A 102-year-old man in Oakland was ordered by the city to paint over graffiti on his fence or face costly fines. Victor Silva, who has lived in his home for 80 years, complied with the order by painting over the vandalism. If he did not follow the directive, he would face a hefty fine of $1,100, with additional fines for each subsequent inspection he failed. Silva stated that in his younger years, he had no trouble taking care of the graffiti, but as he’s gotten older, it has become more challenging.
Silva’s family criticized the city’s actions as absurd, given the prevalence of graffiti throughout Oakland. Silva’s son, Victor Silva Jr., who is 70 years old, now bears the responsibility of dealing with the ongoing issue of graffiti on their property. Despite their efforts to prevent vandalism, the graffiti keeps reappearing shortly after they paint over it. The family pointed out a utility box near the fence that was also covered in graffiti, leading them to question why their elderly father was being targeted with fines.
Silva Jr. has also dealt with crime in the city as he manages a family commercial building that has been broken into multiple times in the past year. Despite calling 911 each time, the response from authorities has been lacking. He expressed frustration over the city’s priorities in targeting his father with fines for graffiti while critical issues like crime are not being effectively addressed. The family believes that the system in Oakland needs to change to better address the escalating crime rate.
The city inspector has acknowledged the issue and plans to inspect the fence to potentially cancel the citation. While the city is focused on penalizing senior citizens for vandalism on their property, crime in Oakland continues to rise. Robberies were up 34% in 2024 compared to the previous year, prompting a public safety advisory from the Oakland Police Department. Additionally, motor vehicle theft has been a significant problem in the city, with a 44% increase in auto thefts reported in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Silva Jr. expressed the need for Oakland to change, noting that the current system is not working if crimes are not adequately addressed. The family remains hopeful for a resolution to the issue with the city inspector’s intervention. Despite the challenges they face with graffiti and crime, the Silvas are determined to ensure the safety and well-being of their father in his senior years. The situation highlights the broader challenges faced by residents in Oakland, with issues of graffiti, crime, and vandalism needing urgent attention from local authorities for the betterment of the community.
