5 ms·
Just as a factual correction, downtown Oakland is far, far safer than West Oakland. And has fewer insane homeless people than San Francisco.
by scarmig 14y ago
Just as a factual correction, downtown Oakland is far, far safer than West Oakland. And has fewer insane homeless people than San Francisco.
- potatolicious 14y agoIndeed, you're right. Downtown Oakland is much better than West Oakland, and better than Civic Center or the war zone/train wreck known as 16th and Mission. That being said, the crime rate and homeless population is still substantial enough to be a serious hindrance to development. See downtown Brooklyn, where a similar situation/vibe exists - not the worst neighborhood in NYC by far, but also sketchy enough that the monied working professionals aren't interested. They built anyways, and now that neighborhood is in a weird limbo where the buildings have trouble attracting tenants, but at the same time generating enormous class and racial tension due to their mere presence.