By Bob Walsh
I know where of I speak. I was born in Oakland and
lived 1/3 of my life in Oakland and San Leandro in the east bay.
Oakland used to be a solid, blue collar city. You could find decent
work. Public services functioned. The schools expected you to be able
to read, write, do basic math and not stab teachers (at least up until
about 1970 or so).
In-N-Out Burger just bailed out of their spot on the Hegenberger corridor,
between the Oakland Airport and the nifty Nimity Freeway. This is
essentially the doorway to Oakland for many visitors. In that area they
have averaged one serious crime per day for the last several years and
an almost constant stream of auto burglaries. In-N-Out Burger finally
decided they could not risk the lives of their customers and their staff
and they are bailing in 60 days. The store is making money. It just
isn't safe. Another fast food outlet abandoned their dining room and do
drive-thru ONLY. The staff cars are parked in a secured lot so they
will still have intact glass after the end of their shifts. This is
regarded as such a big deal it made the front page of today's San
Francisco PRAVDA (sometimes know as the Chronicle). Above the fold.
With a color photo. I have been told that the car rental people tell
customers to NOT stop in Oakland for gas or food. The cops (not the
department, individual cops) acknowledge that they have inadequate
resources to deal with all the auto burglaries and other property crimes
and still respond to "real" crime, like rape and murder.
WELCOME TO OAKLAND. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
I like In and Out Burger. The new owner, who is the daughter of the original owner was not expected to have a good sense of business. She has surprised the corporate hamburger world and made sound decisions. This is one of them.
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