San leandro (San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward: crime, how much, houses)

[daepro]

I have recently had some conflicting advice about moving to this town. I am curious as to why some folks think it is a fine place and others said to avoid it like the plague?
Is it a class issue, based on crime fear, airport related noise or just not interesting. Perhaps all of the above?
Thanks again this bulletin board is an endless source of information and interest to me. Hope that I can help folks as much as you all helped me.

[Wes927]

I don't know if you think about some things (some do, some don't) but the Hayward Fault runs right through the area.

Any place you move should be new or properly seismically retrofitted.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by daepro

I have recently had some conflicting advice about moving to this town. I am curious as to why some folks think it is a fine place and others said to avoid it like the plague?
Is it a class issue, based on crime fear, airport related noise or just not interesting. Perhaps all of the above?
Thanks again this bulletin board is an endless source of information and interest to me. Hope that I can help folks as much as you all helped me.

San Leandro is in a state of denial. The powers in charge still see SL as a sleepy little town with lots of money and no crime.

It's not -- the money is fleeing and crime is increasing. We're not talking full fledged getting shot in the streets crime (much -- that just did happen a few months ago, but it was a drug dealer that moved in and messed around on someone else's turf), but I clean a "restricted access" residential building in SL, and have for 10 years and until this past year, I've never had someone get into my building to try to break into someone's unit. This year -- twice. I've also been told that various pizza places will no longer deliver to that building because of drivers being robbed.

Then you have shoplifting and retail theft and just a quality of life that has gone downhill -- SL is losing families and gaining more transient single people. Families are more stable and concerned about where they live -- single people aren't -- they can always move somewhere else.

Add a police force that apparently has decided that this stuff really isn't happening, and you have a recipe for disaster -- you have Oakland.

By the way, I live in Oakland. Have for 20 years. But I live so close to San Leandro that almost ALL my shopping was done there, until I realized I can buy stuff cheaper online and have it delivered.....

San Leandro's people in charge need to stop their magical thinking about SL -- AND their constant blaming it all on Oakland -- and deal with their realities.

Because it's not that bad of a place.

[daepro]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

San Leandro is in a state of denial. The powers in charge still see SL as a sleepy little town with lots of money and no crime.

It's not -- the money is fleeing and crime is increasing. We're not talking full fledged getting shot in the streets crime (much -- that just did happen a few months ago, but it was a drug dealer that moved in and messed around on someone else's turf), but I clean a "restricted access" residential building in SL, and have for 10 years and until this past year, I've never had someone get into my building to try to break into someone's unit. This year -- twice. I've also been told that various pizza places will no longer deliver to that building because of drivers being robbed.

Then you have shoplifting and retail theft and just a quality of life that has gone downhill -- SL is losing families and gaining more transient single people. Families are more stable and concerned about where they live -- single people aren't -- they can always move somewhere else.

Add a police force that apparently has decided that this stuff really isn't happening, and you have a recipe for disaster -- you have Oakland.

By the way, I live in Oakland. Have for 20 years. But I live so close to San Leandro that almost ALL my shopping was done there, until I realized I can buy stuff cheaper online and have it delivered.....

San Leandro's people in charge need to stop their magical thinking about SL -- AND their constant blaming it all on Oakland -- and deal with their realities.

Because it's not that bad of a place.

Once again thank you Tallysmom you are a straightforward thinker and writer and always back up your thoughts with examples that highlight your opinion. Very helpful to me. Too bad that the police are not realistically focusing on their problem. Must be political.
Too bad I have to scratch this place off my list because it looked like a fine place to keep a few chickens.

[daepro]

Originally Posted by Wes927

I don't know if you think about some things (some do, some don't) but the Hayward Fault runs right through the area.

Any place you move should be new or properly seismically retrofitted.

I think that perhaps all buildings should be seismically retrofitted. No? Do you have any idea how much this retrofitting costs. Is it financially prohibitive?

[equilibrium3]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

San Leandro is in a state of denial. The powers in charge still see SL as a sleepy little town with lots of money and no crime.

It's not -- the money is fleeing and crime is increasing. We're not talking full fledged getting shot in the streets crime (much -- that just did happen a few months ago, but it was a drug dealer that moved in and messed around on someone else's turf), but I clean a "restricted access" residential building in SL, and have for 10 years and until this past year, I've never had someone get into my building to try to break into someone's unit. This year -- twice. I've also been told that various pizza places will no longer deliver to that building because of drivers being robbed.

Then you have shoplifting and retail theft and just a quality of life that has gone downhill -- SL is losing families and gaining more transient single people. Families are more stable and concerned about where they live -- single people aren't -- they can always move somewhere else.

Add a police force that apparently has decided that this stuff really isn't happening, and you have a recipe for disaster -- you have Oakland.

By the way, I live in Oakland. Have for 20 years. But I live so close to San Leandro that almost ALL my shopping was done there, until I realized I can buy stuff cheaper online and have it delivered.....

San Leandro's people in charge need to stop their magical thinking about SL -- AND their constant blaming it all on Oakland -- and deal with their realities.

Because it's not that bad of a place.

San Leandro is considered an "urban" place to live. Like all Urban areas there is more chance of crime, transients, etc.
If you want to hide in the suburbs then I guess the crime is more hidden indoors- don't believe it doesn't exist.
San Leandro is a wonderful neighborhood. The charm is really more on the upper east side of S.L. I would say above E. 14th street and it keeps improving as you continue east and even still in Sheffield village which is really Oakland- another very charming little area. People in the community are diverse and are very community/family oriented. Roosevelt, Jefferson and even Widrow Wilson are excellent elementary schools (Roosevelt in my opinion being the best). Bancroft middle school is a very nice school from my experience with very diverse competent teachers, and may I add an excellent principal. San Leandro High is targeted as a ghetto school but there is so much parent involvement and access to higher learning and education for your children. Excellent principal there, Amy Furtado. She is very involved with her school and does everything in her power to connect with the families and make sure your child is going in the highest direction possible. Some people send their children to Bishop O'dowd- a private high school in Oakland which is very expensive and I cannot see why they would waste their money???? Bishop O'Dowd is probably the same level as San Leandro if not lower. People send their children there thinking that they will get a better education and it seems so ridiculous to me. There are so many quality families in S.L. as it is and if we all came together and involved ourselves with what are children are doing without making them little molds/cookie cutter people (like what mostly happens in affluent suburban areas) then we would have so much to offer even more to the schools. Stay in San Leandro- make a difference and get involved with this charming little neighborhood. Keep your money in your community!!! Houses are so charming from the tudor style to the meditarranean and old english style homes. Huge backyards in some of these houses. We as a community can continue to grow this area in to one of the finest places to live. It starts with us.. Support your local restaurants and stores and get involved with your community or be part of bringing something new and artistic to it!!!!

[Ultrarunner]

Just a quick note about Bishop O' Dowd Catholic High School...

O' Dowd draws students from all over the east bay. Students come from as far away as Pleasanton, Orinda and Berkeley and sometimes even San Francisco.

It is a Catholic College Prep High School where a very large number of students choose to continue on to higher education... 97% was the last number I recall.

The student body is very diverse and Financial Aid and Academic scholarships are available.

The school also has an outstanding sports program and alumni have gone on to play in the NBA, Major League Football and Olympics

[tennis368fan]

Originally Posted by equilibrium3

San Leandro is considered an "urban" place to live. Like all Urban areas there is more chance of crime, transients, etc.
If you want to hide in the suburbs then I guess the crime is more hidden indoors- don't believe it doesn't exist.
San Leandro is a wonderful neighborhood. The charm is really more on the upper east side of S.L. I would say above E. 14th street and it keeps improving as you continue east and even still in Sheffield village which is really Oakland- another very charming little area. People in the community are diverse and are very community/family oriented. Roosevelt, Jefferson and even Widrow Wilson are excellent elementary schools (Roosevelt in my opinion being the best). Bancroft middle school is a very nice school from my experience with very diverse competent teachers, and may I add an excellent principal. San Leandro High is targeted as a ghetto school but there is so much parent involvement and access to higher learning and education for your children. Excellent principal there, Amy Furtado. She is very involved with her school and does everything in her power to connect with the families and make sure your child is going in the highest direction possible. Some people send their children to Bishop O'dowd- a private high school in Oakland which is very expensive and I cannot see why they would waste their money???? Bishop O'Dowd is probably the same level as San Leandro if not lower. People send their children there thinking that they will get a better education and it seems so ridiculous to me. There are so many quality families in S.L. as it is and if we all came together and involved ourselves with what are children are doing without making them little molds/cookie cutter people (like what mostly happens in affluent suburban areas) then we would have so much to offer even more to the schools. Stay in San Leandro- make a difference and get involved with this charming little neighborhood. Keep your money in your community!!! Houses are so charming from the tudor style to the meditarranean and old english style homes. Huge backyards in some of these houses. We as a community can continue to grow this area in to one of the finest places to live. It starts with us.. Support your local restaurants and stores and get involved with your community or be part of bringing something new and artistic to it!!!!

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

San Leandro is in a state of denial. The powers in charge still see SL as a sleepy little town with lots of money and no crime.

It's not -- the money is fleeing and crime is increasing. We're not talking full fledged getting shot in the streets crime (much -- that just did happen a few months ago, but it was a drug dealer that moved in and messed around on someone else's turf), but I clean a "restricted access" residential building in SL, and have for 10 years and until this past year, I've never had someone get into my building to try to break into someone's unit. This year -- twice. I've also been told that various pizza places will no longer deliver to that building because of drivers being robbed.

Then you have shoplifting and retail theft and just a quality of life that has gone downhill -- SL is losing families and gaining more transient single people. Families are more stable and concerned about where they live -- single people aren't -- they can always move somewhere else.

Add a police force that apparently has decided that this stuff really isn't happening, and you have a recipe for disaster -- you have Oakland.

By the way, I live in Oakland. Have for 20 years. But I live so close to San Leandro that almost ALL my shopping was done there, until I realized I can buy stuff cheaper online and have it delivered.....

San Leandro's people in charge need to stop their magical thinking about SL -- AND their constant blaming it all on Oakland -- and deal with their realities.

Because it's not that bad of a place.

I must agree with both Tallys Mom and equilibrium3 regarding San Leandro.

While it is nowhere close to the environment of inner-city Oakland, it's not that great, either. As a child, I lived in San Leandro for a while before moving to another school district. Boy, did I have to play catch up! While I was performing very well with the curriculum at San Leandro Unified, I was barely able to keep with the cirriculum at my new school. It took many years before I was able perform at the same level as my classmates without extra effort outside of class.

That was back then, so imagine how the schools are now...

Of course, I did not go to Roosevelt or Madison, and those schools are the "proficient" ones. Students there probably received a much better education. Other schools in San Leandro are well below state proficiency levels.

Once children finish elementary school in San Leandro, they are "fed" into underperforming middle schools and high schools. Many parents chose to send their children to private schools or move out of San Leandro altogether, as my family did.

San Leandro used to be a very desirable suburban town, and before that, a farming town famous for flowers, at what is now Greenhouse Shopping Center, and cherry growing. It was so desirable that the original suburbanites, unfortunately, created covenants and discouraged diversity to "preserve" the community's appeal. When housing discrimination was lifted in the 80's, the city became more diverse, and the younger population became more ethnic. Much of the European-American population that has remained are now elderly. Some of their children bypassed San Leandro along with other young families for inland suburbs or nearby cities such as Castro Valley, Alameda, and San Lorenzo.

In my opinion, San Leandro is perfect for singles, young couples, and young families, but not so much for older families, unless they can afford tuition for non-public schooling or if they live in the San Lorenzo Unified School District and send their children to KIPP public charter schools.

For families, Castro Valley is the better selection. Schools are highly ranked and access to San Francisco via BART and commuter bus is available. Homes are also not as expensive as other desirable locales in the Bay Area.

[equilibrium3]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Just a quick note about Bishop O' Dowd Catholic High School...

O' Dowd draws students from all over the east bay. Students come from as far away as Pleasanton, Orinda and Berkeley and sometimes even San Francisco.

It is a Catholic College Prep High School where a very large number of students choose to continue on to higher education... 97% was the last number I recall.

The student body is very diverse and Financial Aid and Academic scholarships are available.

The school also has an outstanding sports program and alumni have gone on to play in the NBA, Major League Football and Olympics

That may be but I am not a fan of private schools. The teachers do not even have to be credentialed. Your chances of getting in to a U.C. system are harder too. I think it is a huge business with these private schools and it is not that diverse as far as the teachers are concerned. I think that your schools reflects the parents involvement and there are plenty of fine public schools we just don't support them as a community like we should. As far as Castro Valley is concerned it has a lot of racism in that town considering it is so close to the "inner city"

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

San Leandro is in a state of denial. The powers in charge still see SL as a sleepy little town with lots of money and no crime.

SL has always been an interesting place to live( i never lived there personally, but many friends did). I ended up at continuation -excuse me -alternative school in san leandro in the 80s and 90s and the bad kids were not that bad truthfully, just misunderstood misfits most of the time. Now i hear even the regular high school is full of thugs and gangs and crap like that.
People I knew who lived between Marina and Davis are moving out. Washington Manor is even kinda sketchy these days. It's like San Lorenzo, it ain't what it used to be. Definitely more urban now than suburban it was 20 yrs ago.