Employee Connection
Ray Martinez: Maintaining Fontana’s Beauty
Ray Martinez (right) and Russell DeLaFuente
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Graffiti is growing into more of a problem than ever before. In 2009 alone, the Fontana Graffiti Removal Team removed over 2 million square-feet of graffiti from businesses, schools, sidewalks and even homes. Every year, cities spend millions of dollars on graffiti abatement and cleanup, but with the Fontana Graffiti Removal Program and employees such as Ray Martinez, the City is becoming more beautiful through the absence of graffiti.
On an average day, Martinez monitors the Graffiti Hotline, an online service request database and graffiti notifications. He then submits these requests to his two-to-four member teams and follows-up later to ensure the removal requests are complete.
In addition to logging and distributing service requests, Martinez follows up with residents, obtains supplies for the Graffiti Crew and contacts departments and agencies such as CALTRANS to notify them of graffiti in their jurisdiction.
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He also photographs and inspects graffiti sites to upload to the
Graffiti Tracker database. Through the use of this technology, the
Fontana Police Department’s personnel can track taggers throughout the
City and use the documented graffiti incidents to aid in the prosecution
of apprehended taggers.
At times, Martinez’s job is extremely
difficult. His most difficult task is preventing taggers from
re-tagging newly-cleaned areas. Although this often proves to be
challenging, Martinez works through it in hopes of making Fontana a
better place to live.
“I was surprised how much the residents of
Fontana really appreciate the graffiti removal service,” Martinez said.
“On the Graffiti Hotline, residents will leave messages thanking the
Graffiti Crew for removing the graffiti … it makes you feel good [to
know] that we can provide a service that really makes a difference.”
His job isn’t always stressful, however. One of Martinez’s most
memorable experiences was when he worked with a group of volunteers
called the Rainbow Girls. According to Martinez, the volunteers were
enthusiastic, motivated and hard-working throughout the entire day of
tireless graffiti removal.
Although he enjoys working for Fontana,
city employment is nothing new to Martinez who has worked for three other
cities over a 17-year period. He enjoys working for the City of Fontana
because of the positive attitude and teamwork that has been developed.
“At
the City Yard, teamwork is really emphasized. I not only interact
with the Graffiti Crew members but with the front office, fleet, parks,
street/sewer organizations and management,” Martinez said. “By working
together as a team it makes everything work faster and smoother … the
crew members really like their jobs and management here is very
supportive.”
The enjoyment of his job shows through not only his work, but what he thinks of his job and future plans as well.
“Graffiti
removal has a positive impact on the City’s image,” Martinez said. “It
shows the residents and business owners that the City really cares
about how it is viewed. The City has created an image of growth and
expansion.”
In the future, Martinez plans to continue working for
the City and developing the graffiti program as a model for other
agencies to follow.
For more information about the Graffiti Removal
Program and other functions of Fontana’s Public Works department,
please call (909) 350-6760 or visit www.fontana.org.
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