Rant: Tired of people asking if it's safe in Oakland (San Jose: for sale, homes)

[04kL4nD]

They're pretty good, but there are places that are better, cheaper, and have a much shorter line. I'd give you a list, but half the fun is the quest for finding the perfect burrito. I'll give you a hint though- the best Taqueria in the region is across the Bay on the Peninsula.

[wooliemonster]

We were driving around aimlessly after looking at some open houses, and I'd been curious about Fruitvale. I could smell all the delicious food so we asked Yelp for some good places. Was not disappointed. The carnitas was amazing. Fruitvale also seemed kinda neat, like the Mission without hipsters.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by wooliemonster

I had the best burrito of my life tonight at Tacos Sinaloa on Intl at 22nd.

That's my favorite. Their shrimp and sour cream burrito slays me every time.

[ken22]

Originally Posted by CTC

...Ok back to the original question "Is it safe in Oakland?" Most of the time but not always.

3. Oakland, Calif.
There were 1,085.9 robberies per 100,000 residents in Oakland in 2012, higher than any other city. This was also significantly higher than the 851.2 robberies per 100,000 just a year earlier. The rates of murder and aggravated assaults also increased in 2012 compared to 2011. Violent crime was not the only issue in Oakland, either — there were 6,594 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2012, more than all but eight other cities, and up from 5,287.9 in 2011.
http://homes.yahoo.com/news/the-most...201732579.html

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by ken22

3. Oakland, Calif.
There were 1,085.9 robberies per 100,000 residents in Oakland in 2012, higher than any other city. This was also significantly higher than the 851.2 robberies per 100,000 just a year earlier. The rates of murder and aggravated assaults also increased in 2012 compared to 2011. Violent crime was not the only issue in Oakland, either — there were 6,594 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2012, more than all but eight other cities, and up from 5,287.9 in 2011.
Yahoo!

Yes but this^ is not a blanket that can be thrown over the entire city.

So while I understand your point, it is rather tiring having to explain over and over again to people who by now, should already know better than to think that the entire land mass of Oakland is not overrun by crime, in fact much of the city is extremely idyllic and desirable.

Even Downtown is transforming as we speak, crime notwithstanding.

And I'm happy to report that crime overall is down in Oakland so far in 2013 compared to 2012 but you would never sense that if we were to rely solely on media hysteria regarding Oakland.

[ken22]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Yes but this^ is not a blanket that can be thrown over the entire city.

No, but while shopping, going to the movies, riding public transportation etc. you're likely to run across criminal elements more often than other cities with much smaller crime problem.

The 3rd worst crime rate in the entire US isn't something you can easily brush aside if you're considering moving there.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by ken22

No, but while shopping, going to the movies, riding public transportation etc. you're likely to run across criminal elements more often than other cities with much smaller crime problem.

That all depends on where you are in Oakland--criminals and danger are not even distributed across the entire mass of Oakland. Plenty of areas don't have criminals hiding in every corner.

In fact, as I stated earlier, crime is down overall but the media is not letting up hence the comments we read in forums like C-D, but here is one media story that is actually accurate about the overall state of things:

As of Monday, homicides had decreased 16 percent compared to last year at this time and were at their lowest point since 2010, according to crime stats reported by the Oakland Police Department. In addition, assaults were down 5 percent from 2012, while rapes had declined 27 percent and were at their lowest level in eight years. The only violent crime category that was up this year was robberies, which have increased 25 percent. Even burglaries, which are not considered violent crimes, are down 5 percent this year. And residential burglaries have plummeted 18 percent.

Reality Check: Violent Crime Is Down in Oakland | Seven Days | The Weekly News Roundup | East Bay Express


For the most part, things have improved significantly.

The 3rd worst crime rate in the entire US isn't something you can easily brush aside if you're considering moving there.

Except the fastest growing demographic moving to Oakland is upper income professional couples who could afford to live anywhere but are choosing Oakland crime rate notwithstanding. Why would you say that is?

Perhaps it's the cultural amenities, vibrancy and urbane sophisitication that do not exist in suburbia, perhaps it's the countless incredible restaurants, arts scene, growing nightlife etc. Or maybe they want to be in the urban core of the Bay Area but still desire space in one of the 6,000 million dollar homes in the Oakland Hills.

I understand your concern and sure crime should be considered, but plenty of monified people are making their way to Oakland precisely because they have come and recognize that the benefits outweigh any possible drawbacks, including crime.

[ssmaster]

Originally Posted by ken22

No, but while shopping, going to the movies, riding public transportation etc. you're likely to run across criminal elements more often than other cities with much smaller crime problem.

The 3rd worst crime rate in the entire US isn't something you can easily brush aside if you're considering moving there.

the argument that crime in oakland is uniform is false. violent crime is highly segregated in oakland. do you believe the crime rate in sea cliff the same as the crime rate in bay view hunters point? do you beieve the crimes occuring in bayview hunters point effect the residents of seacliff? of course not than why do you believe crime in the poorest parts has an effect on the people living in upper rockridge or claremont pines?
these families are giving their kids horseback lessons at the many equestrian centers in the oakland hills and keeping their yachts in the oakland estuary.




1801 MELVIN RD, OAKLAND, CA 94602 Map

SOLD: $2,450,000


216 PERSHING DR, OAKLAND, CA 94611 Map

SOLD: $2,200,000


13085 SKYLINE BLVD, OAKLAND, CA 94619 Map

SOLD: $2,100,000


170 ROBLE ROAD, OAKLAND, CA 94618 Map

SOLD: $2,050,000

1099 ARDMORE AVE, OAKLAND, CA 94610 Map

SOLD: $1,850,000


91 ROBLE RD, OAKLAND, CA 94618 Map

SOLD: $1,805,000


6015 MANCHESTER DR, OAKLAND, CA 94618 Map

SOLD: $1,800,000


55 YORKSHIRE DR, OAKLAND, CA 94618 Map

SOLD: $1,725,000


6401 GWIN CT, OAKLAND, CA 94611 Map

SOLD: $1,700,000

6316 BULLARD DR, OAKLAND, CA 94611 Map

SOLD: $1,694,500
as far as movie theaters,shopping at trader joes or fine dining. these areas are not in the bad parts of oakland unlike the cinemas ,theatres and fine dining located in the tenderloin.

[ken22]

Originally Posted by ssmaster

....the argument that crime in oakland do you believe the crime rate in sea cliff the same as the crime rate in bay view hunters point....

No, but you can run across out of control thugs while seeing a movie at the AMC on Van Ness, riding the Muni Metro, shopping downtown or dining in the Mission.

Crime in SF is bad enough yet isn`t in the top 25 cities as far as stats go.

Oakland is #3 in the nation which is horrible no matter how anyone attempts to spin it.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by ken22

Crime in SF is bad enough yet isn`t in the top 25 cities as far as stats go.

Oakland is #3 in the nation which is horrible no matter how anyone attempts to spin it.

Stats don't seem to help much when I go to either of these places. Definitely more of a concentration of, and therefore higher likelihood of being messed with for no reason by a weirdo or sketcher in more parts of SF than in most parts of Oakland.

If there's some sort of action in Oakland within eyesight or earshot, it almost always has to do with hoodlums messing with each other. In SF, there is an uncomfortably high likelihood that it's drug criminals messing with the general populace, usually to get money for the next fix.