Oakland USPS vans covered in graffiti spark outrage

Residents in Oakland, California, are expressing frustration over USPS delivery vans that have been defaced with graffiti. Many people find the situation embarrassing and potentially dangerous for postal workers. The problem has persisted for over a year, but it has worsened recently. The graffiti is not only covering the bodies of the vehicles, but is also found on their windows and tires. Local resident Jasmine Bessard stated that this poses a risk. She worries that gang members might misidentify the vans because they are hard to recognize as official USPS vehicles. Videos shared online show many of these vandalized vans parked throughout Oakland. Some locals describe the vehicles as looking like they came straight from a junkyard. They express disappointment, with comments such as “this is horrible” and “sad to see.” USPS has acknowledged the issue and stated they try to clean the vans quickly. However, they also say that due to staffing shortages and parking problems, some vans are left out overnight, making them vulnerable to vandalism. Some local residents dismissed the graffiti as art and suggested there are bigger issues to tackle. The USPS believes that maintaining mail service is their top priority, which affects their ability to clean the vehicles. As USPS faces ongoing staffing challenges, community members are concerned the problem may continue to grow.