Its grimy, its shady, its ruthless and entertaining at times. They are all valid. It actually makes us feel weird like well never be fully integrated into the community, which sucks and makes us feel like outsiders in our (adopted) home. 1. The gold rush did not start in the 1870s. Afterwards we can possibly meet in person and discuss Oaklands glory and purpose! I am an oaklander and it is full of fuckin grit. For more information, please see our I included a link to that Wikipedia page in the article, but here it is as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Oakland,_California Its a pretty comprehensive list, and the best resource I could find for that particular section! On my side of things, as a small business owner without access to those kinds of resources, hearing feedback from readers like you who are willing to share their thoughts and resources like youve done here is extremely helpful, and Im grateful for all who have taken the time to comment and to continue to help me to shift my perspective as well as make my content more inclusive and educational for other folks who come across it. Why Is Alaska So Dangerous? (11 Reasons Why) - VeryInformed Are there destinations or subjects that I should consider hiring other writers to cover rather than writing about them myself? Keep a tight grip on your items, especially when in stations. My goal is certainly to pay homage to Oakland in a respectable way Oakland is special to us too, although it may be in a very different way. Docks. Its an okay article just not a true view of what this city is. Wait a moment and try again. Why is 55th Street and MLK Way so dangerous for pedestrians? I had always heard it was dangerous, but other than that, basically nothing. But know when youre out you need to keep your butt in an UBER if you dont know the area. And the subculture. However, let me be Bluntyou, and other Neo-Peckerwoods are the Reason Oakland has become GENTRIFIED, and that is pushed us Out!!! On a clear day or night you can see downtown S.F. They are generally kind, faithful, inquisitive, looking forward to another chance to live a full life and to share in the wealth. All the best things to do, to see, and discuss in the San Francisco Bay Area! Why? Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world Well, your rightyou are a noticeable Outsider; you made too many mistakes and you Omitted othersfor example, the Hells Angels and their founder, Sonny Barger are from Oakland ( the club before Sonny Barger based in SoCal is not), the Oakland Raiders were Birthed in Oakland, and so much more, but thats your issue. Your email address will not be published. Save it for later on Pinterest! Annnd thats where the Mai Tai was invented. To live comfortably, it is recommended to at least be making anywhere from $100,000 to $125,000 a year if you are living alone. Thanks. Where are these places you wonder? Sure, San Franciscos Chinatown has a well-staked claim to fame for being the largest Chinatown outside of China. Today, a few members of the Black Panther party can still be seen in Oakland running drills at the Ashby BART Station during its weekend flea market (which is also home to an EXCELLENT drum circle, FWIW). It does get tricky to find the balance, and we dont always do it well. Gary Payton. Great views of the Bay and San Franciscos waterfront. Its a one-sided opinion article I mean I lived out 14th Street for over a year I worked at Eco cannabis even during covid and before covid when there used to be first Fridays. Alina, thank you for sharing this. Warehouses. Is there any better way to get to know a place? Ciao Bene. https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/the-east-bays-changing-demographics/Content?oid=13262928 https://www.tenantstogether.org/sites/tenantstogether.org/files/California%20Wall%20St%20Landlords%20in%202019.pdf. Red Bay Coffee is at the forefront of what they call the fourth wave of coffee, with a commitment to ensure coffee production is not only high quality and sustainable, but a vehicle for diversity, inclusion, social and economic restoration, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability. Are you kidding me? Ive updated the post to include the local title of the stairs. But in Oakland, apparently, its a recipe for popsicles. Oakland and San Francisco were both well-established cities in the 1870s, when the Gold Rush brought hordes of Americans out to explore its newfound western borders. You didnt go down to the art district to where it defines Oakland from Emeryville. I bet you cant even give me a verse of those music artist you name dropped without fact checking. Oakland is often overshadowed by its neighbor in the bay, San Francisco, but the city has plenty to offer in its own right. Unsubscribe anytime. Listen, we love San Franciscos coffee scene. Teams are ramping up to make moves as the Trade Deadline approaches on Aug. 1. Google Oakland shootings. Yes, it certainly sounds like its not a good fit for either you or Oakland . Mark Cooper, Keysha Cole, Damian Lillard and the baseball player I can only remember Morgan. And before you get all riled up and say we're picking on small town America, that's not the case. Is Oakland Safe? [2022 Crime Rates And Crime Stats] I also think diversity should be stressed more, that is the most beautiful and important part about Oakland. As with any public location, situational awareness can help prevent one becoming a victim. Unfortunately, since we dont have kids weve never been able to visit, and the vast majority of our readers dont have kids either, which is why we didnt include it in our list (family travel isnt something we cover). Crime, race, safety: what's really happening in Oakland Chinatown? When I saw the title, I realized I didnt really know anything about Oakland. But all too often, Oakland is overlooked and misunderstood. much of the article only referencesdowntown. Some unmentioned things to explore: International Boulevard is truly international with many small districts that reflect ethnic roots. Factories. I specifically loved the article from the Inclusion Solution, Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: That Place Is Dangerous, Shady, Ghetto & Paradoxical Perceptions of Our Gentrifying Cities, and the video by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Danger of a Single Story. Oakland is about 78 square miles, almost twice the size of San Francisco. Its as if *you* have never thought of what it must be like for so many families who have lived here for generations who are the real fabric of this city (and what compels others to be attracted to it in the first place) that have experienced any number of exploitations (from economic insecurity to mortgage fraud and developer speculation), who now must listen to white people whining about the injustices theyre experiencing. Insider insights into peoples home cities are the best! To your point, though, we do aim to positively impact the community that we live in. Oh Tree Top Clifford Robinson and so much more. And now the OPD is being defunded as a political statement by the city council. Additionally, you cant claim Oaklands narrative just because youve lived here for almost a decade. If you are, you should at least learn the history of how it became a Mecca for people of color instead of condensing it into two parenthesized comments: (for instance, the crack epidemic in the 80s hit Oakland HARD) and No, every non-white person in a hoodie is NOT a gangster or a hoodlum (a common racist narrative thats often used to justify violence against children). It spawned the idea for Disneyland after Walt Disney toured it in the early fifties, but has retained its charming simplicity over all these years. This is one of my favorite weird Oakland inventions. Bingo. I appreciate the author trying to be positive but truth is truth. A new report has found rampant child sexual abuse material on Mastodon, a social media site that has gained popularity in . Life in Oakland: 7 Things to Know BEFORE Moving to Oakland, CA! - UpHomes 3 days ago. Museums! But now the Warriors and the Raiders are in the process of leaving town. Thank you for your feedback, and Id really love to hear more suggestions about what else we can include that would do more justice to our beloved adopted home! All of the negative comments have me perplexed. They were not a paramilitary organization hell-bent on wreaking racially motivated havoc; their goal was to project their community, who was being neglected and even persecuted by local law enforcement. Random, right? The flavors of Oakland reflect the complexity and diversity of Oaklands history, and Oakland has its own food specialties. i truly hope you take your privilleges to educate yourself on Oakland and its *original* inhabitants. I live just one hour north yet never knew there was a redwood forest in Oakland! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Property Crimes In Alaska Crimes against your property may not be as big of a deal as rape and murder, but it is still a factor when discussing the state's dangers. Oaklands food scene is INCREDIBLE, and its one of the best ways to get to know the city! I miss it so much . We even have a guide to the best coffee shops in San Francisco. I do want to point out that the context of Jeremys conversation with his kids wasnt presented as hey yall I got a mean comment on the internet, please make me feel better as a white Latino person who feels like an outsider without clear ties to my culture or my home, but it was in the context of a wider discussion about racial and cultural identity the kinds of discussions that often come up in his art class in regards to thinking about messaging, storytelling, representation, cultural impact, and so on. Its EVERYWHERE. 1. Your article was PC which is nothing wrong with that, but when these hate filled people say you cant make these comments, Ignore them or tell them that facts and personal speech is still legal in America. 3. Oakland - 2015-10-29 - The 10 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities - Forbes Yes, it has some beautiful areas and great cultural aspects, but having grown up in the East Bay, everyone here knows the dangers of Oakland. Thank you. A d there was no mention of the Zoo or Roberts park where they host childrens camping with the PAL program. Another notethe only time you mentioned Asians or any other ethnicity is Chinatown and trendy food. Daveed Diggs, who starred in Hamilton and is the director of Blindspotting. Its very sad looking at it. Thank you for those links and for educating us, Jamie! Please pay homage to the people that were here before you in a respectable way. Yes, it may be perfectly legal to be an asshole, but that doesnt mean you should be. The residents of the Chinatown area are being openly assaulted by others from outside of their community. His kids didnt have an answer to that. The Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland in the mid 60s by two local college students. When you Google Oakland, a whole bunch of racist questions come up as frequently asked suggestions, like when did Oakland become ghetto and is Oakland really that dangerous? and why is Oakland so dangerous? (For the record: if youre still wondering those questions, you should read this article which will explain why associating a place full of Black and Brown people with ghetto and danger is deeply racist.). Maybe. For families, its definitely high on any must-do list! By Lia Garcia | Updated on: March 1, 2022. Nearly every clubhouse will have new faces or say goodbye to others. I was cleaning a parking lot and a black guy told me to go back to Mexico and then he made mariachi sounds before throwing his trash on the floor i was cleaning and burning tire to get away. Oakland's roadways are among the deadliest in California Thanks for pointing that out, Ayanna! Ive seen the beautiful side of Oakland and I have seen the rough side. Weve made a lot of changes to this post in response to the (valid) comments and call-outs letting us know how our words were hurtful, and Im very happy that the current version of this post seems to better reflect our love, appreciation, and respect for our adopted home city! Please dont say you are from Oakland because you live here. Enjoyed the article and the back and forth in the comments is interesting albeit inconclusive. Its a complex city with an overwhelming amount of homeless encampments and a lot of history entangled in a concrete web of industry. Want to sip your way through Oakland? It does hurt our hearts especially Jeremy, because hes lived in Oakland longer than hes lived anywhere else, and he doesnt have any kind of childhood home to speak of, so not being able to consider Oakland home means that he doesnt have any place in the world he can call home or say that hes from. Or would I be overreaching and extending into areas I have no business writing about and cannot speak to? 120. r/oakland. Hit and run deaths are common because people here dont care about one another. It had the first Black Santa and the magic storybook boxes are bi-lingual. The golden state warriors (GSW) would practice with elementary school kids at Montclair Elementary back before they became champions (2000-2005). especially bloggers. Here are the most dangerous neighborhoods in Oakland for 2023. They were. Oakland also rarely gets San Franciscos famous fog. this and people like you are the reason that many of us from here cant continue to our families here, or even feel safe/comfortable. I understand you make money off of these posts and wouldnt want to focus too much on irrelevant information outside of travel tips, but if thats the case, then dont write about a place that youre not ready to fully comprehend. Within California, more than 100% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Oakland. Incase you havent heard , elderly asians have been targeted in the downtown region. We have no experience with children here in Oakland so our recommendations are definitely more focused on adults, but weve been wanting to visit the Zoo! They also made it ugly by adding the Mt Davis seats. You had to be careful and street wise but you could avoid trouble by just using common sense. They both co-exist. It has a deep, complicated history and culture, its own local slang, absolutely incredible food, and plenty to see and do - which we've covered in detail in this post. Visit on the first Friday of the month and youll be treated to one of Oaklands best monthly activities, First Fridays out on the street & the Oakland Art Murmur in Oaklands many galleries. I was planning on staying at the Marriott down the street from the Theatre, unless anyone has any better suggestions? I will definitely put Oakland on my list. The 3-mile wide lagoon is home to the oldest designated wildlife refuge in the United States and there are 70 species of native birds surrounding Lake Merritt (and no, theyre not all pigeons). Check these out: Hey, looking for help planning your trip to the bay area? Oakland Animal Services (OAS) on Instagram: " Attention Oakland and beyond!! Why is Oakland such a brutal and dangerous city? - Quora Go Home!! You have a 1 in 3,527 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Oakland. There was an error submitting your subscription. User Name: Remember Me: Password Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Crime in Oakland, California - Wikipedia Im not sure I have answers yet, but its something were currently thinking about and reading about and thinking over. No idea what cucked means? And ghost-riding the whip. I had no idea! Your whole article despite your superficial references to Oaklands rich history (as also noted by Dianne), is hella fucking shallow. Sign up below and well send you a printable version of our self-guided walking tour, plus our favorite tips for visiting! So. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. I currently have injuries from being downtown trying to buy a car and having to dive for cover from a shootout. Poverty And Education One of the major reasons why St. Louis is so dangerous is that it has a poverty problem. In summer 1905, some kid left his lemonade outside with a stick in it. Its definitely nicer here. Lia, this Guide is perfect. Check your arrogance and entitlement! Gangs are still a thing and very much a danger. Gorgeous photos too . I think all police departments need to do the same thing Nurses have to do and other people who have to continually register and go to school to continue to do their job or they dont have a license to do so I think that will keep a lot of police officers in check. They said theyd never thought of it that way. Ive read most of the comments and speaking for myself I thoroughly enjoyed the article and found it informative as far as some of the wineries. Is Oakland really as bad as it seems on the news - Reddit Because Oakland cant have nice things, apparently. You wrote a great article about a complex area and tried your best to encompass the variables. It went down hill quick at as an educator teaching in oakland for I will continue to advocate for my people, and expose ignorance from white allys. Anyone who goes to Oakland has to be out of their mind. I had no idea it had such wonderful places as you always tend to hear negative things about the city (sorry). It's falling apart and the sewage system is bad. I guess you could see it one way depends on what you look at there. I appreciate how thoughtful you are about race, privilege and gentrification, as well as your receptivity to natives feedback. Just like when Jerry Brown was mayor. I liked the article. And many of us are stuck here because we cant make enough money to leave. His name should really be included in the caption; hes painted murals all over Oakland, and he deserves to be acknowledged for his contributions to our fair city. They are full of blessings to people who bless them. This includes downtown. Great food. What a beautiful description. I grew up on Galindo St. for 40 plus years and we only knew it as 72 stairs and the adjacent Jungle Hill. It is 102 years old!! Most criminals are not . Who ever wrote this tourist perspective should not try and make a dangerous city look like your next vacation destination. Please try again. Ive always regretted it and now Ive got even more reason to head back there again! Learn how your comment data is processed. Oakland is home to some of the most world renowned gospel music artists:Walter Hawkins,his brother Edwin Hawkins(Im sure youve heard the songO Happy Day,he wrote that),Tramaine Hawkins,Daryl Coley,The Pointer Sisters & Yvonne Cobbs again just to name a few. Sweets Ballroom and all its history Reggae, Reggae, Reggae Historical West Oaklands African American mecca Guadaloupe restaurant at 3am Spokenword the tiny church with the ankh on top The Best Herb shop on 10th Garden at Lake Merritt All night book store on Broadway The downtown main library Carijama Oasis Luv Fyah So many memories.on and on. when new people move in and start calling cops on US, who have BEEN hereit is just truly a source of separation-making it so easy to other you people. West Oakland- Why So Dangerous? (home, live, shop) - San Francisco At any given moment, you can pretty much guarantee that its 10 degrees warmer in Oakland than San Francisco, and chances are its a lot sunnier, too. Edit: they literally showed animal traps on the air for possums and feral cats in . Reddit, Inc. 2023. Thank you. So basically some aspects of Oakland are not as bad as San Franciscos, which already is one of the worst major US cities? Originally Posted by beb0p I think the OP is referring to this article: 'Hostages' at home: Intimidation spreads in Oakland, other violence-plagued West Oakland- Why So Dangerous? But generally, Oakland was interesting and exciting. What do you like/dislike about living in Oakland? : r/oakland - Reddit Im sure there are some awesome things to do in Oakland for families articles floating around out there giving it the hype it deserves , Great article brings back lots of memories. Theres a whole network of hidden staircases snaking through the Oakland hills, full of jaw-dropping Bay views. . The Greek Orthodox Church in the Oakland hills can be seen from miles around and is a historical landmark as well as the First Unitarian Church on Broadway.Several Black historical churches as well,First African Methodist Episcopal on Telegraph Ave.,Allen Temple Baptist on 82nd Ave,Taylor Memorial & Parks Chapel just to name a few. Check out the Uptown Beer Walk,theTemescal Beers and Bitestour, orThe Golden West Beer Tour(which includes some Berkeley spots). Thanks for the fun post and new ideas! Like, its surrounded on all sides by Oakland and the borders of the city are literally drawn through peoples houses. The city across the Bay . When addressing these issues here at home (as well as in other places we visit and write about, as travel writers) I always think back to Chimamanda Ngozie Adichies impactful Ted Talk about The Danger of a Single Story (watch her talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en) Oakland has a single, dominant narrative one of pain and suffering and danger, often viewed through a lens of racism and fear, but I personally believe that its not fair to Oaklands depth and complexity and people to leave it at that. Otherwise, you may end the evening looking like the turkey three days after thanksgiving. Would love any suggestions for alternative resources to use. I lived in Oakland for a while I worked at one of the dispensaries there. Is Oakland "Dangerous?" : r/bayarea - Reddit Labor. Now Im just rambling, so Ill go ahead and link to Oaklands famous people Wikipedia page. And when the hippies returned home to work for the man, Oakland kept fighting: a handful of Black Panthers can still be seen running drills in Oakland today, their work protecting people of color from racial injustice and police brutality not yet finished. Everyone looks at each other with hate and anger because crimes ARE that common and we dont want us to be next. Mark Hamill, who is Luke Skywalker. You didnt photograph on none of the homeless tents or camps that are strung along the streets you didnt report that theres only two shelters in town and one of them was closed you didnt report that theres only two places that feed the homeless daily. Oakland is special to us. For daring to carry guns (legally), they were branded as public enemies and subjected to horrific FBI COINTELPRO raids. In this article, we chose intentionally to feature it in a more positive light, while striving to acknowledge the complexity of those issues, because I think the perception of Oakland in pop culture or in society at large is exactly the way you described. (San Francisco, Long Beach: apartment complexes, crime rates, how much) User Name: Remember Me: Password Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! West Oakland- Why So Dangerous? (San Francisco, Berkeley: apartment Scan this QR code to download the app now. The attacks on the residents in Chinatown are horrible. So glad that I found these articles. There is SO MUCH WINE. Just for the simple fact Im from Oakland, people step back, slightly startled.facts. This article is wrong more than it is right. Because I wrote a book that has the word hella in it about 450 years ago. Weve seen a few movies there, including a late-night showing of The Room Its a charming little theatre! Latinos have been victimised by black people so they dont trust them at all. I went to school there and I graduated from Bishop ODowd high School. So youre going to summarize the Oakland natives struggle in these two racist sentences? It's been dangerous here since the 1960s when crime began to increase. There are many reasons why Oakland has such a high crime rate. The areas where non white people are mentioned, it gives back handed compliments like theyre not all criminals and why when famous people are mentioned, the first four people named are white??