Business owners in Chinatown, an area of Oakland, California, are grappling with significant fines imposed by the city due to graffiti on their properties. Among those affected, Shirley Luo, the manager of Won Kee Supermarket, currently faces a $3,000 liability, which includes late fees, for not removing graffiti promptly. Despite their efforts to paint over the graffiti, property owners find themselves repeatedly targeted, leaving them feeling unjustly punished for acts of vandalism beyond their control.
The city mandates that property owners swiftly eradicate graffiti, labeling it a public nuisance, yet no financial assistance is provided to help cover the cleanup costs. In response, local organizations, such as the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, are advocating for municipal authorities to shift their focus toward apprehending the vandals instead of penalizing businesses that are already suffering from these repeated attacks.