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Uber Seeking To Sell Oakland Building

ProfessorLayton 9y ago
Regardless of Uber's drama, I was really looking forward to having more major tech companies spread out throughout the Bay Area. There's no reason they should all be concentrated on the peninsula and South Bay. I understand the concerns regarding gentrification, but all this concentration is just stratifying the haves from the have-nots.
- hkmurakami 9y ago
  The reason historically is proximity to the executive(s) residences. Exhibits are the locations of Netflix, Workday, and Seagate in the early days.
  - mc32 9y ago
    IBM, Intel, AMD, 3COM, Cisco too.
joelrunyon 9y ago
Am I reading this right? > Orson Aguilar, president of Oakland nonprofit The Greenlining Institute, which spearheaded the “#NoUberOakland” campaign, said he expected Uber’s earlier announcement of retrenchment might lead to the building’s sale. > “Uber, with all its challenges, could still do something for the community and make a win for everyone’s benefit if it had dedicated significant space for a training center.” Are they simultaneously saying that 1) NO - Uber shouldn't come to Oakland and 2) We're mad that Uber is leaving? I have to be missing something...
- sokoloff 9y ago
  Yes, the food is terrible and the portions much too small.
- stmfreak 9y ago
  You are reading this right. Emotional arguments are free of reason.
- sebleon 9y ago
  > I have to be missing something... The next paragraph makes their position more clear. They’re not against Uber; they’re against Uber-esque hyper-aggressive business practices. “Groups do want companies to come, not to engage in business as usual, but to work with the community to make sure people have jobs, that small businesses can provide services, that they’re coming in more conscious of social and corporate responsibilities.”
- SilasX 9y ago
  Yes: Uber didn't give in to community leaders' demands. (Depending on how you look at it, similar to extortion.)
SeoxyS 9y ago
It's pretty sad that the local community has been so self-destructively negative about the benefits of a major tech company moving in. This could've meant new jobs, new housing, and new life to what is currently a pretty crime-ridden and sad part of the bay area…
- deleted 9y ago
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- deleted 9y ago
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- marricks 9y ago
  Would it though? It sounds like a great example of gentrification. Those develops and such that move in will just drive up the rent, bring in restaurants and such that cater to their desires, and then push out who was there with higher prices. I mean, I'd like this not to be the case, and love to hear of examples where things actually got better for people already there but I just haven't heard it.
  - SeoxyS 9y ago
    I think gentrification is awesome. I fully support improving the area with new restaurant, bars, stores, housing. Local housing values will improve as the area becomes more desirable. Also key is cleaning up the crime.
- bigdubs 9y ago
  Their current office is in a crime-ridden and sad part of the bay area (mid-market).
  - SeoxyS 9y ago
    Mid-market has vastly improved since Twitter, Uber, Square, Zendesk, Microsoft, etc. moved in. It's no longer a crime-ridden sad part; it's now vibrant with grocery stores, restaurants, cafés, bars, housing, etc. It's a great success story for redevelopment. Some people call it gentrification.
Tempest1981 9y ago
> The company has donated $70,000 toward helping Oakland students attend college, and given away $30,000 worth of free rides to Oakland organizations. Is this a significant amount? Not to look a gift horse in the mouth...

Regardless of Uber's drama, I was really looking forward to having more major tech companies spread out throughout the Bay Area. There's no reason they should all be concentrated on the peninsula and South Bay. I understand the concerns regarding gentrification, but all this concentration is just stratifying the haves from the have-nots.

hkmurakami 9y ago
The reason historically is proximity to the executive(s) residences. Exhibits are the locations of Netflix, Workday, and Seagate in the early days.
- mc32 9y ago
  IBM, Intel, AMD, 3COM, Cisco too.

joelrunyon 9y ago

Am I reading this right? > Orson Aguilar, president of Oakland nonprofit The Greenlining Institute, which spearheaded the “#NoUberOakland” campaign, said he expected Uber’s earlier announcement of retrenchment might lead to the building’s sale. > “Uber, with all its challenges, could still do something for the community and make a win for everyone’s benefit if it had dedicated significant space for a training center.” Are they simultaneously saying that 1) NO - Uber shouldn't come to Oakland and 2) We're mad that Uber is leaving? I have to be missing something...

sokoloff 9y ago
Yes, the food is terrible and the portions much too small.
stmfreak 9y ago
You are reading this right. Emotional arguments are free of reason.
sebleon 9y ago
> I have to be missing something... The next paragraph makes their position more clear. They’re not against Uber; they’re against Uber-esque hyper-aggressive business practices. “Groups do want companies to come, not to engage in business as usual, but to work with the community to make sure people have jobs, that small businesses can provide services, that they’re coming in more conscious of social and corporate responsibilities.”
SilasX 9y ago
Yes: Uber didn't give in to community leaders' demands. (Depending on how you look at it, similar to extortion.)

SeoxyS 9y ago

It's pretty sad that the local community has been so self-destructively negative about the benefits of a major tech company moving in. This could've meant new jobs, new housing, and new life to what is currently a pretty crime-ridden and sad part of the bay area…

deleted 9y ago
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deleted 9y ago
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marricks 9y ago
Would it though? It sounds like a great example of gentrification. Those develops and such that move in will just drive up the rent, bring in restaurants and such that cater to their desires, and then push out who was there with higher prices. I mean, I'd like this not to be the case, and love to hear of examples where things actually got better for people already there but I just haven't heard it.
- SeoxyS 9y ago
  I think gentrification is awesome. I fully support improving the area with new restaurant, bars, stores, housing. Local housing values will improve as the area becomes more desirable. Also key is cleaning up the crime.
bigdubs 9y ago
Their current office is in a crime-ridden and sad part of the bay area (mid-market).
- SeoxyS 9y ago
  Mid-market has vastly improved since Twitter, Uber, Square, Zendesk, Microsoft, etc. moved in. It's no longer a crime-ridden sad part; it's now vibrant with grocery stores, restaurants, cafés, bars, housing, etc. It's a great success story for redevelopment. Some people call it gentrification.

Tempest1981 9y ago

> The company has donated $70,000 toward helping Oakland students attend college, and given away $30,000 worth of free rides to Oakland organizations. Is this a significant amount? Not to look a gift horse in the mouth...