A Clean Slate: How MID Ambassadors Tackle Graffiti in Downtown

On an abnormally bright early-November afternoon, Downtown Seattle Association/Metropolitan Improvement District Supervisor Marcus Quesnell stood in an alleyway near the corner of Bell Street and Sixth Avenue, unloading a pressure washer with a masonry-safe cleaning solution from his truck.

Not long before, a downtown property manager had called the MID to report that someone had tagged their brick wall with graffiti. The MID typically receives around eight of these calls a week. 

By the time Quesnell finished, the brick wall that had been coated in spray paint gleamed clean again. He snapped an after-photo — to pair with the before shot he grabbed — and sent it to the ratepayer who requested the removal.

“I call it the magic eraser,” he said with a smile, watching the colors melt under the hot water. “Seeing the before and after — it’s huge for me. Someone made a mess, and I get to help fix it.”

Addressing the problem

MID ambassadors remove graffiti daily from public and private property across the 300-block business-improvement area: from Denny Way to Pioneer Square and from I-5 to the waterfront. 

“Graffiti reports have definitely become more frequent in recent years,” DSA/MID Director of Cleaning Services Steven Walls said. “Our ambassadors respond quickly because we know how much it matters to businesses, residents and everyone’s sense of safety and pride in their neighborhood.” 

From June through October, MID Clean Team ambassadors removed 22,951 graffiti tags and stickers — a number Walls calls “both staggering and motivating.” That number sits at 42,810 year-to-date.

“This team shows up every day with a commitment that’s second to none,” he said.

For Quesnell, this work is more than cleaning walls, it’s a deeply personal transformation story. 

“I was a wreck before in my life,” he said. “I was one of those guys on Third Avenue doing the things they’re doing. I was able to learn a lot after that when I was incarcerated, though. And doing this for people downtown really makes me feel good.” 

Quesnell joined MID nearly two years ago, quickly earning promotions to assistant supervisor and eventually supervisor. 

“I’ve gotten so many emails saying thank you,” he said. “When I get a graffiti referral, I schedule it as soon as possible. Ratepayers really appreciate that, and that makes me feel good about the work I’m doing.” 

When asked if the graffiti-removal work was meditative, Quesnell paused to think. 

“I never really thought about that before,” he said. “But it is meditative, actually. It can be very calming.” 

‘It makes such a difference’

At a second stop that same afternoon — an alley near First Avenue and Broad Street — Quesnell met Suzanne Spalding, facilities and operations manager for a luxury high-rise condominium. Someone had tagged the building a few days earlier and Spalding called MID for help.

“I’ve been here 12 years, and we’ve spent a lot of blood, sweat and tears trying to get graffiti off,” she said. “We pay for these services, but I hadn’t realized how much MID offers — even sidewalk power washing.”

Her building has more than 200 residential units, and only one full-time maintenance worker. 

“Having the help of the MID frees up my maintenance guy to do what he needs to do,” she said. “We want to keep the building well maintained for the people who live here. I’m happy for the help — and happy to keep paying for these services if this is what it provides. It makes such a difference.”

A clean slate for downtown

Beyond graffiti, the 160 MID ambassadors — the largest team DSA/MID has ever employed — tackle an enormous daily workload to keep downtown clean and welcoming: 

• 1,058,046 gallons of trash collected through October — enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools
• 100 people administered naloxone (Narcan) by MID ambassadors and private security officers in 2025, through October
• 33,960 times so far in 2025 concierge directions or transit assistance was provided by Community Safety & Hospitality ambassadors

“The scale of what these crews take on is incredible,” said Joseph Jacobs, DSA/MID senior manager, cleaning program. “But they treat every single call — from a small sticker to a complicated paint-out — with the same level of pride and service. Resolving graffiti downtown is not just a job to them, it’s a mission.” 

Jacobs said graffiti removal has become one of the most visible and appreciated services MID offers.

“When ratepayers see an ambassador show up so quickly, it builds trust,” he said. “It reminds people that they’re not alone in caring for downtown.”

“I really love working with ratepayers,” Quesnell added. “Removing graffiti helps make their businesses look presentable and welcoming. It brings people in. That’s what it’s all about.”

For someone who once struggled in downtown, Quesnell now helps shape its future — one fresh start at a time. And with ambassadors like him on the streets every day, downtown gets a fresh start, too.