West Oakland: Megan - Architecture Grad Student - "Architecture For The Masses"

This is Megan's video presenting her grad student project, which focuses on West Oakland

Megan - Architecture Grad Student - Visits West Oakland For First Time - Video

I saw this video and had to post it. I wondered what Megan was referring to by "preconceived notions" about West Oakland? I mean when a person does a social science project -- which is what this sounds like -- they should write their values and biases down. I'd love this video if it were more revealing than it is.

For as long as I can remember, West Oakland's been the focus of many young white architecture and city planning students -- particularly from UC Berkeley (I should know; I got my masters degree in City Planning from Cal). There was even the UC Berekeley / Oakland Economic Forum about 15 years ago, which focused much of its attention on West Oakland.

I've heard comments like the one in this video for decades.

West Oakland has never been much of a puzzle to me. All it needs is investment. Redevelopment monies should be designed to stimulate construction of industry, but it never is. And I don't mean loans -- grants tied to specific performance objectives.

Well, I could go on and on but here's the video:

Oakland Liquor Stores Monitored By City Attorney, Police - Video

This video of a KRON TV news report shows how Oakland's police and city attorney's office, led by John Russo, are working to curb drug sales and sales to minors at liquor stores around the city. Many of Oakland's crime hor spots are at or near the locations of liquor stores.