[thecodont]

The pity of it is that Oakland used to be a economically solid community. Now, I can’t help but think that every one of the incidents will chase more and more business out of the city, hastening the decline of the city.

I grew up here.

Oakland decades ago had a wonderful city center that, while not as "glamorous" as that of San Francisco, was still filled with nice stores and movie theaters. People still dressed up when they went downtown. Lake Merritt was a peaceful recreational area.

Now it's a ghost town. Even on a non-riot day, people clear out of there FAST as soon as the clock strikes five. There are many empty storefronts. On a weekend the city streets are like cold, dark canyons.

[Vendome]

The architecture of city is just amazing.

If they could clean up the city center, that could be part of the attraction.

Just amazing detail and beautiful.