Oakland is right next to San Francisco and has the world-renowned UC Berkeley to the north.

With such geographical conditions, it should be 'successful' regionally, but the reality is the opposite.

For a long time, Oakland, California has been seen as a symbol of urban decay and crime, and this problem is becoming increasingly serious.

Why has this city ended up like this?

The first thing to point out is the incompetence and leftist failures of the California state government and the Oakland City Council.

For decades, Oakland has been too lenient towards criminals under the pretext of upholding progressive values, and has not even attempted strong policies necessary for maintaining public safety. At one time, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) was hit hard by budget cuts, leading to a mass exodus of police officers on the front lines of law enforcement, creating lawless areas throughout the city. Robberies, car thefts, and home invasions have become everyday occurrences, and residents feel they need to have a shotgun or a gun at home to feel safe.

The city right next to Oakland is San Francisco. Of course, San Francisco is also struggling with drugs, homelessness, high living costs, and numerous crimes, but it was once at the pinnacle of wealth and sophistication among Western U.S. cities. Oakland started in the shadow of such San Francisco but now seems to be walking a completely different path.

In short, while San Francisco has armed itself with 'high-tech IT culture', Oakland has become famous as a 'neglected crime city'.

As a local resident, it has been a long time since I felt bitter and angry about the situation, and now I am on the verge of a breakdown.

The more I think about it, the more ironic it is that the world-class university UC Berkeley is here.

Berkeley has numerous intellectuals, economists, and urban planning experts. Yet, they seem unable to change the city right in front of them. In fact, they appear to have no interest at all. While they shout for justice and innovation on campus, the community that could benefit from their influence is accelerating into decay. This feels not just like a simple contradiction but like a typical hypocrisy of intellectuals. They are probably only thinking about graduating and leaving for high-paying jobs.

Another problem in Oakland is the disparity in wealth and the imbalance in education levels. The city has historically grown as a center for the Black community, but due to a lack of job opportunities, racism, and insufficient investment, the middle class has left, leaving only low-income residents behind.

While the problems have worsened, the California state government has not intervened meaningfully. Instead, it has imposed regulations that hinder private development without making proper investments in the underdeveloped areas. The downtown area is deteriorating, public services are on the brink of collapse, and local residents are ultimately living lives of despair.

What is the California state government doing? It is so focused on environmental protection and climate crisis responses, like protecting dolphins and solar power for electric cars, that it cannot even maintain a single city properly. Oakland is on the verge of collapse in terms of public safety, education, and housing, yet the state government wastes billions of dollars each year without providing any practical solutions for this city. This is beyond incompetence; it is a level of irresponsibility.

Ultimately, Oakland is a city with 'geographical luck', but due to political incompetence, policy failures, and leaders trapped in idealistic dogma, it cannot shake off the label of a decaying and crime-ridden city. Even with Berkeley and San Francisco nearby, it is of no use. No matter how bright they shine, the darkness of Oakland only deepens.

While it is said that if you dislike the temple, you can leave, I believe it is now time for all of us in the San Francisco area to stop blaming politicians and start questioning responsible leadership with our voting rights.