West Oakland: Area surrounding Willie Keys Rec. Center/Poplar Park

[dculross]

Originally Posted by Carlite

The newcomers are not all White either.

actually,they are. and here's a newsflash to the gentrifiers, the natives of w.o. cringe everytime they see you riding your g&y bicycle or walking your dog and acting oblivious to your surroundings.

[safefromharm]

Originally Posted by dculross

actually,they are. and here's a newsflash to the gentrifiers, the natives of w.o. cringe everytime they see you riding your g&y bicycle or walking your dog and acting oblivious to your surroundings.

Is this a race thing or...? Would the natives prefer that no change occurred? Trying to understand how they would be opposed to people who are willing to invest, fix up properties that are either abandoned or falling apart, live in the area, and potentially attract small businesses other than liquor stores to set up shop? I'm not white.

I agree that folks who act like it's safe to walk around at night are a bit oblivious to the situation, but isn't that how the neighborhood will change, when a critical mass of people who live there don't feel like they have to be forted up past 8 PM?

As for bikes, it's too bad it's now part of the hipster identity. It is a good way to get around and stay healthy. I do it and prefer to commute by bike when it's convenient, despite having a car.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by dculross

actually,they are. and here's a newsflash to the gentrifiers, the natives of w.o. cringe everytime they see you riding your g&y bicycle or walking your dog and acting oblivious to your surroundings.

^^^
Why West Oakland isn't going to change for a long, long time. The sidewalks are not for walking your dogs, they are for selling drugs!

[04kL4nD]

OP, if you want a REAL West Oakland resident's take, PM me

Most of the replies in this thread are from Oakland bashers/haters and I'm sick of repeating myself

[Carlite]

In 1990, West Oakland was 77% Black, 7% White, and 9% Latino. In 2010, West Oakland was 53% Black, 15% White, and 22% Latino (Census, reported by the City). Not all of the newcomers are White.

If Black people cringe at the sight of bicycles, why do I see them on bikes, all over Oakland? Why are there groups whose mission is to encourage more Black people to cycle? It's the cheapest form of personal transportation.

mod cut

Gentrifying neighborhoods in Oakland and LA--West Oakland is not comparable to Silver Lake, a hilly neighborhood that's always had lots of architect-designed houses, and is one of the centers of gay life for all LA. Silver Lake is a lot more comparable to Temescal or Rockridge. Echo Park, closer in, has some similarities with Kono. West Oakland might be more comparable to West Adams--a once grand, then struggling neighborhood with new access due to the Expo light rail line.

[DocGoldstein]

Originally Posted by Carlite

In 1990, West Oakland was 77% Black, 7% White, and 9% Latino. In 2010, West Oakland was 53% Black, 15% White, and 22% Latino (Census, reported by the City). Not all of the newcomers are White.

If Black people cringe at the sight of bicycles, why do I see them on bikes, all over Oakland? Why are there groups whose mission is to encourage more Black people to cycle? It's the cheapest form of personal transportation.

mod cut

Gentrifying neighborhoods in Oakland and LA--West Oakland is not comparable to Silver Lake, a hilly neighborhood that's always had lots of architect-designed houses, and is one of the centers of gay life for all LA. Silver Lake is a lot more comparable to Temescal or Rockridge. Echo Park, closer in, has some similarities with Kono. West Oakland might be more comparable to West Adams--a once grand, then struggling neighborhood with new access due to the Expo light rail line.

I don't think Silverlake is comparable to Rockridge. I actually lived in Rockridge 20 years ago and it wasn't full of crime, it was pretty nice. Silverlake on the other hand was not, and had lots of violence, though not nearly as much as the 80s. What I'm talking about is the transformation!

Why did Silverlake become a center for hipsters, wealthy gays, and a vibrant creative arts scene? It had a lot of the same problems that West Oakland has right now but managed to fix them and become a desirable neighborhood.

[04kL4nD]

I never knew you lived in Rockridge 20 years ago. In fact, it's the first time I've ever seen you post that before. Interesting. What street did you live off of and why did you move?