the good, the bad, the ugly 510
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12/20/2020
I've lived in Oakland since 2008. If you have money to live in affluent hoods you might get robbed while waiting on carpool at 7am and will likely have your vehicle tampered with. My car was broken into several times and finally stolen and ruined after being returned 4.5 months later. I live in a rough area where the young sex workers work the streets, people sell drugs out of RVs near the multiple pop up plywood shelters and tarp/tent homes. Garbage is piling up. Tweekers zombie around with pants around ankles and butt hanging out, human feces on sidewalk, my car got hit and run. But the food is diverse and delicious in my specific hood (jingletownish) Oakland is a huge city and it has old charm and beauty and there are nice places if you have money. Oakland leadership is very poor. City services are reduced. I report dead animals and rarely reach a human because animal control has reduced hours. People just leave dead animals in the street in front of their home. There is an inhumanity here. Low income neighborhoods are becoming more white because whites cant afford $1M homes so the buy in east and west oakland. There's been a lot of displacement and people end up on the streets. I do think Oakland is exceptional in its diversity, tolerance, and activism. For my personal safety I never walk at night. Ive never been a victim of violent crime but i pay attention because being alert is a deterrent. I think someone who is considering moving to Oaktown should come. Its a great city but you must be cautious. There is s lot of opportunity to be free as any race, sex, style. Its a chill place to live. Its much different than San Francisco- more laid back.
Tara | Oakland, CA