How did Oakland become so unsafe when it's so close to San Francisco?

Question

You would think it would instead get urbanized by rich people who want to commute to San Francisco.

Answer 1

I think Oakland is a ghetto for several reasons:

1. Oakland is one of the few cities in the Bay Area with a lot low income housing. This attracts the wrong people and deters the right people.
2. Oakland has a huge port which employs the union to work in the docks. As we all know, union members aren't exactly the best people in society. Many of them have criminal records and that's why they need a union to back them up.
3. The Raiders play there. If you ever happen to go to a Raiders game, check out the tail gate parties. The parking lot looks like a prison yard.

There are probably a ton of other reasons but that's all I can think of right now. By the way, San Francisco is a ghetto too. Just go to the Bayside District and you'll see what I'm talking about...........

Answer 2

You seem to be working under the impression that San Francisco is entirely safe.

Both are big cities...both have safe neighborhoods and dangerous neighborhoods.

There are lots of places you can hang out in Oakland, and not ever think that you're in danger. Jack London Square, for example, is a great place to spend the day.

There are lots of places you can hang out in San Francisco and not ever feel safe. When was the last time you were south of Howard Street, say between 2nd and 10th Streets? It used to be dangerous to be anywhere south of Market, but since they've put in Moscone Center & the new ballpark in China Basin, the line has shifted a bit. It's not my favorite hangout, to be sure!

I probably didn't directly address your question, but I hope I have given you a little better perspective on both of these great cities.

Answer 3

Actually Gerry Brown did a good job with gentrification. The downtown area is pretty good. Chinatown is nicer than San Franciscos. Whole blocks are being torn down and built up as Condos. 1200 sf goes as little as $550,000.

Answer 4

Never go to a Raiders game, they attract a low class crowd that throws half full bear cans at your head on the field! No kidding.

Oakland is a low economic area with people who have a poverty level consciousness with an attitude of animosity a mile long....

I avoid Oakland by driving straight past it to get to Santa Rosa California in wine country.

Berkley has is also seedy and its been that way for 50 years.

Answer 5

Wherever there are ghettos & groups of young people left out, without employment in mainstream society or who have lost any hope for a better future then you might find an area that is unsafe to be in.

Certain areas in SF can also be dangerous.

Answer 6

If you study the most crime ridden areas of America, you will find that the area is infested with Liberals (San Francisco, New Orleans, East St. Louis, New York City, Detroit)

Answer 7

for "urbanized areas" full of rich people...see parts of berkeley, piedmont, emeryville, and anywhere off the 24....
oakland is an older city...i'm sure it wasn't always the ghetto...but poor folks gotta live somewhere, too.

Answer 8

SF is not so safe either. Also, the two cities are separated by a body of water.

Answer 9

Parts of it have become "gentrified", and more gentrification is possible. Hunter's Point (in SF) is another potential spot for gentrification.

Answer 10

because a team called the Raiders moved to town