What hyperbole. "Used to" be an asset? "Free rein?" I'm wondering if you've bothered to bring this issue up with Michael and Allison. Bakesale Betty's is still an asset to the neighborhood. A lot of people come into the shopping district just because of them. They make a point of employing young people of color. Their food high-quality, natural ingredients. To hear this person report it, they are sitting around handing out spray paint cans.

Besides, this is not something that SeeClickFix can do anything about. It is a conduit for communicating information to public agencies. Graffiti on private property (unless elevated to the status of "blight" which those two ankle-high tags hardly do) is not something that is within their purview.

Next time, just stop in and say something to Michael and Allison. There are super nice and care a lot about the neighborhood.

Ditto to the above. Michael and Allison are our neighbors, not some faceless corporation. This "report" smells of a personal vendetta.

I have no idea about their names, but if they don't want to called out on the issue, they have an obligation to maintain the property - it's that simple. The graffiti has been there for weeks.

I agree that property owners and businesses should maintain their property, including ridding it of graffiti. I don't think I suggested otherwise. My comment was to suggest that, if you truly care about the issue, you will achieve better results by approaching Michael and Allison personally rather than bad-mouthing their business in a forum that they may not subscribe to. Knowing them personally, while they are very busy running a thriving business and taking care of three kids, they would not hesitate a moment to address a concern from a community member. Get to know your neighbors (including the business owners) and develop relationships with them. Then, you, too, can be an "asset to the neighborhood."

If they are hands-on owners or managers, they can hardly be unaware that the property has been defaced. It's only fair to conclude that they just don't care.

Would it be fair for me to say that "Anonymous" does not care because he/she is spending more time and energy using SeeClickFix, which cannot address this issue, rather than step inside the door, ask to see Michael or Allison and cordially request that they handle the graffiti? Of course not. Again, one of the big issues here (for me) is the harsh judgement being assigned to people Anonymous clearly does not know, nor seems to be bothered to speak to. What is this about, Anonymous? Because I'm failing to see how your efforts are addressing the problem effectively.

Presumably the city will cite them but, nevertheless, it's disturbing to read graffiti apologists here.

Let's stay focused on the issue here, folks.

Has anyone brought this issue up to Michael and Allison? Until then, let's refrain from guessing.

Graffiti apologist? This comment illustrates my prior points exactly. Anonymous seems more interested in condemning people he/she does not know than actually affecting change. I do not apologize for graffiti or its perpetrators. On the contrary, I have bothered to learn a little about the issue. I do use SeeClickFix to address the issue of graffiti on public property. However, until it reaches a severe form (qualifying as "blight"), there is little that the City of Oakland can do about ankle-high tagging on private property. What often does work, however, is communicating (in a friendly manner that presumes positive intent) with the property or business owner. I have done this, too. And it works. Another option for the die-hard, is to actually carry around paint in the trunk of your car (like my friend's husband) and cover it up personally. As I've asked before, Anonymous, are you more interested in resolving the issue or smugly and anonymously condemning people whose lives, concerns and motivations you do not know?

PS: I've texted Michael to invite him to chime in.

Apparently, Señor Figgins, "Michael" would rather let things be than chime in. Or maybe he's the "artist" who decorated the walls of his own business.

There appears to be little or no remedy for self-tagging.