Six-Year-OId Park Slope "Graffiti" Artist Story Goes National

A story about a six-year-old in Park Slope cited by the Sanitation Department for doing a chalk drawing on her front stoop after a neighbor called 311 has gone national. The story appeared in this week's Brooklyn Paper before being picked up by AP and running in a number of media outlets. Per the Brooklyn Paper:

A 6-year-old Park Slope girl is facing a $300 fine from the city for doing what city kids have been doing for decades: drawing a pretty picture with common sidewalk chalk.

Obviously not all of Natalie Shea’s 10th Street neighbors thought her blue chalk splotch was her best work — a neighbor called 311 to report the “graffiti,” and the Department of Sanitation quickly sent a standard letter to Natalie’s mom, Jen Pepperman.

Can somebody stop these bureaucrats before they Kafka again?

“PLEASE REMOVE THE GRAFFITI FROM YOUR PROPERTY,” the Sanitation Department warning letter read. “FAILURE TO COMPLY … MAY RESULT IN ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST YOU.”

Since 2005, graffiti has been defined as “any letter, word, name, number, symbol, slogan, message, drawing, picture, writing … that is drawn, painted, chiseled, scratched, or etched on a commercial building or residential building.” The city says it isn't going to pursue a citation against a six-year-old. In the meantime, perhaps the graffiti police might turn their attention to the Park Slope Satanic Graffiti Wall. It's still there.