti is the newspaper of the streets, we as adults cannot read this but our youth can. This writing, called Graffiti is letting the youth know where the drugs are available and communicates who is doing what between gangs.

Concerned Parents of Pueblo began removing graffiti in 1993, partnering with the City of Pueblo and the community as a whole. We wanted to wipe out all gang related graffiti.

The gangs mark their turf, they have roll calls for members, and they tell each other who is doing

Ancient Cave Art

what through the graffiti. They challenge other gangs with violence for being on there turf. Gang Graffiti is the cause of most drive by shootings. When they mark their area they are claiming the power of their gang. With their writings on someone's wall the rival gangs begin senseless acts of violence, such as shooting through their neighborhoods. In the last 12 years, Concerned Parents has removed graffiti from 10,000 different sites. We have used over 300,000 gallons of paint.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation purchased for the City of Pueblo, a soda blaster to safely remove graffiti from concrete, brick and stucco that could not be painted over. This graffiti machine cost $25,000 dollars to purchase and approximately $30,000 dollars a year to run.

Besides gang graffiti there are also taggers who just like to write or express themselves on the walls just like the caveman. Those who want people to see who they are and the Graffiti artists who like to put up their art. This is not bad for they are very good artist the problem is this is a crime they do not ask permission from the homeowners to display their art. We have taken these artists and have painted over 50 murals in the City of Pueblo. ,


	Graffiti crimes are costing all of us lots of money. This crime takes up the courts time and the cost to the homeowners and insurance companies continue to rise. It takes the communities policemen away from more serious crimes; because of they are consumed with the complaints they receive. In 2004 the City of Pueblo came under a budget crunch and decided they could not afford to help Concerned Parents any longer with their graffiti program. They felt it was more cost effective to run the program and took the program over. They are working with the Municipal Courts to have youth who are in trouble and are court ordered to service, to take off the Graffiti. This is a good thing, Concerned Parents started this program in the early 90's with the belief that every one must be held accountable for their actions.
The bad part about this is through this process the City hurt our Youth Participants who took pride in making a stand against this type of crime. They showed the community that not all young people are troublemakers. Our Youth Participants take pride in their service to the community of Pueblo.

If you have graffiti on your homes or walls please call the City Hall and they will contact the people that are doing the removal. Remember, graffiti is a crime and it must be taken off as soon as possible. Removing gang graffiti protects your families, your neighborhoods, and your community from senseless acts of violence and crime.

Office Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday - Friday
901 N. Santa Fe
Pueblo Colorado 81003
Phone (719) 546-3577
Fax (719) 546-1384