What's wrong with Oakland? (Los Angeles, San Francisco: home, neighborhood, buy)

[Gentoo]

[NorCal Dude]

The problem with Oakland is the same story with a lot of anywhere mid sized city USA. You take away the manufacturing jobs, throw in a crack and aids epidemic and see what you have left 20 years later. Some are worse than others, but Oakland is hanging in there. Marketing it self as an SF suburb for priced out middle class yuppies is what will likely keep the city in the game.

[hikergrrl]

I'm fine with people believing ALL of Oakland is what they see on the news. I'm trying to buy a house and don't need any more competition driving the price up over half-million than I already have.
Seriously, more than any other city I have lived in, Oakland is a city of definite neighborhoods, towns and villages within a city that never get shown on TV.

[mail4marc]

I unfortunately live to Oakland. The place is a proverbial war zone. Anyone who attempts to equate San Francisco to Oakland is a fool. SF has over twice the population of Oakland and less than half the murder rate. The Mayor, along with her staff need to be all fired. The police chief needs to either retire or made to reapply for his job. The Oakland police guild is pretty frustrated with the City's management.

Oakland is an armpit of America. No change in sight based on current policies. The City's managers and leaders are allowing the area to be taken over by drugs, and gangs...the latter are taking over everything except the fat salaries and retirement funds of the city's leaders.

[dlyoung123]

Originally Posted by mail4marc

I unfortunately live to Oakland. The place is a proverbial war zone. Anyone who attempts to equate San Francisco to Oakland is a fool. SF has over twice the population of Oakland and less than half the murder rate. The Mayor, along with her staff need to be all fired. The police chief needs to either retire or made to reapply for his job. The Oakland police guild is pretty frustrated with the City's management.

Oakland is an armpit of America. No change in sight based on current policies. The City's managers and leaders are allowing the area to be taken over by drugs, and gangs...the latter are taking over everything except the fat salaries and retirement funds of the city's leaders.

I too live in Oakland. Having moved here last April. And happen to live in west Oakland no less. And asides from some trash blowing about. (People... When tossing plastic bags? Weight them down! So they don't blow out of the dumpsters.) Have yet to hear a single gun shot or witness any unlawful activity. Save whats in the news. Which is no worse than it was in my old home. Iowa city Iowa.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by mail4marc

I unfortunately live to Oakland. The place is a proverbial war zone. Anyone who attempts to equate San Francisco to Oakland is a fool. SF has over twice the population of Oakland and less than half the murder rate. The Mayor, along with her staff need to be all fired. The police chief needs to either retire or made to reapply for his job. The Oakland police guild is pretty frustrated with the City's management.

Oakland is an armpit of America. No change in sight based on current policies. The City's managers and leaders are allowing the area to be taken over by drugs, and gangs...the latter are taking over everything except the fat salaries and retirement funds of the city's leaders.

I fortunately live in Oakland. Maybe in your part of town it is a war zone, but in my part of town that isn't the case. In the 8 years I have lived in my neighborhood, crime has been the following: a motorcycle was stolen, someone's purse was stolen at a bus stop, and someone's ladder got stolen. Hardly "the murder capital of the world."

You experience with Oakland varies by neighborhood. Just like any other city in the country. Unfortunately people over emphasis the negative in Oakland and underemphasis the positive.

I think the city leadership could be greatly improved, but I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend Oakland as a great place to live (if you use common sense of course).

[Gentoo]

I also live in Oakland. Let's see since I've been back here which was September, I remember seeing a chase on Lakeshore due to a stolen car. The only other thing I heard about was this guy who used to ride a mini motorcycle at Lake Merritt illegally on the pathways and the grass recently had that wretched thing stolen. Some war zone!

[etoile_filante]

There has been a rash of gardening tool theft in my Oakland neighborhood A little old man is taking people's rakes and selling them at the Laney flea market. However, I left my wallet on the seat of my car all night and everything was in tact and accounted for in the morning.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by mail4marc

I unfortunately live to Oakland.

Let me guess? You live in the fantastic part of town?

[bmw335xi]

There's no doubt, Oakland has a high crime rate, much higher than average, but there are still many parts of Oakland that are safe. It's not my cup of tea, but I can understand why some people like it.