Meserhle Trial for death of Oscar Grant begins in LA (San Francisco: to buy, living)

[Mr. Fantastic]

This is exactly the problem. No one cares in Oakland. Mayor Dellums sure doesn't.

Jerry Brown is quoted, "Oakland could use a mayor. It hasn't had one since I left office." Since Dellums has taken office he's been a non-factor for change in Oakland. He's doing nothing to try and keep 200 officers in the city.

You people live in the city, but you don't care, and instead you want to focus on pink houses, and $800,000 homes in the hills.

[baybook]

OK. You've convinced me. I tried to ignore it, but you're right.

What do you think I should do?

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

Oakland actually can be worse than Iraq from certain perspectives. For instance, in 2008, more people were murdered in Oakland than U.K troops lost in the entire Iraqi theater.

I lived in Alameda County for 6 years, and own a home in the Bay Area. I know all about Oakland.

Each morning I checked the O.P.D. Daily Crime Analysis Report for hopeful signs. Each day, reading the Tribune and seeing the television coverage, it seems there were constant reminders that violence in Oakland was unabated. This is in stark contrast to official word we hear through Oakland channels that crimes are being controlled – that the crime rate is going down.

Why can’t Oakland citizens face reality? Violence is way up. Oaklanders are moving out. Children are being kept out of Oakland public schools. Businesses are shutting down and leaving. Residents fear getting out of their cars. Why must you put a “good face” on a bad situation?

When Jerry Brown took office in January of 1999 Oakland had just suffered 7,061 violent crimes [1998], or 19.3 per day. After three years, for 2001, the violence was reduced by -24.5%. By the end of 2001, there were 5,330 violent crimes, or 14.6 per day.

When Chief Tucker joined the O.P.D. in January 2005 Oakland experienced 5,150 [2004] violent crimes at a rate of 14.1 per day. After “reorganizing” the O.P.D. into his very different style, by the time he left in January of 2009 Oakland had descended into 7,906 violent crimes [2008], or 21.7 per day.

When Mayor Dellums took office in January of 2007, he inherited 7900 violent crimes [2006]. The average daily rate was 21.6. The very latest Daily Crime Analysis Report [June 23, 2010] shows that for the 57 days of the current quarter Oakland is in the grips of an average 28.6 violent crimes per day. This rate is the highest in Oakland’s recorded history.

Oakland is statistically getting worse and no one who is an Oakland resident has ever admitted this. Yet you will see certain Oakland residents say "everything is fine, move on in."

It's that type of uninformed opinion I'm trying to combat by providing USEFUL, factual information.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by baybook

OK. You've convinced me. I tried to ignore it, but you're right.

What do you think I should do?

First you need a new mayor. The current one thinks the correct way to solve budget problems is to cut public services (i.e - getting rid of 200 cops).

[baybook]

No no no. You're right. Oakland is a horrible place. Way to much crime, and there weren't enough cops in the first place. What should I do. Me? How is a new mayor goinng to help me?? I'm in East Oakland. I could be dead by the time elections get here.

Or is your point that Oakland residents should elect a new mayor? That doesn't make sense to me, because if that's what you think people should do, wouldn't you want to encourage people to move to Oakland. The current residents have done a crappy job. Maybe new residents would get things on the right track.

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

First you need a new mayor. The current one thinks the correct way to solve budget problems is to cut public services (i.e - getting rid of 200 cops).

[04kL4nD]

Mr. Fantastic should run for mayor!

[UPT Oakland]

Originally Posted by baybook

No no no. You're right. Oakland is a horrible place. Way to much crime, and there weren't enough cops in the first place. What should I do. Me? How is a new mayor goinng to help me?? I'm in East Oakland. I could be dead by the time elections get here.

Or is your point that Oakland residents should elect a new mayor? That doesn't make sense to me, because if that's what you think people should do, wouldn't you want to encourage people to move to Oakland. The current residents have done a crappy job. Maybe new residents would get things on the right track.

What we need is Robocop as mayor, I feel like every time I take my daughter to Childrens Fairyland I'm going to get shot by the lake. I always keep my M16 locked and loaded because Oakland is a death zone for all residents. Baghdad is like Beverly Hills compared to here. A new Mayor would make the murder rate of Oakland go to zero just like when Jerry Brown was mayor.

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

This entire paragraph sounds like some 40+ year old guys fantasy directly plagiarized from a Jim Crace novel (not implying you're making anything up, but it has a similar thematic quality to Crace).

Haha, thanks I was, indeed, making an effort to sound as apocalyptic as I possibly could about the whole matter.

[baybook]

Originally Posted by UPT Oakland

What we need is Robocop as mayor, I feel like every time I take my daughter to Childrens Fairyland I'm going to get shot by the lake. I always keep my M16 locked and loaded because Oakland is a death zone for all residents. Baghdad is like Beverly Hills compared to here. A new Mayor would make the murder rate of Oakland go to zero just like when Jerry Brown was mayor.

excuse me. Please don't answer questions for Mr Fantastic. I've read your past comments. You need to pay more attention to the crime stats and get your head out of the sand.

Your opinions are useless to me.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by baybook

You need to pay more attention to the crime stats and get your head out of the sand.

Okay so we pay attention to the crime stats and then what?

Are we supposed to leave? Are we supposed to cry? Are we supposed to get mad at someone? Im not sure I understand why crime stats are supposed to disrupt the lives of Oaklanders who do not feel affected by them in any way, shape or form?

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH CRIME STATS?

Your opinions are useless to me.

Im sure the feeling is mutual.

[04kL4nD]

Can someone please remind me how dangerous East Oakland is?

I never hear anyone mention it on the news, on the web, or in newspapers.

I feel like someone should be spending hours of their free time looking up crimestats and posting them on an online forum for me to see. I'm guessing that everyone who lives in Oakland has no idea how close to death we all are.

Perhaps someone who lives in a safe, suburban community in Orange county could do this tedious task...