>> i think it ae's public and private property. i'm against graffiti. >> who can get it out the most who can be noticed the most. >> i i've seen seniors doing graffiti. >> the city is art, other people who have their names tag -- >> [inaudible] our unit there are 2 sections we are doing one is abating and others are notice of violation to private

property. all the utility boxes in public right-of-way we abate. >> we abate calls that come within 48 hours. >> we are a small group in g f graffiti. we don't have enough help. >> i have a group in town down and china town and the north tunnel. [inaudible] the graffiti we abate everything is coming up to the areas now. >> i'm willing to take it on. i think -- >> you are telling me you are ready for this? >> i think so. >> okay. >> there you go. >> all right. >> all right. >> ready to do it. let's go. >> want to get the gray signses this over here and the garbage

can and normally we don't do private property since it's on the corridor route you can come with me we will use black. >> we had a lot of changes in the graffiti unit. we do private property if someone moved we remove it and send it to the attorney's office and they take appropriate action. >> damage their property there. it's important to write the color in case they want to say what part of our house you abated the graffiti on. >> using your safety glasses the gloves. >> you got it. >> you know some places we gashi,

people appreciate that. you know, a lot of timeses they say, thank you. >> the time where it's visible. a lot of people put it on the ground. >> i like when tourists come and say, you do this for your city and you get paid for that? >> we use the [inaudible] for the holes and the retaining walls. [inaudible]. white on the fire hydrants. fire box red for the fire boxes. our brown for the pg and e

poles. >> we are not painters we do our best. >> i'm assuming it has to do with gang activity. >> if it's territorial i mind. >> in case it's gang related and they are marking our territory i would like to paint it over. >> anything with numbers like x iv or x 13 west side mob and the bay view those are gang related. with gang related or profanity we will abait it as soon as possible. >> i consider it an art. there are circles of people that form around it whether or not they should ruin public

property. >> this is art work i'm for it. unless it's on someone's property and they don't want it there. judge kids with silver paint expressing their ego needs doesn't belong on our property. >> graffiti is when you don't have permission to write anything on their property. >> eighth street is part of your regular rout? >> yes. >> everyday. >> eighth street. divisidero street. irving street. every block they going through they paint 3 or 4 streets in the block the poles the utility boxes, mailbox. >> thank you. >> okay. >> put the drop cloth. come on around. >> there you go.

force for we have to remember we are not painters we abate graffiti. we are abaters not painters. get that out of the way and keep moving. >> how many of these do you do a day? how many poles we do a day? >> yeah. >> depends on the location. may be 20. >> do you like working with the team? >> yes because i'm a people person. i like being outside and interacting with the public and i like the response we get especially from the good job we do in the community. >> goodbye.

>> welcome to culture wire. we're going to take a look at one of the biggest and most significant public art projects today. ♪ on june 26, mayor newsom and other officials gathered at the

hospital to cut the ribbon and welcome the public into a beautiful new state-of-the-art facility. >> 3, 2, 1. [applause] >> in has been 10 years since voters approved the measure for the new building. >> when they cast the vote, we have an exciting opportunities to rethink how art is done in a hospital setting. >> replacement program generated approximately $3.9 million in art enrichment funds for a comprehensive art program that contributes to the quality of life at the hospital by enhancing the environment and supporting the hospital's needs and therapeutic goals. artists were commissioned to create 100 original works of art. as was for the gardens and

courtyard areas. >> be artwork does more than just hang on the wall. it will enhance the therapeutics of the hospital and will include sensory stimulation, orientation, social interaction. >> it was set into like boxes to create color filled areas in the hospital. inspired by nature, the signature painting of native san francisco birds, clouds, and the surface of the ocean waves were translated into a variety of media including glass mosaic and tapestry. the playful clock encourages

memory stimulation among the patients. they used the theme of the four elements as they relate to vocation. it is a direct homage to the historical murals in the original laguna honda building. it features to large tile walls. by observing residents, the gardens created a public artwork in the form of the handrail. in one of the outdoor courtyards, the circular grouping of -- with a smooth finish. this features ten unique button

sculptures with different pastel colors that function not only as a place to sit, but also as a touchstone to something recognizable, familiar, and comforting. another key component included an art project that responded directly to the hospital's rich history. using archival images and artifacts, had designed 16 intricately woven tapestries that are inviting of significant events that shaped the hospital and the community over time. a >> it attracts a lot of visitors, and they are all and all - -in aw -- in awe over the variety of mediums used. >> i think we have given the

city of san francisco and the residents an incredible art collection. it really encourage people to come and visit the new facility, also to see the arts. >> for more information, visit sfartscommis

mayor lee: thank you, everyone. i wanted to be here to welcome the prime minister from new zealand's. i know he is here. he is on a stopover in preparation for the america's cup, on his way, of course, to meet our president obama and talk about our two countries' mutual support and help. i would like to think that the prime minister was here primarily co view the competition -- was here primarily to view the competition that will be between us in 2013, with washington being a stop over. i want to welcome him here.

i know he is here to not only speak for himself, but knowing that team new zealand has won the america's cup twice before, and in 1995 and 2000. they are going to be a very helpful. i am very excited about the america's cup. it will bring in some 8800 jobs to this city. it will really result in $1.4 billion of economic in come for our city, and that is why we're working very closely with michael thompson, are america's cup authority, as well as the president of our rec and park commission. and we work as a team and we know that team new zealand will be a tough competitor, but we also know as winners tell much this means to their economy and

how much it means to was in san francisco. we enjoyed the prime minister's visit here. we have just discussed what this america's cup means to our bay area. perino it will be a great competition and a friendly supports -- of release sports competition as well. as you know, new zealand has experienced a very devastating earthquake. i want to continue to extend san francisco's support for their immediate recovery. we have joined people in christchurch and all over new zealand to help with their recovery. just recently, we held an earthquake management seminar here in san francisco that was attended by new zealand's officials to share our expertise and make sure we're doing

everything we can, from sending over engineer help to talking to and exchanging the best earthquake management -- earthquake recovery management techniques that we have. we will continue to do that. charlotte shells, our protocol officer knows, we will keep our position as an international city, and the best way to do that is to offer all the help we could to areas lies -- like christ church in new zealand and to be a city that is supportive of their recovery and helping to instigate any ideas for a quick recovery. i know as prime minister key visits president obama our countries will work together and our mutual cooperation will be cultural and economic, but the city and council of san francisco is also there for new

zealand. we look forward to from the competition, but we also look forward to help them recover as well. with that, i wanted to present a proclamation to his occasion to visit us and visit our bay, and by the way, prime minister, every day in san francisco is like this. [laughter] clear, enough when it for the sales. prime minister, if we want to present to you this proclamation, declaring it to be prime minister john key day in san francisco. [applause] prime minister. >> thank you for welcoming me, mayor lee, and my delegation here to san francisco. we have had a grave -- we have had a great 24 hours in san francisco and the bay area.

we are getting a sense of what our team isdoing in their san francisco home. yesterday and in the bay area, we've visited some of those very fast-growing companies to get a sense of how rapidly the opportunities are emerging. also, the people of christ church except the good wishes. with had three major earthquakes within the last nine months and aftershocks. i think the people of san francisco know from their tragic experience of 1996, the challenges that result after an earthquake, the great difficulty of dealing with that situation, and also we can see what a

wonderful city you have built from the ruins of that quake in 1996. the people of christ church appreciate the heart and soul of the people on in san francisco. we look forward to competing in need -- in the louis vuitton and ultimately the america's cup. we hope to return that cup. we are up against very tough competition, i expect. obviously, i wish team america luck, but not too much luck. thank you for that. be enjoyed our experience. we are hosting another cup onion new zealand over the next couple of months, -- in new zealand over the next couple of months. lot of people have come to your city and to your town. finally, i want to congratulate

the giants on their tremendous performance in the world series. i took my son here 18 months ago to watch them. at&t stadium has to be the model stadium. a beautiful stadium, packed to the rafters, obviously. we look forward to when football season starts up again later in the year. i am going to take my son to washington after the. we're going to take 48 hours, seeing president obama and a range of other individuals. it is an interesting and challenging time as far as what is happening in washington at the moment, and we look forward to looking at the challenges that face the united states and also the great opportunities. we thank the united states for its partnership. thank you very much.

do you have any quick -- >> [unintelligible] >> absolutely. i think we can learn from each other. that is the significance of these relationships that we have, changing both engineers and professionals. we can definitely learned from christchurch. san francisco has been doing all it can. i have been the head of recovery planning since the last mayor. it takes a lot of partnerships and good planning and a focus on the vulnerable aspects. like we are focusing on our soft story buildings in the bay area. we will continue to also have a healthy city. a healthy city is one that is not as vulnerable. and economically healthy city. the have to invest in our infrastructure.

that is not only a debate in the bay area. is also a debate nationally. how do we make sure of our infrastructure, whether it is bridges or roads. >> [unintelligible] >> you will find it takes a lot longer to rebuild a city? what's it generally does take a lot longer -- >> is generally does take a lot longer to rebuild. you can expedite recovery. you can literally cut it in half. that is what we're trying to also instill in other cities that we talk with, exchanging information. recovery is about preparation. it is a mind-set that right now, i am actually educating residents of san francisco to think about recovering now, for its people, as well as its communities and the buildings themselves. investing in infrastructure,

making sure they are safe is one part. the other part is -- people do not have to leave the city. they can rebuild right away and know that local government is there to want to build. said the investment is important. -- so, the investment is important. i know in new orleans, one of the big criticisms is that no one met with the business community to suggest that they stay and rebuild right there. we learned that lesson, and we are here, right now, suggesting to our businesses, we want them to stay. we want the infrastructure. we want our utilities to recover immediately. >> [unintelligible] what are the examples? mayor lee: i think at an average it would take at least 10 years to rebuild san francisco after the major earthquake they are predicting.

we are working on a plan that would be three to four years maximum. that is what we would like to see. >> [unintelligible] mayor lee: absolutely. otherwise you lose all the other major businesses. may have to know we are working on this right now. >> [inaudible] [laughter] >> we certainly have the wind. we have the wind at our back. it is gorgeous. it is amazing. you will display the america's cup to an audience that will pack in on the shores your. that is quite an opportunity. it is wonderful to visit the city and the region. it is a magnificent place. racing between the golden gate bridge and alcatraz must be one of the most beautiful parts of

the world. >> [unintelligible] [laughter] >> i was hoping they were going to give us google. [laughter] mayor lee: by the way, we do intend to keep the america's cup here. [laughter] mayor lee: ok. thank you, everybody. >> thank you. >> about four years ago,

[inaudible] look at how beautiful this was. there is our relationship to the planet. these regions are the wealthiest, the most powerful. that really has impacted the planet. it is almost impossible now to go anywhere and had it really be completely dark. there are very few locations that you can find. that means our relationship to the sky, there is a way where we dominate the sky. we cannot see anything really. we are blinding ourselves in a way.