I live in Oakland now (although I plan to be in Issaquah or Bellevue WA by the end of 2013, thank god). I'm not really a good robbery candidate (which should be obvious just by appearance), but I'd never use a cellphone, laptop, etc. in public (including in cafes) in Oakland. I leave my house by car. I'm more than adequately armed and secured at home.
I've never had a problem with crime in Oakland personally, perhaps due to this level of precaution, but I know a lot of people who have (generally females walking or using public transit, in the afternoon or at night, in uptown and affiliated areas). Think about how much your laptop/phone/ipad/mifi/etc. together are worth, and whether you want to be displaying that on the street, at a bus stop, etc.
The weird thing is Oakland rents in the Grand/Broadway/Adams Point/etc. area are starting to approach ~2004 SF rents; a 1BR is about $1800-2k, up from about $1200 a couple years ago. I'm not sure if increasing rents will lead to less crime, since most of the people moving to Oakland are "hipsters" or "young single people", who generally don't prioritize security as much as families or older people.
(The huge amounts of crime in Oakland, which largely influence the stats, and most of the violent crime, are in the large gang/etc. areas where no hn reader would be likely to go. A friend of mine lived in a warehouse in one of those areas, and I ended up having to drive and walk through active ~50 cop police raids on the neighbors to get to her place several times. It was pretty lulz; I would not recommend it.)
If Alameda became as "issue on good cause" as the San Mateo County Sheriff, I'd more seriously consider living here again.
I don't think one needs to be flashing anything to be assaulted. Just be at the wrong place at the wrong time -- perhaps walking through a transitional neighborhood near a BART station in the late afternoon.
I've never had a problem with crime in Oakland personally, perhaps due to this level of precaution, but I know a lot of people who have (generally females walking or using public transit, in the afternoon or at night, in uptown and affiliated areas). Think about how much your laptop/phone/ipad/mifi/etc. together are worth, and whether you want to be displaying that on the street, at a bus stop, etc.
The weird thing is Oakland rents in the Grand/Broadway/Adams Point/etc. area are starting to approach ~2004 SF rents; a 1BR is about $1800-2k, up from about $1200 a couple years ago. I'm not sure if increasing rents will lead to less crime, since most of the people moving to Oakland are "hipsters" or "young single people", who generally don't prioritize security as much as families or older people.
(The huge amounts of crime in Oakland, which largely influence the stats, and most of the violent crime, are in the large gang/etc. areas where no hn reader would be likely to go. A friend of mine lived in a warehouse in one of those areas, and I ended up having to drive and walk through active ~50 cop police raids on the neighbors to get to her place several times. It was pretty lulz; I would not recommend it.)
If Alameda became as "issue on good cause" as the San Mateo County Sheriff, I'd more seriously consider living here again.