Thank you for keeping a spotlight on the horrendous conditions in California. The greatest and most important responsibility of any government is to provide for the safety and wellbeing of its citizens. Your video essay confirms in the most epic manner how much the State of California and City of Oakland has failed its citizens.
government in California rules it's citizens to make sure they comply to the state's laws for redistribution of resources from the "middle class" to others.
Lmao . The trick is repetitive the only change is its the next gen of idiots. "Citizens " the masses of were active participants . Willing participants. The government does shit like this every decade and the people stay stupid. Willingly ignorant . Innerstand the actual reality. None of it would fly if the people said no and did not! Get it?¿ corrupt gov or not that doesnt matter when the population is educated in "life and living" vs bullshit propaganda.
@@suppylarue220 , well, yeah, that's kind of the whole point of collectivist systems. And people keep thinking it's the best way to organize society. Complete madness.
I took a wrong turn in oakland in 1980, I was driving to see a concert at the colosium. I took the wrong off ramp and ended up surrounded by gangster trying to smash my car windows out, I drove in reverse back up the off ramp going against traffis and saved my life. So by 1981 oakland was lost.
@siliconvalleyengineer5875 so weird. I had a very similar experience in the 90's going to a giants game. Got off to early and ended up in your same boat. It was terrifying.
@@othmanmajid6380 Because if they try to do their jobs, then they'll be charged with police brutality, and hate crimes for simply offending a criminal of a certain race of people you can't name or else you'll be called a racist and a bigot.
Every major American city has bad neighborhoods where businesses are suffering. But to see a downtown emptied out with nearly every store for lease, rent or sale is truly astounding. And what is with the proliferation and tolerance of wretched graffiti on virtually every surface? Oakland is lost, dead, finished and gone.
This "Hellhole" / "Shithole" is speeding into the collapse of economic Abyss... The economic infrastructure of California is thru, it's over, the damage has been done, and the destructive ship has sailed… Oakland is lost, once it gets to this level, there's no hope...
Don't be silly. People have to be awake to spend money at any business. You can't enter a business while you're sleeping, unless someone carries you in.
Why rent space in Oakland or San Francisco for business purposes??You're just gonna get some guy crashing through the door to steal all the business belongings with no punishment whatsoever
It absolutely should be. Along with the state capitol in Sacramento, and the mayors' offices in Oakland and SF. Let the citizenry take over and directly decide their own fate.
America has gotten worse than the 1920's and 30's and 80's We are a dying country, morally, spiritually, politically, intellect, and fundamentally. Just to name a few adverbs.
It’s certainly worse than the last time you visited. If you’re saying things were getting sketchy and left, I can’t imagine how much worse. That place must be a nightmare once the sun goes down. Stay safe!
The thing about it is absolutely none of this had to be. But due to the policies they put in place and the lack of competent leadership they have, just like SF, this is the results of it all.
I'm so thankful that I got to grow up in the 80s, going to the mall, heading into downtown Chicago during Christmas to see the amazing displays, countless shops to check out. Luckily I live in a smallish town, where there's still a decent amount of "Mom & Pop" businesses hanging on so downtown isn't a ghost town. California has become a wasteland, total dystopia. Hope your Christmas was great, and have a Happy New Year Leo!
This is such a shame...and the In & Out Burger CEO was just in an interview saying she had to close Oakland to protect their associates. They have Never Closed a location before. Never. Oakland has Excellent Potential too, with such a fabulous bay area location. But it seems it will not be allowed to come to fruition. I wonder what they can do about it...
Oakland was at its peak as a beautiful, prosperous, classic American city 100 years ago. Then Kaiser Steel imported thousands of cheap workers from the south. When they closed, they left the workers behind. An epic criminal ghetto was born, and Oakland has been in steady decline ever since. Nobody has slowed the downward slide for long, because nobody will clean up the ghetto as that would be ray ciss. Jerry Brown was mayor in the 1990s and he really tried. Oakland was looking up for a while. But the moment he left, the old rot came out again. Oakland is gone and I don't think it will ever revive. The societal upheaval required for that to happen would be so cataclysmic that I can't even imagine it actually happening.
You always mention the crime. You always mentioned the high rent prices but you don't mention the minimum wage is $20 per hour and all that's deal killers and then you have the Democrat loons in full control there, now that's a real america killer.
And the Democrats who are in power in Oakland are not just any Democrats, they are extremist African-American Democrats. That's why Oakland has fallen in every area, and in every way.
$20 / hr. for greedy service workers with bad attitudes with incredibly entitled expectations... "Let me treat you like a complete a**hole, serve you overpriced crap food and still give me a 25% tip." Working for restaurants that will soon be shuttered. O, the arrogance, the ignorance, the vain stupidity of it all.
Leo, in the early 90s my friends lived in West Oakland by the bart station. It was sketchy back then but so cheap and safe enough. They were musicians who lived and practiced in a converted warehouse. Many artists lived in that area back then. The band Green Day practiced down the block before they released their album "Dookie". And San Fran was seconds away on bart. Once upon a time it was groovy. Thanks for your vids buddy 👍.
Leo, stay safe and stay armed. I’d say it’s sickening but when fathers In jail or never has been around the famous words “following my father’s footsteps “ really holds true
Amazing how this dysfunctional city was able to keep even one professional sports franchise as long as they did. In the '70's they had a team in all sports for a few seasons...the A's, Raiders, Seals & Warriors. All GONE now.
I noticed Chinatown in San Francisco and Oakland are doing a little bit better than the other neighborhoods. They have their own closed-loop economy that operates independently of the surrounding neighborhoods. They support each other and keep their own little economy going.
Boarded up businesses generate no tax revenue for the city. No sales tax, no income tax from employees, and half are probably not paying property tax; like, what's the city gonna do, board them up?
I bet both of them are still getting big fat pensions and full benefits Just like Libby Schaaf and Jerry Brown and most of the city council (who contributed to the destruction of the city)
Dear Leo, your phrase "GONE NOW" is always in my head--there's more and more places where it applies. Your channel documents municipal insanity that needs to be seen and understood everywhere while there's time.
How long before Kaiser Permanente moves their headquarters to somewhere safe? They are already warning employees not to leave their building for lunch.
@@MeGaLoDoN_117 So in your opinion "the state" will step in and make the area around Kaiser's headquarters safe? If that was the case, it would seem like they should have taken steps to avoid Kaiser having to tell their employees it wasn't safe to leave the building for lunch.
@@MeGaLoDoN_117 I absolutely agree with your final two points, and that's why I look for Kaiser to relocate soon. The recent interview with the In-N-Out Burger owner clinched it. I used to fly into the Oakland Airport and take a taxi to the Coliseum BART station and go up to Berkeley. That won't be happening again anytime soon.
I think the only people making money are the manufacturers of those cement blocks. They're a mainstay now at auto body and machine shops so people don't break in and steal tools.😞
The worst governor ever to exist. It’s mainly the lower half of the state from Sacramento south. Talk about lost and feeble minded legislators. May it rest in pieces.
@@mikes1776 thank you for letting me know I’m not the only one who know what’s really going on, because our government are playing game with the American people, the government wants the criminals out of control, so we can not focus on what the government is planning. Wake up American people…!!!
Oakland is between where I work and where I live, on my route, there's a store owner that parks a beater car on the sidewalk in front of his stores front door.
Ill bet when proposition 36 kicks in - in california next year, it wont make much of a difference... Criminals would still break the law. They are immune😢
Just watched Newsom in a press conference claiming prop.36 doesn't apply to anything but stiffer drug charges. No retail theft or other crimes. In other words, Newsom is defying the will of the people and charging ahead with his own woke agenda, watering down 36 to meet his interpretation
@Damon_Mah Effective you say? Ill wait 12 months and see what impact it has on my hometown. At this point iam skeptical. I gave up hope as of last year. 😕
Prop 36 is already in motion. However, it's still up to local DA's as to whether they're going to offer plea deals to lessen the offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Woke DA's can just ignore felony charges if they want to. Citizens need to keep their eyes on all District Attorney's.
@@spmj1251 sorry meant Prop 36 already took effect earlier this month on December 18, 2024 and the news has reported police officers already arresting people under it. but you are right, how effective it will be remains to be seen - still better to have it than not. stay positive
Due to an accident I'm on a wheelchair and thanks to you and other TH-camrs I feel like I'm myself going around those streets, thanks God for technology!👌😊👍
Grew up in Oakland. It looks like you're at the intersection of Telegraph and Broadway. There was a huge Capwells department store and others around there. As kids we used to walk from Piedmont Ave to this area for either the Paramount or Fox theaters. Now days it's probably very risky to walk around there or even shop anywhere around there. Sad. I still visit family in Ca but they live in Contra Costa County and I just can't get up the "courage" to drive around places we hung out at all the time. Anywhere in Oakland, Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, San Francisco are a few of our favorites. We used to explore the Kaiser Building on Lake Merritt when it was being built. It was amazing to ride those elevators to a view of the city that we'd never seen. Nice tour. Take care.
I remember Capwell's! I'd just gotten hired for a job there when the '89 earthquake happened and damaged the building so badly that they had to close. I lived by Lake Merritt for years, used to work at the bookstore on Grand, went to movies at the old movie palace, hung out at the Rose Garden, got my lattes at the Coffee Mill and ate dinner at Mimosa Cafe or the Merritt Bakery on E. 18th. Remember the Parkway Theatre and how they were such a great place for a few years, showing movies with beer and pizza? I miss it all so much. Downtown Oakland has so much beautiful architecture, what a treasure it was. Now it's overrun with human garbage. So sad.
I lived at 30th and Telegraph in 1981-82 when I played football at Laney. Walked down Telegraph to Broadway to 11st and then to Laney on Fallon Street. Great walks, nobody messed with me. The downtown food market on Telegraph had the best donuts, Texas sized. I’m amazed to see DeLauers still open. Lived behind the Courthouse Athletic Club at 30th and Telegraph and worked there for my gym time. Walked over Pill Hill to Broadway to the Safeway for food. Good experience for a 20 year old white boy from Florida.
I lived on Treasure Island in the late 1960's While my Dad was off the shore of Vietnam in the US Navy. I remember what a jewel San Fransisco was at the time. Oakland was a rough place by comparison. Not like today, But the Black Panthers were a problem. There were places in Oakland where you did not go. But compared to today, it was Mayberry RFD.
It will likely spread to other neighborhoods. Only Montclair, up in the hills, and Rockridge--which is basically part of North Berkeley--will likely be spared. All the gentrification that's come in over the last 20 years in the Temescal, Fruitvale and West Oakland 'hoods will soon be gone again. I used to live in the Grand Lake area, up on the Piedmont border. I loved it there. I wonder what will happen. Prayers for that lovely neighborhood--they will need it. So, so sad.
Moved from South Berkeley prior to COVID-- it was near Ashby BART... not only was the rent very high, but the neighborhood was becoming subject to drive-by gang and other random street murders, beatings and robberies of unsuspecting BART passengers trying to get home after work, muggings of students for their phones, store robberies at gunpoint, and other incidents. I could see the UC campus from a bedroom window. Great view, but had to leave. Telegraph Avenue near the campus had essentially only one bookstore left: Moe's (the one you see in the movie The Graduate). Most of the cinemas in Berkeley have closed. It used to be a cultural mecca, and not just for the students: who basically stay on the campus or take Uber/Lyft elsewhere to have fun. Honestly, it's going to take a miracle, and substantially better leadership than what they've had for a great number of years, to turn the urban areas of the immediate East Bay across from San Francisco around for the better.
This is all by design! The politicians are letting this once beautiful city go to waste so that the developers can scoop all of the property up for cheap and start over. It’s on the list for one of the future cities….aka Lahaina 2.0
Even if someone hopes to do that, they will have to expel the rest of the ghetto and the criminal underground. But they can't do that, because that would make them rayciss. Nope. I doubt that this mythical revival will ever happen. Even the bankers don't want Oaktown real estate.
@@jtt1928 But what anchors the Bay Area? San Francisco. And they're in a downward spiral too. Maybe changing the laws back--Prop. 36, basically, which Newsom fought tooth and nail--might help? I am not hopeful though. The laws still have to be ENFORCED to work. That's the catch. They won't actually prosecute and jail offenders. Even if they do, somehow early release and "work programs" will still be a thing.
Oakland is San Francisco without the charm and even less open businesses. I don't see how this is remotely fixable. The Chinatown district shows some signs of life. So sad. I hope with a new year some changes can take place for the better.
WOW, I lived in the Lake Merritt Area for over 30 years but left in the early 2000s. This so shocking to see and so sad. Downtown was very active and beautiful so was the lake. I loved that area, but now I would not step foot in Oakland now.
The building that is in Chinatown that has the person crawling used to be called the Golden Dragon restaurant. My family used to eat there on a regular basis when I was a kid in the late 70s. The place looks terrible now.😢
13:05 - Cinnamon Tree Chinese Cuisine. Permanently closed. Although could have guessed that by it being a dilapidated wreck with childish gibberish scrawled all across the outside. Looked like a really nice place... back in 2019. Only took 5 years for the entire city to fall apart.
I sold my Oakland house in 2013 I don't go back unless I go to the Hills...maybe every 2 years. Normally China Town was safe I have not been there is a while The boarded up windows and graffitti were not there. Looks like they're getting overrun by the bad guys. It wasn't that way until recently. 30 years ago that Fortuna Buffet used to be one of the best Dim Sum areas in the area, and it was impossible to get in during the weekends. That big restaurant that is boarded up with people living inside was a nice restaurant....16 years ago. The interim Mayor Fortunado did not voice and support for Gov. Newsom saying the City of Oakland needs to change their law which *does not* allow police to chase criminals unless there are maybe 2 very specific conditions. So a lot of crimes are committed and the criminals can just drive away. The rule does not apply to California Highway Patrol, which are there on an urgent basis. So criminals are getting caught by CHP. My point is that the Activists and Politicians have created a criminal friendly environment. Don't get me wrong, it has always been tough (I used to be a minor elected person with a law enforcement focus) But the situation there is out of control and *partially self-inflicted* I first started seeing the change around 2018. A young, white liberal female was saying "All you have to do is talk to them" Regarding the criminals. This represents the soft on crime attitudes by young naive who will then "feel good about themselves" by saying how compassionate and empathetic they are. This is very shallow. And this movement increased to dominate the democratic party who went soft on crime. And preventing police from chasing criminals is but one example of how they have made it easier for criminals. But the Activists and Politicians don't care about the suffering of the normal people. A lot of normal people just go to work and don't know how to lobby city hall. You should try (they probably won't let you) to do a video of an Oakland city council meeting and publish their nonsense on your channel.
The Fox Theater on Telegraph & 19th is thriving with live music 2-3 nights most every week, sometimes more. That block and an adjacent one are doing pretty well. The Paramount Theater a block over on Broadway just has occasional performances.
Were you able to check out Jack London Square? Many happy and fun times there. When we lived in Piedmont there were so many wonderful restaurants in Oakland. This breaks my heart, it will never recover. 💔Thank you for keeping us updated.
I have read local reports in the Jack London area saying that businesses are suffering and some closing for good due to smash and grabs from cars and muggings of restaurant goers. People don't feel safe anymore, plus it's expensive justt to go out for drinks and a bite these days.
Imagine what's possible... if the place was run right. Imagine what's possible...if they didn't promote crime. Imagine what's possible...if taxes were lower. Imagine what's possible...if people actually raised their children right. Imagine what's possible...if the politicians weren't corrupt. Imagine what's possible...if everyone really cared.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - this is a small holiday thank you for the good work you do all year long. Use the $$ as a down payment on the anti-depressants you most surely need after your legendary 'GONE NOW' tour of the West Coast. Maybe sell a 'Gone Now' coffee mug or T-shirt or publish a 'Gone Now' coffee table book of these disturbing photos as you historically document the fall of civilization in the Hotel California.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! Gone now T-shirts and coffee mugs are already available under the description. Thank you very much for your support.
I could do a series in my town called “all the businesses are closing and being replaced with massive apartment complexes without enough parking! Yay!”
I lived in Oakland back in the late 80's. It was a vibrant city with lots of businesses open and people walking about the streets. The city looks so different now. So many closed buildings and where did all the people go? So sad.
6 inch steel pipe buried in the ground filled with concrete spaced 4 feet apart in front of each business will stop those cars from crashing into them. Bollards they are called. All the large companies have them already.
I remember going to Oakland a few times and it just seemed very out of place, it has always had issues. Mainly robbery and theft, some people were killed while being robbed. Its just a mess and I am certain no businesses would bother investing for the risk of financial loss. Many people becoming homeless, its just depressing to be honest. I moved to North Dakota and it's not that bad, l only have to worry about are bears, and mountain lions. Thats about it.
Around 35 years ago, when I was ten, my family and I lived in Oakland for a couple of years whilst my father was working abroad. I remember it as being a little rougher than I was used to. I came from a small town in England. But nothing like this. Calaforina is the richest state in the richestest country in the history of the world. What happened?
" Calaforina is the richest state in the richestest country in the history of the world." Only the clueless would think that way. Crappy Californica like the rest of the USA look "rich" in GDP terms, because of very high cost of living. All hype!
Totally speechless on what the local bureaucrats have done to Oakland. I have born here and it wasn't like this back in the 90s and early 2000s. This is a whole different story. But just WOW on how they destroyed the city. Oakland needs HELP and the national guard may be the answer!
Oaktown gone. A's gone. Raiders gone. Warriors gone. Everything gone. Pretty soon there will be nothing left to loot and steal.
You are 100 percent correct. Talk about the old saying, "taking a poop where you eat."
@@thomascox4014 next up! "Hunger games " what district you rep?!
In-N-Out Burger gone
Good. Let nature reclaim it all.
They’ll move on to the next town.
Thank you for keeping a spotlight on the horrendous conditions in California. The greatest and most important responsibility of any government is to provide for the safety and wellbeing of its citizens. Your video essay confirms in the most epic manner how much the State of California and City of Oakland has failed its citizens.
government in California rules it's citizens to make sure they comply to the state's laws for redistribution of resources from the "middle class" to others.
Lmao . The trick is repetitive the only change is its the next gen of idiots.
"Citizens " the masses of were active participants . Willing participants. The government does shit like this every decade and the people stay stupid. Willingly ignorant . Innerstand the actual reality.
None of it would fly if the people said no and did not! Get it?¿ corrupt gov or not that doesnt matter when the population is educated in "life and living" vs bullshit propaganda.
@@suppylarue220 , well, yeah, that's kind of the whole point of collectivist systems. And people keep thinking it's the best way to organize society. Complete madness.
"State of California and City of Oakland has failed its citizens" - but who elected the liberal rulers...time and again...
This 100% true. And no one can prove otherwise.
When you don't hold criminals accountable, the citizens become the ones under arrest. Scared to leave their houses.
According to the Democrats they are victims, not criminals!
Oakland is GONE NOW!
by design unfortunately 😢….its on that Elon list of future cities! The poor/middle class don’t get it but the wealthy do!🙌🏾
I took a wrong turn in oakland in 1980, I was driving to see a concert at the colosium. I took the wrong off ramp and ended up surrounded by gangster trying to smash my car windows out, I drove in reverse back up the off ramp going against traffis and saved my life. So by 1981 oakland was lost.
@siliconvalleyengineer5875 so weird. I had a very similar experience in the 90's going to a giants game. Got off to early and ended up in your same boat. It was terrifying.
@@jtt1928 These citizens ruin their own town. I don't see EM raiding stores and looting and robbing people. I see something else
Oakland might be the only City in America where U can get Robbed at Gunpoint in Front of Police Officers in Broad Daylight
Why are the police so cowardly in America.😢
@@othmanmajid6380 Because if they try to do their jobs, then they'll be charged with police brutality, and hate crimes for simply offending a criminal of a certain race of people you can't name or else you'll be called a racist and a bigot.
Eh…I’d argue that’s probable in Chicago, Baltimore, St Louis, LA, Seattle. Portland…the blue city list is looooong.
@@othmanmajid6380it’s not cowardice. It’s merely giving the voters what they voted for. 🤷🏻
@malekodesouza7255 why do the voters vote for cowardlyness...is this part of the woke culture ?
Every major American city has bad neighborhoods where businesses are suffering. But to see a downtown emptied out with nearly every store for lease, rent or sale is truly astounding. And what is with the proliferation and tolerance of wretched graffiti on virtually every surface? Oakland is lost, dead, finished and gone.
Every major American BLUE city…
Diversity is our strength!
This "Hellhole" / "Shithole" is speeding into the collapse of economic Abyss...
The economic infrastructure of California is thru, it's over, the damage has been done, and the destructive ship has sailed…
Oakland is lost, once it gets to this level, there's no hope...
Nah , it’s too beautiful, wiil be a while though. Ride up a hill ,every home is over 2 million!!!!! A mile away.
@@nicklasmillner101
Not for long...
METAL LEO the best “ on scene” channel on the tubes!
true love
When you don't put criminals in prison you just make law biding citizens' workplaces and homes a prison.
Open air prisons are here..
You might want to fact check that statement. Start with conviction rates in SF
@@MrMkd1202denial. It’s not just a river in Egypt.
well you need to build more prisons first
@@MrMkd1202
🤤 Leftoid logician I see. 🤤
Why would you need business, when you have Wokeness?
Exactly
Don't be silly. People have to be awake to spend money at any business. You can't enter a business while you're sleeping, unless someone carries you in.
If I had to guess, I'd say that the name of the restaurant at 13:00 is "Gawn Nau".
🤣
🤣🤣Noice...
And the loser politicians in Oakland say businesses "need to invest in Oakland"!
Why rent space in Oakland or San Francisco for business purposes??You're just gonna get some guy crashing through the door to steal all the business belongings with no punishment whatsoever
Police station boarded up....😂😂😂
Hahaha that killed me 😆😆😆😆😆😆
It absolutely should be. Along with the state capitol in Sacramento, and the mayors' offices in Oakland and SF. Let the citizenry take over and directly decide their own fate.
America has gotten worse than the 1920's and 30's and 80's We are a dying country, morally, spiritually, politically, intellect, and fundamentally. Just to name a few adverbs.
It’s certainly worse than the last time you visited. If you’re saying things were getting sketchy and left, I can’t imagine how much worse. That place must be a nightmare once the sun goes down. Stay safe!
Dirty politicians, a dirty city.
It’s very sad to see the dystopian conditions here in CA. It’s a failure on the part of our lawmakers.
You misspelled utopian
It's just as much the fault of those who vote the Leftist anarchists into office.
And the good citizens of CA voted democrat and just stood around
You reap what you sow.
We didn't sow this!
Leo, please be very careful. I would be afraid to walk alone in these areas. Protect yourself from the evil that inhabits such an area. God bless you.
Leo has a friend...Mister Sam Colt.
Leo brings his best friends with him. Mr Smith and Mr Wesson
A dog named Glock
It is true that walking on the streets of Oakland is an invitation to be mugged.
a wrong turn onto the wrong street gets you killed in oakland, regardless of your color.
The thing about it is absolutely none of this had to be. But due to the policies they put in place and the lack of competent leadership they have, just like SF, this is the results of it all.
I'm so thankful that I got to grow up in the 80s, going to the mall, heading into downtown Chicago during Christmas to see the amazing displays, countless shops to check out. Luckily I live in a smallish town, where there's still a decent amount of "Mom & Pop" businesses hanging on so downtown isn't a ghost town. California has become a wasteland, total dystopia. Hope your Christmas was great, and have a Happy New Year Leo!
I'm so thankful that I got to grow up in the 80s, in the gap between Vietnam and 2001.
👉🙏.70s 80s were blessed.Amen.🙏✊🇺🇸
its a pretty big state
This is such a shame...and the In & Out Burger CEO was just in an interview saying she had to close Oakland to protect their associates. They have Never Closed a location before. Never.
Oakland has Excellent Potential too, with such a fabulous bay area location. But it seems it will not be allowed to come to fruition. I wonder what they can do about it...
"they" are perfectly happy with the results LOLOLOLOLLOLO
As long as the far-left "Woke" Democrats are in power, it can only get worse.
Oakland was at its peak as a beautiful, prosperous, classic American city 100 years ago. Then Kaiser Steel imported thousands of cheap workers from the south. When they closed, they left the workers behind. An epic criminal ghetto was born, and Oakland has been in steady decline ever since. Nobody has slowed the downward slide for long, because nobody will clean up the ghetto as that would be ray ciss. Jerry Brown was mayor in the 1990s and he really tried. Oakland was looking up for a while. But the moment he left, the old rot came out again. Oakland is gone and I don't think it will ever revive. The societal upheaval required for that to happen would be so cataclysmic that I can't even imagine it actually happening.
You always mention the crime. You always mentioned the high rent prices but you don't mention the minimum wage is $20 per hour and all that's deal killers and then you have the Democrat loons in full control there, now that's a real america killer.
And the Democrats who are in power in Oakland are not just any Democrats, they are extremist African-American Democrats. That's why Oakland has fallen in every area, and in every way.
$20 / hr. for greedy service workers with bad attitudes with incredibly entitled expectations... "Let me treat you like a complete a**hole, serve you overpriced crap food and still give me a 25% tip." Working for restaurants that will soon be shuttered. O, the arrogance, the ignorance, the vain stupidity of it all.
This is what the residents of Oakland voted for!
They voted for it, they got it. Congrats Oakland for showing San Francisco the way.
Thanks Nancy, Kamala, Feinstein, Gavin, Willie, Jerry… just unbelievable.
Don't forget Scott Weiner!! That guy has authored some horrible legislation that became law.
And Sorros
Leo, in the early 90s my friends lived in West Oakland by the bart station. It was sketchy back then but so cheap and safe enough. They were musicians who lived and practiced in a converted warehouse. Many artists lived in that area back then. The band Green Day practiced down the block before they released their album "Dookie". And San Fran was seconds away on bart. Once upon a time it was groovy. Thanks for your vids buddy 👍.
I played music and went to many shows at that warehouse,I forgot what they used to call it, good memories
@@LeoMetalTraveler Was that the Ghost Ship warehouse? The one that burnt down and killed so many people in 2016.
You are a great writer. Happy new year!
@@hopemanley4358 wow. Thanks. Happy New Year! You made my day.
Nobody is feeling groovy anymore apparently.
Leo, stay safe and stay armed. I’d say it’s sickening but when fathers In jail or never has been around the famous words “following my father’s footsteps “ really holds true
Can you imagine what it will look like twenty years from now?
Who knows if we're gonna reach 20 years from now 😂
It’s a hell hole. A ‘radiation zone’ like in planet of the apes movie.
It's going to look like the rest of the US
It won't take 20 years from now, only a few years if that, and every retailer will be GONE NOW !!!
The planet of the apes
Amazing how this dysfunctional city was able to keep even one professional sports franchise as long as they did. In the '70's they had a team in all sports for a few seasons...the A's, Raiders, Seals & Warriors. All GONE now.
I noticed Chinatown in San Francisco and Oakland are doing a little bit better than the other neighborhoods. They have their own closed-loop economy that operates independently of the surrounding neighborhoods. They support each other and keep their own little economy going.
This seems like most Chinatowns in western cities.
Thank you for getting out there and giving us insight to the real situation.
@donovanyamada3785 thank you very much ,this motivates me to get out there to other cities happy holidays
It's like a Mad Max movie after all the characters have left. This channel will be a valuable archival source for any possible future researchers.
You can’t help but shake your head. Oakland is a beautiful city, it deserves better residents.
Exactly.
Even the roads and sidewalks are crumbling, like no maintenance is being done. Crazy that things have gotten this bad! 😮
Boarded up businesses generate no tax revenue for the city. No sales tax, no income tax from employees, and half are probably not paying property tax; like, what's the city gonna do, board them up?
Hope things can better up since we kicked out Sheng Thao and Pamela Price.
I bet both of them are still getting big fat pensions and full benefits
Just like Libby Schaaf and Jerry Brown and most of the city council (who contributed to the destruction of the city)
Nope it will get worse!
When I see this all I can think of is the Lorax. They took and took until everything was gone
💯
The L word. 😂
Dear Leo, your phrase "GONE NOW" is always in my head--there's more and more places where it applies. Your channel documents municipal insanity that needs to be seen and understood everywhere while there's time.
Every time I see an empty business, I say gown now in my mind😊
How long before Kaiser Permanente moves their headquarters to somewhere safe? They are already warning employees not to leave their building for lunch.
@@MeGaLoDoN_117 So in your opinion "the state" will step in and make the area around Kaiser's headquarters safe? If that was the case, it would seem like they should have taken steps to avoid Kaiser having to tell their employees it wasn't safe to leave the building for lunch.
@@MeGaLoDoN_117 I absolutely agree with your final two points, and that's why I look for Kaiser to relocate soon. The recent interview with the In-N-Out Burger owner clinched it. I used to fly into the Oakland Airport and take a taxi to the Coliseum BART station and go up to Berkeley. That won't be happening again anytime soon.
I think the only people making money are the manufacturers of those cement blocks. They're a mainstay now at auto body and machine shops so people don't break in and steal tools.😞
The worst governor ever to exist. It’s mainly the lower half of the state from Sacramento south. Talk about lost and feeble minded legislators. May it rest in pieces.
@@mikes1776 thank you for letting me know I’m not the only one who know what’s really going on, because our government are playing game with the American people, the government wants the criminals out of control, so we can not focus on what the government is planning. Wake up American people…!!!
Sacramento is in northern California.
@@ADG.Est.1988 It, certainly, is. Lived there long, time, ago.
This is the best tour ever. Zero distractions. Can actually see the city like Battlefield 6.
Oakland is between where I work and where I live, on my route, there's a store owner that parks a beater car on the sidewalk in front of his stores front door.
Smart
@@LeoMetalTraveler 17:10 "This one is maybe open"? The board says, "for lease". You missed that one.😁
Ill bet when proposition 36 kicks in - in california next year, it wont make much of a difference... Criminals would still break the law. They are immune😢
Just watched Newsom in a press conference claiming prop.36 doesn't apply to anything but stiffer drug charges. No retail theft or other crimes. In other words, Newsom is defying the will of the people and charging ahead with his own woke agenda, watering down 36 to meet his interpretation
Prop 36 is already effective
@Damon_Mah
Effective you say? Ill wait 12 months and see what impact it has on my hometown. At this point iam skeptical. I gave up hope as of last year. 😕
Prop 36 is already in motion. However, it's still up to local DA's as to whether they're going to offer plea deals to lessen the offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Woke DA's can just ignore felony charges if they want to. Citizens need to keep their eyes on all District Attorney's.
@@spmj1251 sorry meant Prop 36 already took effect earlier this month on December 18, 2024 and the news has reported police officers already arresting people under it. but you are right, how effective it will be remains to be seen - still better to have it than not. stay positive
Governer Newsom said crime is nowhere to be found.
His definition of crime must be different than sane people..🙄😒
He's enjoying his new 9 million dollar mansion
Super Lyer!
Due to an accident I'm on a wheelchair and thanks to you and other TH-camrs I feel like I'm myself going around those streets, thanks God for technology!👌😊👍
Grew up in Oakland. It looks like you're at the intersection of Telegraph and Broadway. There was a huge Capwells department store and others around there. As kids we used to walk from Piedmont Ave to this area for either the Paramount or Fox theaters. Now days it's probably very risky to walk around there or even shop anywhere around there. Sad. I still visit family in Ca but they live in Contra Costa County and I just can't get up the "courage" to drive around places we hung out at all the time. Anywhere in Oakland, Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, San Francisco are a few of our favorites. We used to explore the Kaiser Building on Lake Merritt when it was being built. It was amazing to ride those elevators to a view of the city that we'd never seen. Nice tour. Take care.
It's amazing how much Oakland has changed over the years!
I remember Capwell's! I'd just gotten hired for a job there when the '89 earthquake happened and damaged the building so badly that they had to close. I lived by Lake Merritt for years, used to work at the bookstore on Grand, went to movies at the old movie palace, hung out at the Rose Garden, got my lattes at the Coffee Mill and ate dinner at Mimosa Cafe or the Merritt Bakery on E. 18th. Remember the Parkway Theatre and how they were such a great place for a few years, showing movies with beer and pizza? I miss it all so much. Downtown Oakland has so much beautiful architecture, what a treasure it was. Now it's overrun with human garbage. So sad.
I lived at 30th and Telegraph in 1981-82 when I played football at Laney. Walked down Telegraph to Broadway to 11st and then to Laney on Fallon Street. Great walks, nobody messed with me. The downtown food market on Telegraph had the best donuts, Texas sized. I’m amazed to see DeLauers still open. Lived behind the Courthouse Athletic Club at 30th and Telegraph and worked there for my gym time. Walked over Pill Hill to Broadway to the Safeway for food. Good experience for a 20 year old white boy from Florida.
I lived on Treasure Island in the late 1960's While my Dad was off the shore of Vietnam in the US Navy. I remember what a jewel San Fransisco was at the time. Oakland was a rough place by comparison. Not like today, But the Black Panthers were a problem. There were places in Oakland where you did not go. But compared to today, it was Mayberry RFD.
Oakland has definitely changed a lot over the years.
WHO'S THE PROBLEM NOW? U PEOPLE
Black Panthers did a lot of positive for the black communities in Oakland!
From a Jewel to Stool 💩
Ignorant
So sorry for anyone still living there.
Why? Many of them took part in the repetive destruction.
They voted for this. Zero sympathy.
Me too. I feel sorry for myself - still here but hopefully I will be GOnnnne soon
I love my home city.
@@soyyo143Bye.
Death spiral. NOTHING is ever going to turn this place around.
Nope, it's thru, it's over, "Dead and Gone"...
It will likely spread to other neighborhoods. Only Montclair, up in the hills, and Rockridge--which is basically part of North Berkeley--will likely be spared. All the gentrification that's come in over the last 20 years in the Temescal, Fruitvale and West Oakland 'hoods will soon be gone again. I used to live in the Grand Lake area, up on the Piedmont border. I loved it there. I wonder what will happen. Prayers for that lovely neighborhood--they will need it. So, so sad.
Moved from South Berkeley prior to COVID-- it was near Ashby BART... not only was the rent very high, but the neighborhood was becoming subject to drive-by gang and other random street murders, beatings and robberies of unsuspecting BART passengers trying to get home after work, muggings of students for their phones, store robberies at gunpoint, and other incidents. I could see the UC campus from a bedroom window. Great view, but had to leave. Telegraph Avenue near the campus had essentially only one bookstore left: Moe's (the one you see in the movie The Graduate). Most of the cinemas in Berkeley have closed. It used to be a cultural mecca, and not just for the students: who basically stay on the campus or take Uber/Lyft elsewhere to have fun. Honestly, it's going to take a miracle, and substantially better leadership than what they've had for a great number of years, to turn the urban areas of the immediate East Bay across from San Francisco around for the better.
METAL LEO deserves the 2024 humanitarian award🙌👍✨️.
Saigon Restaurant is "so gone". Even the homeless are like "nope"!
This is all by design! The politicians are letting this once beautiful city go to waste so that the developers can scoop all of the property up for cheap and start over. It’s on the list for one of the future cities….aka Lahaina 2.0
No one is going back. Oakland is gone forever!
@@edwardlagrossa1246 yes they are….its a Bay area waterside city!
Yes I agree 100% . I was raised there from 1972 to 2003 . It's all done by plan .
Even if someone hopes to do that, they will have to expel the rest of the ghetto and the criminal underground. But they can't do that, because that would make them rayciss. Nope. I doubt that this mythical revival will ever happen. Even the bankers don't want Oaktown real estate.
@@jtt1928 But what anchors the Bay Area? San Francisco. And they're in a downward spiral too. Maybe changing the laws back--Prop. 36, basically, which Newsom fought tooth and nail--might help? I am not hopeful though. The laws still have to be ENFORCED to work. That's the catch. They won't actually prosecute and jail offenders. Even if they do, somehow early release and "work programs" will still be a thing.
That giant orange crash absorber outside Jokeland PD station was a nice touch.
We follow your content and appreciate you keeping us updated and educating us on what is going on in California. Thank you 😢
I appreciate that
And they are cancelling the "Oakland-Roadster"-show too !!-old cars=to be banned !!
Oakland is San Francisco without the charm and even less open businesses. I don't see how this is remotely fixable. The Chinatown district shows some signs of life.
So sad.
I hope with a new year some changes can take place for the better.
Darn it, thinking my exit California plan is still a go for next year. Be careful there while filming. Happy New Year !
Happy New Year to you too!
WOW, I lived in the Lake Merritt Area for over 30 years but left in the early 2000s. This so shocking to see and so sad. Downtown was very active and beautiful so was the lake. I loved that area, but now I would not step foot in Oakland now.
The building that is in Chinatown that has the person crawling used to be called the Golden Dragon restaurant. My family used to eat there on a regular basis when I was a kid in the late 70s. The place looks terrible now.😢
The Golden Dragon restaurant. Thank you for the information.
I loved that place but everyone is just going along with it all and I'm disabled so I don't mind starving to death.
You know there's no hope left for Oakland when an In N Out closes their doors.
Nailed it!👍🏻
Will the last person leaving Oakland please turn off the lights.
Light were off long ago from all the copper thefts
Lights are off PG&E raised rates for the 13th time in a year..
13:05 - Cinnamon Tree Chinese Cuisine. Permanently closed. Although could have guessed that by it being a dilapidated wreck with childish gibberish scrawled all across the outside. Looked like a really nice place... back in 2019. Only took 5 years for the entire city to fall apart.
Where else can you reap the benefits of paying First World taxes to live in Third World squalor?
Thanks!
Welcome! and happy holidays!
In some areas the police are the best friends criminals have. Sad stuff. Another good video, man. Thanks for sharing.
they buy each other doughnuts.
@puppets.and.muppets no, we buy donuts for them.
I sold my Oakland house in 2013
I don't go back unless I go to the Hills...maybe every 2 years.
Normally China Town was safe
I have not been there is a while
The boarded up windows and graffitti were not there.
Looks like they're getting overrun by the bad guys.
It wasn't that way until recently.
30 years ago that Fortuna Buffet used to be one of the best Dim Sum areas in the area, and it was impossible to get in during the weekends.
That big restaurant that is boarded up with people living inside was a nice restaurant....16 years ago.
The interim Mayor Fortunado did not voice and support for Gov. Newsom saying the City of Oakland needs to change their law which *does not*
allow police to chase criminals unless there are maybe 2 very specific conditions. So a lot of crimes are committed and the criminals can just drive away.
The rule does not apply to California Highway Patrol, which are there on an urgent basis. So criminals are getting caught by CHP.
My point is that the Activists and Politicians have created a criminal friendly environment.
Don't get me wrong, it has always been tough (I used to be a minor elected person with a law enforcement focus)
But the situation there is out of control and *partially self-inflicted*
I first started seeing the change around 2018.
A young, white liberal female was saying "All you have to do is talk to them"
Regarding the criminals.
This represents the soft on crime attitudes by young naive who will then "feel good about themselves"
by saying how compassionate and empathetic they are. This is very shallow. And this movement
increased to dominate the democratic party who went soft on crime. And preventing police from chasing criminals
is but one example of how they have made it easier for criminals.
But the Activists and Politicians don't care about the suffering of the normal people. A lot of normal people just go to work
and don't know how to lobby city hall. You should try (they probably won't let you) to do a video of an Oakland city council meeting and
publish their nonsense on your channel.
Just shut up and pay your taxes subject!
The Fox Theater on Telegraph & 19th is thriving with live music 2-3 nights most every week, sometimes more. That block and an adjacent one are doing pretty well. The Paramount Theater a block over on Broadway just has occasional performances.
Worked for Roto Rooter of Oakland on Kennedy. Lived in Alameda. It was starting to go in 2012. Back in MI now. 🤘✌️
You are a great writer. Thanks for sharing you left California.
When they vote “Blue no matter who” this is what you get 😂
My Hometown.
It was always dangerous.
Always.
Whatever you do, don’t go to Hegenberger. That area is really bad of crime.
Who needs business when you got EBT cards, food pantries, and malls two towns over with stores that are easily looted?
Oakland has been scary for 40 years
Yeah just dismiss it as that
No, no, no… you don’t understand. Smiles, vibes and cackling laughs will make all of this better. 🙂😎😆
“Sai” Gone Now restaurant, they were waiting for you Leo!
Saigone!!! 😁
Were you able to check out Jack London Square? Many happy and fun times there. When we lived in Piedmont there were so many wonderful restaurants in Oakland. This breaks my heart, it will never recover. 💔Thank you for keeping us updated.
I was thinking about checking out Jack London Square, I used to go there a lot for shows, I’m curious too
@@LeoMetalTraveler I would love a video on Jack London Square. Many memories from there.
I have read local reports in the Jack London area saying that businesses are suffering and some closing for good due to smash and grabs from cars and muggings of restaurant goers. People don't feel safe anymore, plus it's expensive justt to go out for drinks and a bite these days.
For lunch we'd get food and sit by the dick of the bay Otis style. Olde Washington st had some interesting shops. Chinatown had tip-top lunch rooms
Not much happening in Jack London Square either!
I use to live there in the 90s and it was so much fun. I haven't been back since.
Closed Now
Gone Now
Imagine what's possible... if the place was run right.
Imagine what's possible...if they didn't promote crime.
Imagine what's possible...if taxes were lower.
Imagine what's possible...if people actually raised their children right.
Imagine what's possible...if the politicians weren't corrupt.
Imagine what's possible...if everyone really cared.
Prince George's county Maryland should read this Good luck with that!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - this is a small holiday thank you for the good work you do all year long. Use the $$ as a down payment on the anti-depressants you most surely need after your legendary 'GONE NOW' tour of the West Coast. Maybe sell a 'Gone Now' coffee mug or T-shirt or publish a 'Gone Now' coffee table book of these disturbing photos as you historically document the fall of civilization in the Hotel California.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! Gone now T-shirts and coffee mugs are already available under the description. Thank you very much for your support.
Democrats way to go ! This is all on you! And you will keep on voting blue.
I HAD COME HOME FOR A VISIT AND LEFT BACK ON THE PLANE WITHIN 12 HOURS
There are more people in Billboards and pictures along the empty stores than actual people on the street
I could do a series in my town called “all the businesses are closing and being replaced with massive apartment complexes without enough parking! Yay!”
funded by Amazon beans.
Sounds like Millbrae!
I lived in Oakland back in the late 80's. It was a vibrant city with lots of businesses open and people walking about the streets. The city looks so different now. So many closed buildings and where did all the people go? So sad.
6 inch steel pipe buried in the ground filled with concrete spaced 4 feet apart in front of each business will stop those cars from crashing into them. Bollards they are called. All the large companies have them already.
I seen them at target
Appreciate all you do brother. Worked there for many years and can't believe how far down hill it's gone. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching!
I remember going to Oakland a few times and it just seemed very out of place, it has always had issues. Mainly robbery and theft, some people were killed while being robbed. Its just a mess and I am certain no businesses would bother investing for the risk of financial loss. Many people becoming homeless, its just depressing to be honest. I moved to North Dakota and it's not that bad, l only have to worry about are bears, and mountain lions. Thats about it.
They voted for this and now they're getting it good and hard.
You can't fix this.
The A's are gone as well. Wonder what the stadium will look like?
I imagine barbers and liquor stores only open...
Do you folks realize that Downtown DETROIT right now looks better than Downtown Oakland and SF?? That's crazy.
Oakland Police - Gone Now.!!!
I went to the fortune teller....but when I got there the sign said CLOSED due to unforeseen issues 😂😂😂 great views as always ❤ thank you from Canada
It seems like "unforeseen issues" are becoming very common these days. 😁 happy new year 🎊
Around 35 years ago, when I was ten, my family and I lived in Oakland for a couple of years whilst my father was working abroad. I remember it as being a little rougher than I was used to. I came from a small town in England. But nothing like this. Calaforina is the richest state in the richestest country in the history of the world. What happened?
" Calaforina is the richest state in the richestest country in the history of the world." Only the clueless would think that way.
Crappy Californica like the rest of the USA look "rich" in GDP terms, because of very high cost of living. All hype!
Socialism.
7:42 - I've stayed at the Oakland Marriott City Center (across the street from Courtyard Marriott) many times over the years.
many rural towns are desolate too
I remember as a kid singing a song “I don’t want to live in a ghost town” going to my grandmothers house in Oakland in the 80’s, wow ..
Totally speechless on what the local bureaucrats have done to Oakland. I have born here and it wasn't like this back in the 90s and early 2000s. This is a whole different story. But just WOW on how they destroyed the city. Oakland needs HELP and the national guard may be the answer!
Oh they'd love to bring in the national guard. Just be careful of what you wish for.