A 102-year-old man in a wheelchair has been forced to paint over never-ending instances of criminal graffiti on his fence in order to avoid over $1,000 in council fines.
In the house he’s lived in for 80 years, Victor Silva has been ordered to paint over vandalists’ attempts to deface his home, alongside his 70-year-old son. Mr Silva painted over a mess of red and black graffiti on the back fence of his home after the City of Oakland, California, implemented a March 19 deadline, as per KTVU.
Silva told the outlet: “[I] Just had a roller and a paintbrush and just painted it,” Silva told the outlet. “It was very easy because I was a contractor, you know. I’ll be 103 in two months or so. That slowed it up a little bit, you know.” If Silva failed to follow the orders he could have faced a $1,100 fine and an additional $1,277 each time he failed a re-inspection.
Silva’s family criticised the “absurd” expectations of the council, adding: “It was so absurd, it’s like a joke. If you drive around the city and see the graffiti everywhere, it’s just I don’t know what to say,” Silva’s daughter-in-law Elena Silva told the outlet.
READ MORE: Schoolgirl diagnosed with cancer after minor gym injury dies after hospital prom
(
KTVU)
Now his son, Victor Silva Jr, 70, who claims the graffiti never fails to re-appear, is forced to paint over the graffiti to avoid the fines.
He said: “It’s hard to keep up with it because as soon as we get it painted, It’s gonna be graffiti on it again, and it won’t last. I would hate to think that there [are] other hundred-year-old people that are being harassed like this.”
Silva’s family said a utility box only near the home was also covered in graffiti, making the threat of a fine even more frustrating for their 102-year-old father.
(
KTVU)
Silva Jr. manages the family’s commercial building, which he said has been broken into three times in the last year, with the 70-year-old coming face to face with a burglar at one point.
Silva Jr said he called 911 each time. He added: “I’m put on hold every time. So it’s hard to understand where our tax dollars are going. They can’t answer 911, but they can come out and hassle you about a fence?”
(
KTVU)
Silva Jr said “Oakland has to change” and that the current system is “not working” if crimes are not addressed. Despite his age, the nearly 103-year-old said living is “very easy”. He said: “Just keep breathing and, you know, behave yourself.”
According to KTVU, the city inspector is aware of the issue and will immediately inspect the fence, he also said he will consider cance;ling the citation.
(
KTVU)
Crime in Oakland has surged in recent years with robberies up 34% in 2024 compared to last year, prompting a police public safety advisory. The advisory states that the Oakland Police Department is making “progress” to reduce the rampant crime but still wants the public to remain vigilant.
Motor vehicle theft in particular saw a major rise, with the force reporting 44% more in 2023 compared with 2022. There were 8,675 car theft cases in the city in 2022, compared with 12,956 last year. Burglaries also jumped 23% from the previous year.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US