When I leave my house I normally pass the corner of 50th and Foothill. It's about a block and a half away from our house. I always give the intersection a quick glance. For one thing I've joined Oakland's Adopt-A-Block program, so I've committed to picking up trash on that block. For another thing, a group of middle schoolers from Brentwood planted some tulip bulbs in an abandoned piece of dirt near the bus stop, and I can finally see them growing and peaking up out of the dirt.
The last reason I look is the one that disturbs me and the occasion for this post. We have what we call sideshows in East Oakland. Those of you from the area don't need further explanation, but I've found myself explaining what this word "sideshow" means to anyone from anywhere else. In the wee hours of the morning groups of people cruise through streets such as Foothill. Some people do donuts and some people ghost ride the whip (see on you tube). The next morning at our intersection you can see dark circles of tire marks from donuts. Street signs might be missing or broken. The corner laundromat has a big dent out of the brick post in the front of the building. Occasionally you can read about a shooting or serious accident that occurred at 3 AM at a sideshow. One of my friends who sits on the Steering Committee of our local NCPC (Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council) is considering getting dual pane windows so she doesn't have to hear the noises in the middle of the night.
Recently I stood close to a young man with two children at a clothing store. He talked to a friend on the phone as he held the hands if two toddlers. I couldn't help but overhear as he explained in detail how someone shot at him and his friends the night before at a sideshow.
Sideshows are old news, and it's something we talk about a great deal at our NCPC meetings, but I am amazed that law enforcement is not able to make them stop. It just goes on and on, weekend after weekend, year after year. I partly wrote this to vent, but I'm also looking for some creative ways to address this issue as we seek healing and wholeness in Oakland. Anyone have an idea?
Go to the people,
Live among them,
Learn from them,
Love them,
Start with what they know,
Build on what they have:
But of the best leaders,
When the task is done,
The people will remark
"We have done it ourselves."
RSS Feed