Oakland Crimespotting

If you're like me, you've long moved out of Oakland but your roots are still there. Whether it be your parent's house, your church, or your job, you find yourself in Oakland at least once a week. You wish Oakland was still the way it used to be growing up, but times have changed and it's hard to deny that even the "safer" parts of Oakland are no longer immune to crime.

Oakland Crimespotting is an informative interactive website on all the crime reports in Oakland. For the past year, I've been tracking the crime around my old house and it's pretty scary! I cringe when I read about the activities in my former backyard: burglary-forcible entry, carjacking-strong arm, assault, robbery-firearm, battery, etc. Wow.

On any given day/week, the map is just littered with colored spots indicating how much evil is lurking throughout the city. For those of us living in the suburbs, it's quite an eye-opener seeing so many colored spots daily. But then again, even in our own perceived, safe neighborhoods, I'm sure crimes are committed everyday also, but those are usually just theft and vandalism (non-violent). Also, we have the luxury of not knowing about them.

In 2010, there were 90 murders in Oakland. That's a decrease from the 120 in 2007, but still way too high. But it's not just the murders that scare me, it's the other assault, robbery and crimes of opportunities that has me on high alert at all times. Knowing that at any intersection, some gangbanger can blow through a red light and plow into you (yes, that happened to my friend on her way to her mom's house), that gives me reason to avoid the city as much as possible.

Just last month, three people were charged with 132 felony counts including TWO DOZEN home invasion robberies "targeting mostly immigrant families of Asian descent." Two happened on Wisconsin and Delaware streets, which is above MacArthur Blvd, the psychological border that separates the good from the not-so-good.

It's a given that Asians are targeted because we tend to be weak and carry a lot of cash/gadgets. Last year there were a few high profile cases involving black on Asian hate crimes. So it's hard not to assume the worst when seeing a group of ghetto teens with saggy pants and hoodies. That's why I avoid public parts of Oakland at night, even Chinatown. Even if I find a killer deal on Craigslist after dinner, it'll have to wait until the next day.

Below I've listed a few neighborhoods that my readers may have interest in. The easiest way to follow the action is to subscribe to the RSS feed.

Chinatown: 3X

Dimond/Upper Fruitvale: 22X

Coolidge to Crestmont: 22Y

Upper High Street: 25X

Montclair: 13Z

China Hill/Haddon: 15X

For those of you new to Oakland, let me just tell you a few streets to stay away from, especially at night: San Pablo, Seminary, 73rd, International, Foothill, Martin Luther King, anything below MacArthur, and any area around the Coliseum or a BART station.

Stay safe my friends.

Social justice, ghetto style

WARNING: Lots of violence and obscenities. Turn down volume because action speaks louder than words.

This video was uploaded yesterday from the 10 a.m. Muni bus in SF Chinatown.

As someone who grew up in Oakland, I've been intimidated on the bus countless times. So to see someone fight back, I feel a sense of justice finally being served (30 years later). Like, finally... someone standing up to thug. I know this is a very rare occasion, and violence is never the answer, especially when the Bible tells us that vengeance belongs to the Lord and that we should turn the other cheek... But I do feel the need to defend ourselves and not be a doormat to the scum of the earth. So please forgive me for taking a little bit of pleasure in seeing the old Chinese lady open a can of whoop-a** on the unsuspecting aggressor – Like did I see a flying kick in there??

Now had this been in Oakland on AC Transit, and the roles were reversed, you know someone is gonna get killed. True that!

On the serious side, obviously an assault occurred. But Muni is more concerned in investigating why the driver didn't report the incident than the crime itself. Unbelievable! Oh yeah, and I hear a "significant number" of cameras on Muni buses don't work. Beware.

LINK: Matier and Ross

Sink or Swim?

Last month we attended a few swim parties. It seems like water parks are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Even public parks have free water play areas now (and I thought we were in a drought). Below are some photos from our YFC swim social and Jarod's birthday party in San Ramon.

When I was growing up, I loved playing with water. But water fun was limited to water guns and balloons. If you had a rich friend, then you could use their pool. Otherwise the only other option is the public pool. The pool near my house was Dimond Park where rumors were that it also served as a public urinal. I believed it then and I still believe it now.

If you are Chinese and you grew up in Oakland, chances are you don't know how to swim. The few exceptions are: (1) had wealthy parents who could afford private lessons, and (2) overseas born and already used to swimming in filthy waters (FOB).

At Oakland High School, there were only two determining factors to taking swim class: you either had to be real fobby or real ghetto to be in there, nothing in between. Oh how I still remember how the brothas used to snap the towels at the unsuspecting fobbies as they ran to and from the showers. No way I was gonna subject myself to that abuse. And since swimming was not a requirement, none of my smart friends took swimming either.

To those of us that can't swim, isn't swimming just soooo overrated?? If you're over 5 feet tall, 90% of all fun at water parks do not require the ability to swim. So unless you're training for the olympics or a job at Sea World, why learn? I mean what are the chances you're gonna fall off a boat or a bridge? (Provided the fall didn't kill you already or the sharks haven't eaten you.) Fact is, if there is an accident and you're dropped in the ocean, you're gonna die. Caught in a riptide? You're gonna die. Swept away in a hurricane? You're gonna die. Sure if you can swim, you won't die immediately, but you'll die eventually. God's timing is inescapable.

I don't think I've missed out that much in life not knowing how to swim. Sure I don't dare surf, jetski, or drop the cannonball, but I've been quite content eliminating all extreme sports from my recreation list. And now that my life is well into its second half, I'll probably need the pool more for physical therapy than fun.

Also back in the 80's, suntanning by the pool was hip while sunscreen was nonexistent. So to all my Bain de Soleil cocoa-butter buddies, look out, because melanoma may soon be knocking at your door!

Now this doesn't mean I'm preventing my kids from swimming, not at all. I want them to be a part of whatever fun their friends are having and to never feel left out. It's not their fault their dad grew up next to a ghetto and was deprived his entire childhood. I've learned to live without certain luxuries that other people take for granted. I've made my sacrifices so they don't have to. Isn't that what being a parent is all about? To unselfishly make their lives better than your own? I expect them to not just learn how to swim, but to excel in it through their adolescence. Because who knows? If someday I actually do fall off a boat, I'll need them there to save me!

Is it true that if someone breaks the water first, the second person has a softer entry?

Cannonballs away!
Note: All swimmers above either came from the burbs or private schools.

Bok Duck and Baby Duck. Patrick also graduated from OHS. I think sink.

Another OHS graduate. I think sink.

I taught Cameron good, as I filled my water gun with ice cubes before shooting him.

Future olympians, whale trainers, or Cirque de Soleil performers.

All Tangs on deck! Jarod turns one.

Who got the cocoa butter?

Oakland 101*

*On Monday, the Chronicle reported four homicides in Oakland over the weekend which brought the total to 101 victims in 2008. That's when I thought of the catchy title, "Oakland 101." But now as I'm wrapping up this post, I see someone else got killed Tuesday so now it's 102. Ugh!

With the heat wave last week, several of my whiny coworkers were complaining about the triple digit temperatures where they live (San Jose, Gilroy, Pleasanton, Livermore, etc). I always tell them the best climate in the bay is in Oakland. And as always their typical response is, "Who would want to live there?! You'll get killed!"

I was born and raised in Oakland. Chrissy was born and works in Oakland. We attend church in Oakland. I drive my mom home to Oakland... So essentially, one of us is in Oakland almost every single day of the year. And I'm guessing 80% of my friendships were all rooted in Oakland too. I like Oakland and generally feel safe in Oakland. But it depends what part of Oakland you're in and what time of day it is.

If you're new to Oakland and want to enjoy Oakland, let me tell you where NOT to go. If you look at the homicide map above, you'll notice all the murders are below (or west) of the 580 freeway – quite telltale of where the unsafe neighborhoods are. At first glance, it almost looks like the game of Risk. But it's more like the game of Life.

To me I find comfort knowing that murderers tend to stay in their own neighborhoods and not travel afar to do their killing. Maybe it's the convenience, or they're protecting their turf, or maybe it's the price of gas. I say as long as you stay away from International Blvd., San Pablo and 98th Ave., then the rest of Oakland is probably no more dangerous than any other big city.

Now robberies on the other hand, are a lot more widespread (I know that firsthand with the break-in at my mom' house last year). But at least you're still alive. With the recent restaurant robberies, it shows that criminals go everywhere, especially where the targets seem to be more affluent. My recommendation when going out to dinner, like to Chinatown, is to not carry that much money or any expensive jewelry. Empty out your wallet and bring only the necessities. And if you cherish your iPhone, perhaps carry a decoy older phone to hand over. The main goal is to give them everything and not get shot.

And how about that nicer city across the bay? Yes they are a bit safer, about a third less murders than Oakland, but still plenty of scary neighborhoods to stay away from. Plus their homeless problem is way worst.

San Jose on the other hand, is quite notably safer. Being down here the last four years, I've noticed a lot less homeless and gansta ghetto folks compared to Oakland and SF. Their biggest problem is probably gangs, graffiti, and skanky teens at Great America. I know I'm not going to win any arguments around here. We all know Oakland is where you'll most likely get shot and robbed. But one thing for sure, the weather can't be beat!

Find Hookers on Google Maps

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Is this cool or what? We already know the Google Map's Street View was freakin' awesome, but now you can even find the best places to pick up prostitutes! And in broad daylight too! – Hmm, gives new meaning to Afternoon Delight. Yes this is real. Look up 3186 San Pablo Ave in Oakland (actually it's listed as Emeryville). Google lets you embed the interactive maps directly on your web page. You can scroll inside the photo to zoom in and/or get different angles of the chicks. It's really neat!

And look, here's a couple more in front of a church on 3244 San Pablo Ave.


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I tried cruising up and down the surrounding streets to see if I could find their pimp, but no luck. There were quite a few other questionable characters hanging out in front of another church.


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Those of us who grew up in Oakland know all about San Pablo Avenue. Apparently some things never change. It will always be the hot spot for hoochie mama's. Hey, doesn't Stu live somewhere around there? :o

LINK to Google Maps