Instead of cleaning catch basins, a crew from the New Orleans Dept. of Public Works spent Monday afternoon cleaning several swastikas and a crossed out Star of David painted on Joseph Street in front of the Gates of Prayer Cemetery.

Neighbors say when they noticed the markings Friday, they tried to clean them off. Public Works was called in to finish the job using a power washer then when that didn’t work, they used pink spray paint.

The NOPD says they are increasing patrols around synagogues and Jewish institutions. On Monday afternoon, there were several police officers walking up and down the street checking out the markings that remain.