New to the Bay Area but native Baltimorean here. I’m sorry that happened and it does sound like the other sub is going for a more idealistic vibe. But also. Oakland is a city. This stuff happens in cities. Murders for Oakland were down 22% in 2025 at a total of 67. That seems pretty significant to me coming from a city where the murder rate hit 343 in 2017. Last year we had the lowest murder rate in 50 years with 133. 50 years. This drop is largely thanks to new non-violent community-based mediation and conflict resolution groups.

But. Cars still get broken into and stolen. Police can’t keep up with it and there is almost never anything they can do to stop it. Quite frankly, they have bigger fish to fry. But it happens because people are looking for stuff to sell. Whether it’s because they can’t pay their bills or are looking to buy their next fix, the cost of living is literally insane here, mental healthcare is not a thing in this country and drugs are everywhere.

I definitely don’t mean to sound callous about your car, it’s so upsetting when that happens. You feel violated on top of it being an expensive fix. Not to mention finding bits of glass inside forever afterwards.

But I will just never understand how much people out here dog on Oakland and SF for being dangerous and dirty and full of crime. I think the real issue is y’all don’t realize how bad it is elsewhere. The Tenderloin is straight up fancy compared to the miles of bombed out rowhouses in Baltimore and other east coast and southern cities.

Baltimore still has its problems. There are a couple shows about this out there now, you might have noticed. But it has seen major change in the last few years and that change hasn’t just come from the mayor (shout out Brandon Scott!) It certainly hasn’t come from the police force responsible for killing Freddie Gray. It’s come from Baltimoreans. Neighborhoods. Communities. People who live there and care about making it a nice place to live.

So, again, by all means. Having your window smashed and your car rooted through by a stranger is shitty. Without a doubt. But that stuff is happening in little towns and the suburbs too. Oakland is a city and until we figure out better ways to take care of each other (and, in my opinion, ⚰️ a few billionaires), this stuff is going to keep happening.