Today's Chronicle discusses Mayor Jerry Brown's recent move to the 2500 block of Telegraph, in Oakland, and his reaction to the criminal activity that pervades that neighborhood.
Reading the article, I was surprised to learn just how down-trodden that neighborhood is. I've recently "found" the neighborhood for myself. I've attended a show at the Stork Club (great for pinball!), I've heard about events at Mama Buzz Cafe (though why are they never open when I'm happening by?), and I've been intrigued by all the Korean shopping. Oh, and art/venue space 21 Grand is right there, too.
Now, I don't live near there, nor claim to be an expert. I'd love to hear from folks who are more familiar with the neighborhood, who could confirm or dispute whether it's as unsafe as the article makes out.
Me, I think it looks like a neighborhood just *prime* for gentrification. Burgeoning art scene. Lofts that can attract the mayor's girlfriend. I wouldn't be surpriised if in 10 years this area is all quaint boutiques and restaurants. It would be a good time to get in there, real estate-wise. It's also close-ish to downtown, not too far from BART, and well-served by other transit.
Posted by peterme at August 25, 2003 08:30 AM | TrackBackI dont live too far away, and I go to the stork club semi-regularly. I don't think the area is that horrible... I'd live in those lofts if they didn't cost more than a normal apartment.
the chron is a pretty right wing paper that has never covered the east bay in a fair & even-handed way. they have a serious "people of color = crime" mentality over there at that paper.
the neighborhood is absolutely fine. i used to book the stork & was a collective member of 21 grand. i still get over there quite a bit.
the chron flinches at anything that isn't gentrified & safe for the suburban folks. they also talk about how market street in sf is just the unsafest place in the world & all the homeless people should be shipped off somewhere else. (they also have a "poor people = crime" mentality, too)
most crimes (and oakland is no exception- including the outrageously high murder rate) occur between people tyhat know one another. do you know anyone who is gonna want to murder you in front of mama buzz? no? then you're probably safe!
dani
Posted by: daniland at August 30, 2003 12:06 PMyeah. i agree. i live on 32nd and telegraph. the neighborhood is not bursting with cuteness and i like it that way. it is bursting with neet things though, like mama buzz, korean pool halls, and shopping and this spot is close to everything ie freeways and barts and downtown and other neighborhoods. i feel totally safe. just use your head.
Posted by: walker at September 13, 2003 10:49 AMYou can't tell how much crime occurs in a neighborhood by just hanging out in it, nor by assessing how safe you feel on it. I lived at 66th and Telegraph for 8 years and if I hadn't lived in an apartment facing the street I would have thought it was a very safe neighborhood. But as I did face the street I regularly witnessed people in fights, muggings, harrassment, vandalism, car theft, crack deals, and most suprisingly a fairly high amount of prostitution after 3AM.
I then moved to an apartment in the rear of the building (not facing the street) and the whole neighborhood suddenly seemed very safe and crime free - as most of the the crime happened late at night when I was in my home and I rarely ever witnessed any occurring anymore. I now realize that if you don't have a view of the street itself 24/7 you can't really assess how much crime occurs on it.
The best way is to assess the level of crime in a neighborhood is probably to check the interactive Oakland crime map. It's available at www.oaklandnet.com. Checking this as a resource you'll see that the area Mr. Brown lives in isn't one of the worst in Oakland, but it's defintely a high crime area.
Also, it's important to remember that just because an area has a high amount of crime doesn't make it down-trodden. Lot's of cool places are in high-crime areas, that's just life. The Mission in SF, the fantastic BBQ places on International Blvd... If cool places tended to be in safe areas Piedmont would be a hopping burg, but it's instead an extremely boring area...
The thing that bothers me is that Jerry Brown has decided to focus attention on the neighborhood just because he lives there. He has the power of OPD at his disposal and access to all sorts of crime statistics, but instead seems to be only aware of his immediate surroundings. By focusing all this attention on what, by Oakland standards, is not even a hotbed of crime he is likely depriving far worse areas of much needed police resources.
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