The American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) recently recognized Thornton’s Graffiti Removal Program with the 2011 award for Outstanding Achievement in Code Enforcement Techniques. The program was recognized for its "innovative efforts to address City Code violations in a positive and responsive manner." Since 2008, the program has removed over 162,000 square feet of graffiti from over 4,000 locations.

One examples of Thornton’s innovation...

• Allowing property owners to have graffiti vandalism removed at no personal expense, quickly reducing visual blight. Other cities typically require homeowners and businesses to remove graffiti at their expense.

AACE is the national professional organization for code enforcement officers.