After one week of living in Oakland someone tried to mug me (Richmond: crime rate, safe neighborhood)

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I really don't think this is some deep culture clash. I think all we're dealing with here is simple math.

People with good stuff to steal move into den of thieves and get robbed. Surprise!

Yep. Cause we all know the residents of Oakland or (fill in the blank) are just waiting for us to leave our homes or get out of our fancy cars before they hit us over the head and take all our money.

I have never, ever heard of rich white people stealing money or god forbid, selling drugs.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by zitsky

Yep. Cause we all know the residents of Oakland or (fill in the blank) are just waiting for us to leave our homes or get out of our fancy cars before they hit us over the head and take all our money.

I have never, ever heard of rich white people stealing money or god forbid, selling drugs.

Whoa on the racist insinuation. Did I say black, white, asian, whatever? I said people with good stuff to steal move where thieves are and get robbed by people who rob people. All colors included on both sides.

Then the people who get robbed are surprised. Duh.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I really don't think this is some deep culture clash. I think all we're dealing with here is simple math.

People with good stuff to steal move into den of thieves and get robbed. Surprise!

I get your point and should have worded my post a little differently. Are there other parts of the Bay Area would you describe as a den of thieves?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by zitsky

I get your point and should have worded my post a little differently. Are there other parts of the Bay Area would you describe as a den of thieves?

Well, there are great views in Richmond. Maybe that will be the next gentrification project.

Or maybe East Palo Alto, also great views, waterfront property.

If the crime stats are the same as Oakland, what's the problem?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Okay, I couldn't help it. Had to check spotcrime.com. Here's Richmond. Hardly any crime at all. Just a couple of shootings:

SpotCrime Crime Map

Looks safer than anywhere in Oakland overall. If you only go by number of crimes.

And East Palo Alto:

SpotCrime Crime Map

Safer than Jack London Square.

Who knew.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

My reason for being so snarky is that I think it's really irresponsible to tell people that Oakland is safe, without giving them any data. Especially, single young women who want to know if they can walk and ride their bikes around at any time of the day or night. I see it too often here that this neighborhood or that is perfectly safe any time of the day or night.

The stats don't bear this to be the truth. If you told my daughter she'd be safe, and something terrible happened to her, I'd want to strangle you.

So, can we be honest at least? Yes, Jack London Square is safe, as long as you are okay with the fact that at least one person per day is burglarized in that neighborhood alone, and one person every 10 days is robbed there.

Oh yeah, and some guy got shot in a busy nightclub there, just a few days ago.

But, if you're okay with those stats, then yes, you should feel safe.

But, to be even safer, you might want to consider Richmond or East Palo Alto. If all you care about is safety.

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

My reason for being so snarky is that I think it's really irresponsible to tell people that Oakland is safe, without giving them any data. Especially, single young women who want to know if they can walk and ride their bikes around at any time of the day or night. I see it too often here that this neighborhood or that is perfectly safe any time of the day or night.

The stats don't bear this to be the truth. If you told my daughter she'd be safe, and something terrible happened to her, I'd want to strangle you.

So, can we be honest at least? Yes, Jack London Square is safe, as long as you are okay with the fact that at least one person per day is burglarized in that neighborhood alone, and one person every 10 days is robbed there.

Oh yeah, and some guy got shot in a busy nightclub there, just a few days ago.

But, if you're okay with those stats, then yes, you should feel safe.

But, to be even safer, you might want to consider Richmond or East Palo Alto. If all you care about is safety.

You really need to calm down. It's fine that you want to warn people of what happened to your daughter, but the vast majority of people that live in Oakland somehow manage to survive on a daily basis. And you also need to be OK with the fact that other people's perceptions of Oakland and its safety are completely different from yours. If looking at crime maps and cherry picking data points without any real context makes you feel better though, go right ahead and do it from your super safe home 50+ miles away in the suburban utopia of Santa Clara.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

You really need to calm down. It's fine that you want to warn people of what happened to your daughter, but the vast majority of people that live in Oakland somehow manage to survive on a daily basis. And you also need to be OK with the fact that other people's perceptions of Oakland and its safety are completely different from yours. If looking at crime maps and cherry picking data points without any real context makes you feel better though, go right ahead and do it from your super safe home 50+ miles away in the suburban utopia of Santa Clara.

Okay, convince me it's safe in Jack London Square for a single woman who wants to walk and ride her bike at any time of the day or night, using BART, etc. At this point, I'm referring to another thread, but let's go, as it's relevant to this thread, too.

crime stats vs "real context"

I never said everyone in Oakland would be a victim of crime. I am merely pointing out that the odds of being a victim are high in Oakland, even in the "safe" neighborhoods.

[04kL4nD]

Would you like the ask all of my neighbors who live in my apartment complex if they feel safe? DM me and I will give you the info so you can ask the women themselves. I see women pushing strollers and riding their bikes (day or night) on a daily basis and none of them look particularly scared. I also see women walking home from BART after 10PM, but BART stops running at midnight and the neighborhood mostly shuts down around midnight. Maybe they're just hiding it well?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

Would you like the ask all of my neighbors who live in my apartment complex if they feel safe? DM me and I will give you the info so you can ask the women themselves. I see women pushing strollers and riding their bikes (day or night) on a daily basis and none of them look particularly scared. I also see women walking home from BART after 10PM, but BART stops running at midnight and the neighborhood mostly shuts down around midnight. Maybe they're just hiding it well?

I get what you're saying. We aren't going to agree. I just wanted my point of view on record for people thinking about moving to Oakland, who keep being told on this forum that all is well in Oakland, and that there are safe neighborhoods. The stats say it's not safe. You say it is, regardless of the stats. So now, people who search this forum will have both of our opinions, and can decide for themselves with all info available to them.