A local group that fights crime by fighting “grime” will be back in business in eastern Iowa. For two years now, young workers have scrubbed off graffiti from buildings in the Quad Cities. Davenport Police Chief Mike Bladell says the partnership between local police and a community group called United Neighbors worked well. He admits some times it worked more successfully than others. “Sometimes we feel like we’re just erasing the chalkboard.”
The chief says funding ran out last fall. Badell says United Neighbors told him it would take nine-thousand dollars to continue the program through June. He presented that information to city administrator Craig Malin, who promptly approved spending that money to see the group gets “back in business.” Chief Bladell says the young graffiti-cleaners will get back to work as soon as weather permits.