Old Oakland Neighbors

Seven years ago when I decided to call Old Oakland home, my own familia thought I was CRAZY. Our restaurant/​shop has been in this area for decades but we hadn’t lived here for over thirty years. After city planners destroyed our community so long ago and promised a renaissance that was so slow in becoming a reality, I completely understood why so many had lost hope. The late 80’s and 90’s had been tough on many of the businesses and residents but we hung in there and it made those of us still here stronger. I take after my Mami; the eternal optimist, the flame of hope burns bright and the glass is half full not half empty. (I totally LOVE cliches!) But even she was wary of my living so close to work in the former neighborhood of her childhood.
«Just wait and see. The Change is almost here. I can feel it, you will see it… SOON», I would say with a nod and a wink.
The sound of disdain and scrunched faces of people when I told them that I lived downtown in Old Oakland back then actually made me giggle. Silly people. Well, the last couple of years have brought remarkable changes. Now when I say where I live the response is, «WOW, you’re so lucky to live in such a cool neighborhood!» I am and our numbers are growing everyday. Mami gets a kick that I can eat out at so many different types of restaurants, there are clubs to hang out at and all sorts of small indie shops to visit all within walking distance of my home. There are condo buildings galore now and in the next couple of years we will have total of 500 units alone in Old Oakland. Many of us live and work here and enjoy the small town vibe while living in a urban area and I tend to write reviews for the places I find around me.
About a year ago I discovered a brand new grass roots community group of folks just like me called Old Oakland Neighbors (OON). I was touched and compelled to meet and get to know such a variety of people. The great thing about Oakland and our neighborhood is the diversity. Our members ages range from thirtysomething to seventysomething and we come in every shape, color and religion. Some of us have houses, others condos and a few live in a co-​housing development at Swan’s, add a sprinkling of merchants and apartment dwellers and you have a snapshot of our membership. We are now a dedicated group that strives to improve our ‘hood in terms of beautification, safety and economic growth. We hope to make our evolution as a community and district constant and positive as we show off what is great and constructively find solutions for what is not working. I feel so strongly about this group, I am a core member and the social coordinator.
It give me great joy and true pride to know my fellow neighbors, to greet them while walking down the street, shop with them, share a meal or drinks socially or discuss serious issues at our meetings. I along with these fine folks belong here and maybe you might love it here too? I cordially invite you to get to know us and experience the vibrancy that is Old Oakland. Now you know I’ll make this easy and probably fun. I’m known for my impromptu tours but there are some cool scheduled events coming up in February 2008:
I will be your tour guide if you RSVP for the «Discover the New Downtown Oakland Homes-​and-​More Tour» (
) sponsored by OON on Feb 9
or buy a ticket for my Birthday Party/​Raffle Fundraiser for OON «Tina Tamale Loves Old Oakland» at Air Lounge on Feb 23 (
)
or check out our yahoo group to find out more about our meetings at
.
So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day
Since we’re together we might as well say
Would you be mine, could you be mine
Won’t you be my neighbor?
–Fred Rogers