Brickbat: Paint it black

Victor Silva Sr. says he used to paint over graffiti on the fence of his home in Oakland, California. But the 102-year-old adds that ever since he has been confined to a wheelchair which was difficult. City officials don’t appear to have any sympathy for Silva’s plight: They’ve sent him a warning to remove the last of the graffiti painted on the fence or be fined $1,100 and an additional fine of $1,277 each time the fence fails to pass a new inspection. “It’s hard to keep up because as soon as we paint it, there will be graffiti on it again and it won’t last,” said Silva’s son, who added that he tries to help his father keep the fence clear. of graffiti.