Got paint? If you have cans of paint sitting around your home collecting dust then the City has a proposition for you. The City's Housing and Neighborhood Services Department's Graffiti Abatement Program in partnership with the Solid Waste Management Department is looking for a few good gallons of paint as they kick-off a paint drive next week to collect a minimum of 2000 gallons of paint for their 2008 Graffiti Wipeout event.

The drive begins at 10:30 a. m. on Wednesday, March 19 at the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site (HHW), 7030 Culebra, as Councilwoman Delicia Herrera and City leaders hold a news conference to encourage residents to donate their unwanted, but usable paint.

Citizens wanting to help can donate any water-based latex paint suitable for domestic application to the HHW during their normal business hours Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The paint should be in its original container, less than five years old, at least a third full, and in useable condition. All colors are welcome.

The 5th Annual Graffiti Wipeout Volunteer Day is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Last year, more than 2700 people volunteered for the City's largest volunteer graffiti removal event. During the event, crews are dispersed throughout the city to paint over tagged drainage channels, bridge overpasses, buildings and privacy fences.