Residents and business owners in downtown Los Angeles are calling for stronger action to address a growing graffiti problem they say is damaging the city’s appearance ahead of several major international events. Los Angeles is set to host World Cup activities beginning this week, the Super Bowl in February, and the Olympic Games in 2028.
Graffiti is visible throughout parts of downtown, covering buildings, including historic properties, as well as signs, sidewalks, fences, storefronts, and parked vehicles. One man who manages an apartment building in the area told KABC-TV that his maintenance crew paints over graffiti every morning, only to see new tags appear within 30 to 40 minutes.
The Historic Core Business Improvement District operates a graffiti abatement team seven days a week, using paint and pressure washing to remove vandalism. The scale of the problem has grown dramatically. The organization covered nearly 9,500 tags in 2023. Last year, that number surged to more than 31,000.
