Oakland trying to avoid that 'war zone' look Ban on metal bars, roll-down doors considered

SFGate.com ^ | 3/26/03 | Janine DeFao

[microgood]

Barbed wire and metal bars make Oakland's business districts look like war zones, say city officials who want to outlaw exterior security devices that they claim are not only ugly but ineffective.

"It gives a sense that our community is not a very safe city," said City Manager Robert Bobb, who has made fighting blight a top priority. "We believe there are alternatives for securing their businesses."

[microgood]

A little dated but I though it was typical Bay Area problem solving at work here.

[SunStar]

"It gives a sense that our community is not a very safe city,"

When did Oakland become safe?

[shadowman99]

"We believe there are alternatives for securing their businesses."

Yes, it's called a gun.

[egarvue]

"How our city looks and how welcoming it is to pedestrians and people driving by is critical," said Councilwoman Jane Brunner, who said she might support a ban on future installation of gates and bars, but not on those already in place.

I wonder if the good Councilwoman has the guts to be a pedestrian in these neighborhoods late at night...might change her perspective.

[TheWillardHotel]

Razor wire, metal bars are rational response to the violence
and chaos present in our cities today. It is easier for
officials to address the problem through a cosmetic
approach rather that meet it squarely.

This response is similiar to the "armed villa" of the
late Roman Empire. Our version of this is the "Gated
Community".

[My2Cents]

Instead of outlawing security measures, maybe if Oakland would get serious about outlawing crime....

[ghost of nixon]

- and while the city council is imposing what is essentially a dress-code for businesses, to make the city look less scary, I think they should also impose a dress-code on the citizens, to make them look less scary. After all, appearances, not reality, is what's important here.

[GoldnGate]

To Add to your commentary I would add .. "I wonder if the good councilwoman .. has the trust and security to open a business of "Value" in the aforementioned neighborhoods .. and NOT add Roll Down Doors, and or Bars. Then call her insurance company to request for insurance coverage against, fire, theft, vandalism etc. Then let her come back and render her commentaries .. and perspective.

[Jay D. Dyson]

"We believe there are alternatives for securing their businesses."

Yes, it's called a gun.

Not in the People's Republik of Kalifornia, it's not. The only sanctioned form of defense here is the State-Sponsored Dial-A-Prayer (AKA '911').

What do you expect from idiots who believe that the corpse of a raped & strangled woman is morally superior to a living woman with a gun and a dead rapist at her feet?

-Jay

[anniegetyourgun]

"It gives a sense that our community is not a very safe city," said City Manager Robert Bobb...."

Listen, Bob Bobb, it's not a 'sense'....it's reality.

[moodyskeptic]

Liberals always get it exactly wrong in these cases. Instead of insisting on cleaning up crime, a big messy disagreeable job, they think bars on doors and windows are THE problem. Afraid to insult any minority, they resort to insane "solutions" that locals simply deride.

Here in LA, after the King riots , they set up Enterprise Zones for no-interest loans to any black with enough guts to open a business. Since these areas were horribly unsafe, they got very few takers, but crowed about helping the community. A drive through town reveals the truth: boarded up stores, rubble, crime and hopelessness.

Liberals cannot face the obvious, but they sure can demagogue.

[HIDEK6]

Barbed wire and metal bars make Oakland's business districts look like war zones, say city officials ...

If these are your typical city officials, they have no idea what a war zone looks like.

[Mark]

They should also cut down on the number of police cars patrolling the neighborhood because those officers make it LOOK like an occupation and a war zone.

[nothingnew]

As ridiculous this legislation is, I hope they pass it. It would serve to bring down the kalifornia government that much faster....Apologies to all upstanding Californians here, but that state government has got to come down, no?

FMCDH

[N. Theknow]

Are they also putting smiley faces on their body bags for the coroner's office?

[Jay D. Dyson]

A little dated but I though it was typical Bay Area problem solving at work here.

Let us also not forget that the Los Angeles City Council's answer to fixing the gang problems in South Central is NOT crack down on the gangs, but to rename "South Central" to something else!

I kid you not.

-Jay

[jjm2111]

I wonder if the good Councilwoman has the guts to be a pedestrian in these neighborhoods late at night...might change her perspective.


Hah! She probably has 'protection'.

[jjm2111]

Liberals are for fixing problems as long as no tough choices have to be made.

[Redcloak]

Perhaps they could just pass a law requiring that happy faces be painted on the roll-down doors.

[gridlock]

Are they also putting smiley faces on their body bags for the coroner's office?

They aren't body bags anymore. They are sanitary transportation units.