Rate This City: Day 21 - Oakland

[greenvale]

Oakland is so now. Can’t wait to leave again, just gotta figure out where the new destination is: Dallas, Atlanta, DC, or LA

Curious what’s wrong with it? I’m thinking about a bay area move

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Curious what’s wrong with it? I’m thinking about a bay area move

There’s no vibe/life to it anymore. Like the 80s-90’s was the hey day for black Oakland. We had some fun night spots in the 00’s. And 2010-2016 was super fast paced gentrification, but there were some cool spots, the whole warriors run from 2014-2019 also brought a lot of energy to the bars out here. But in that time, the COL got out of control, taxes started really creeping up, the black middle/upper middle class all but disappeared/left the town. Then post covid so much shyt shut down/closed, crime went up, people aren’t out like they used to be, WFH set back a lot of the new apartments and retail that was built - like damn near every new apartment building has ground floor retail sitting vacant, no one is out after work on weekdays, and of course we lost all our teams.

 

[Spacejam23]

There’s no vibe/life to it anymore. Like the 80s-90’s was the hey day for black Oakland. We had some fun night spots in the 00’s. And 2010-2016 was super fast paced gentrification, but there were some cool spots, the whole warriors run from 2014-2019 also brought a lot of energy to the bars out here. But in that time, the COL got out of control, taxes started really creeping up, the black middle/upper middle class all but disappeared/left the town. Then post covid so much shyt shut down/closed, crime went up, people aren’t out like they used to be, WFH set back a lot of the new apartments and retail that was built - like damn near every new apartment building has ground floor retail sitting vacant, no one is out after work on weekdays, and of course we lost all our teams.

Yeah pre covid warriors era oakland was fun . But post the city has been down in more ways than one mayor and da ousted for currpotion . So many things wrong with the city . There's other parts of the bay to check out san jose area Frisco

 

[Spacejam23]

Yeah pre covid warriors era oakland was fun . But post the city has been down in more ways than one mayor and da ousted for currpotion . So many things wrong with the city . There's other parts of the bay to check out san jose area Frisco

There’s no vibe/life to it anymore. Like the 80s-90’s was the hey day for black Oakland. We had some fun night spots in the 00’s. And 2010-2016 was super fast paced gentrification, but there were some cool spots, the whole warriors run from 2014-2019 also brought a lot of energy to the bars out here. But in that time, the COL got out of control, taxes started really creeping up, the black middle/upper middle class all but disappeared/left the town. Then post covid so much shyt shut down/closed, crime went up, people aren’t out like they used to be, WFH set back a lot of the new apartments and retail that was built - like damn near every new apartment building has ground floor retail sitting vacant, no one is out after work on weekdays, and of course we lost all our teams.

I remember you moved to dc last time. Are you planning to permanently recolate . Or just temporary.?

Your in tech correct?

 

[ManBearPig]

Zanzi's
Oeste
Torch

New Parish, Paramount, Fox Theater, Crybaby and Yoshi's for shows

Thank.

I'm going The Bay Area next month

 

[phcitywarrior]

Oakland is so now. Can’t wait to leave again, just gotta figure out where the new destination is: Dallas, Atlanta, DC, or LA

I'm very likely out of here in the next 2 years, just want to advance a bit more in my field before calling it deuces. Going back to DC would be ideal but I'm not gonna lie, a lot of people have said Dallas is a good spot to set up shop. Never been but I'm intrigued

Curious what’s wrong with it? I’m thinking about a bay area move

There is nothing wrong with it per se, but subjectively, for black people, it isn't the best city/region when you compare it to other places like DC, ATL, Houston etc.

The social scene is very limited. There aren't a lot of venues and spots that cater to black folk. You'll only see critical mass at things like First Fridays (like a block party the first Friday of each month) or things happening at the Lake but those events don't happen all that often. People here need a reason to come out. You won’t really see people stop by at a neighborhood bar after work on some HH tip.

It can be a very work-and-go-home type of place. Maybe do something slight on the weekends and that's about it.

Summers can be a tad better, but that's summer.

A lot of the black transplants in my social circle who moved here for work from NYC, ATL, DC, Chicago etc are packing up and leaving. Many stay about 3-4 years then dip, women in particular.

If you're not in serious tech, in a start-up, or Venture capital, the case to come out here isn't that great. Expensive, far from the rest of the US, too liberal to a fault, lacks a strong black middle class, and has a substandard social scene.

There's a certain person for who the Bay/Oakland makes sense for, but I'd imagine it's not most people.

the black middle/upper middle class all but disappeared/left the town.

This for me is the biggest problem with Oakland, there's such a small population of middle to upper-middle-class black folk. It's very stark coming from DC. For once in my life in the US, I feel like a minority.

 

[murksiderock]

Oakland is so now. Can’t wait to leave again, just gotta figure out where the new destination is: Dallas, Atlanta, DC, or LA

1. LA
2. Dallas
3. DC
4. Atlanta

if everything is equal. Most times it isnt, so in that case its about where you feel your lifestyle has the largest net gain...

Curious what’s wrong with it? I’m thinking about a bay area move

Any black person interested in Northern California, the move is Sacramento and has been for nearly a decade now...

For comparison Sacramento and Alameda counties have basically the same black population:

Census profile: Sacramento County, CA

Census data for Sacramento County, CA (pop. 1,584,288), including age, race, sex, income, poverty, marital status, education and more.

censusreporter.org

Census profile: Alameda County, CA

Census data for Alameda County, CA (pop. 1,622,188), including age, race, sex, income, poverty, marital status, education and more.

censusreporter.org

The city of Oakland is still a little blacker than the city of Sacramento but the county snapshot of both gives you a better representation of how evenly-sized both cities, and their respective black communities, are...

The difference, and I don't think it can be undersold, is that Black Sacramento is in its Golden Era, it's still growing, not just in black persons, but in the places, businesses, and events that cater to black people, and the representation of blackness in the socio-political climate of the city. This is a stark contrast, which is historically much blacker with more black representation across the board, but Black Oakland has been in decline for quite awhile...

Sacramento is still a long way from what Black Oakland was at peak, as Dora mentioned Oakland was once culturally black as fukk. Sacramento is a historically white city, and while it's never had a negative black decline in a decennial Census, it's historic whiteness has only been eaten into since the turn of the century...

So you don't have the historic blackness of Oakland nor the skeleton pf what that historic blackness once held, but what you do have in Sac is a growing, vibrant black population with a solid black middle class---->the class and income gaps aren't as stark for Black Sacramentans...

I'd also argue that being in Black Sacramento must feel like what Black San Franciscans felt in the 40s and 50s, and what Black Oaklanders felt like in the 70s and 80s. Today you're right here at the beginning of the most prosperous era of black community in Sacramento, and that means something. It means a whole lot to us Black Sacramentans...

Sacramento is safer than Oakland, more affordable than Oakland too, on top of having that *spark* that Oakland had 40 years ago. It could still be viewed as not black enough by people who want or are used to blacker cities, but I'd say if anyone is cool with going to Oakland today, which isn't really a "black city" anymore, you'd be comfortable in Sac. The demographics of both cities are very, very similar...

Oakland can probably top out at higher wages but I'm not sure by how much. Sacramento is close enough to The Bay that if you need that experience it's an easy one to have but most people who move to Sacramento are pleasantly surprised by what Sacramento offers on its own merits...

It's not quite as fast or busy or walkable as Oakland, Sacramento to these points is about 80% of Oakland. But at a cheaper price, safer communities, more well-to-do black folk, and an ascending community...

If Oakland interests you, you'd owe it to yourself to check out Sacramento. If you haven't been take a trip and hit up both for a few days...

 

[greenvale]

If you're not in serious tech, in a start-up, or Venture capital, the case to come out here isn't that great. Expensive, far from the rest of the US, too liberal to a fault, lacks a strong black middle class, and has a substandard social scene.

If Oakland interests you, you'd owe it to yourself to check out Sacramento. If you haven't been take a trip and hit up both for a few days...

Thanks for the insight. It’s tough because my field is data and the AI/ML space. I’m doing well here at my company in the philly area but the mecca of the industry is really out there. Can’t lie yall making it sound like a rough go

 

[Womb Raider]

Trash

Downtown looks like a bomb hit it

 

[murksiderock]

Thanks for the insight. It’s tough because my field is data and the AI/ML space. I’m doing well here at my company in the philly area but the mecca of the industry is really out there. Can’t lie yall making it sound like a rough go.

I'm not sure about how good it is or isn't for your industry. This is the best time in our recorded history to be black in Sacramento, though...

 

[greenvale]

I'm not sure about how good it is or isn't for your industry. This is the best time in our recorded history to be black in Sacramento, though...

yeah the challenge is all the companies are in the bay area and prettt much all requiring people in person

 

[phcitywarrior]

Thanks for the insight. It’s tough because my field is data and the AI/ML space. I’m doing well here at my company in the philly area but the mecca of the industry is really out there.

For your industry, you gotta be here. I do think if you’re coming here for work, map out a concrete plan on how long you want to be out here. What do you want to achieve before leaving? Is it a certain title, salary or certain amount saved up? Identify that trigger before you come, it’ll ground you and allow you to put everything into context.

I moved here 3 years ago in my mid 20s and had a plan about advancing in field (Fintech) but now I’m firming up my “trigger” out of here (likely will be a job title and certain salary)

Can’t lie yall making it sound like a rough go

It’s not rough but you’ll definitely have to adjust your lifestyle to what is on offer here. You can’t make Oakland/The Bay what it isn’t.

Like if you enjoy really good nightlife, you’ll probably have to do weekend trips to LA to get your fix. Kinda like some folks in Philly would take the bus/train up to NYC for the weekend.

But if you enjoy top access to nature, beautiful surroundings, slightly unconventional people, then you’d like the Bay. Just expect a more laid back way of life. But it’s good if you need focus.

 

[Hater Eraser]

 

[Hater Eraser]

 

[Hater Eraser]

What are some good night clubs in Oakland