NYC hires 1,500 to clean up storefront graffiti, with goal of 10,000

Friday, June 4, 2021
SOHO, Manhattan (WABC) -- A giant cleanup campaign is underway to erase the epidemic of graffiti at several store fronts all over SoHo.

Jersey Street in SoHo is just two blocks long, but it may be the most graffiti bombed stretch in the city.

It's so blanketed in street art, people stop to take their picture in front of it.

RELATED | NYC art gallery paying tribute to Tulsa Race Massacre victims vandalized for 3rd time
NYC gallery paying tribute to Tulsa Massacre vandalized for 3rd time

These days, there's plenty to see. Crosby Street seems to be a favorite of taggers and writers, who fill every wall and every storefront gate with their art. Sometimes they even find ways to tag up to the second floor. It's getting bad.

"When it comes to destruction of private property, I'm not with it -- it is destruction," said one eyewitness.

To combat the graffiti, the city has hired 1,500 people as part of what Mayor Bill de Blasio calls the Cleanup Corps -- with the plan to hire 10,000.

ALSO READ | Community leaders demand action as violent crime surges 22% in New York City
Community leaders demand action as violent crime surges in NYC

"We're going to address the graffiti issue across the board, and it's one of the many things we're doing to bring the city back," de Blasio said.

He waged a similar campaign in SoHo back in April and May.

"You gonna spend more money cleaning it up, and guess what, the artists are gonna back and do the same thing all over again," another eyewitness said.


----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More Manhattan news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a News Tip
Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.