Walking into the Fruitvale last August I expected to find a rough neighborhood closed off to outsiders. Instead I have found a fantastic community of hard working families and individuals all striving towards making their neighborhood a safer place.
As my time covering the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland comes to an end I’d like to take a moment to share my final impressions of the community and the struggles I have attempted to overcome over the course of the semester.
While language differences have occasionally popped up as obstacles during interviews most of the people I have met have been helpful in finding ways to work through translators, be them friends, family, or a stranger off the street willing to lend a helping hand,
I went into this semester worried that I would be unable to gain access to the real Fruitvale, to the lives and minds of locals, however, I feel as if I have been allowed almost unrestricted access to the residents of this area. From the many stories of how merchants built up their businesses from selling goods in their living rooms or from carts on street corners to full sized stores and restaurants in the area, to how families came to live in Fruitvale from all across the world I have been lucky to hear so many of this communities personal stories. I wish I could have told them all as they all describe just how hard working and dedicated the members of this neighborhood are.
Many of the local community organizations have also been easily approachable and more than willing to spend time talking to me. I faced resistance only from the higher politicians, such as Ignacio de la Fuente and on occasion the police, which is understandable given the nature of their work and busy schedules.
In covering the Fruitvale I’ve learned a few things about the journalism trade as well. I’ve learned that you must have confidence in yourself as a reporter. You have to stand behind your interview questions and not shy away from asking the tough questions, even if you get resistance you have to keep asking. In instances where the information could be a benefit to the greater community you must push to get the story that some may not want you to share.
I’ve also learned to take pause during and at the end of interviews in order to reflect on the things that have been discussed and give myself time to decide if there is anything else I need to, or should be asking. Earlier in this semester I found myself having to go back and do second interviews a few times because I had forgotten or overlooked an interesting piece of information. In most instances people are more than accommodating in allowing me a minuet or two to go over my interview notes. Along with this comes an already well known journalism rule of always come prepared. I have always found that doing research on people or organizations before going into interviews always landed me with better information in the end.
The biggest learning experience for me this semester in covering this neighborhood came from the articles I wrote regarding crime and criminal trials. Specifically the criminal trial assignment as I had little experience writing around the court system, Learning what was acceptable and what bordered slander as well as how to translate legal jargon into understandable reading proved to be some of the hardest things I did this semester.
From this class and from the Fruitvale a will take with me the excitement and adrenaline I felt in pounding the pavement hunting down sources, persuading people for interviews, and searching for the stories that represented what this neighborhood is: a true community despite problems with crime and gangs. In my eyes the Fruitvale is a vibrant community full of Latino heritage, tradition, and perseverance.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Public Markets in the Fruitvale: Plaza del Sol
Many of Fruitvale’s main streets are lined with independently owned businesses. There is no doubt that the neighborhood offers a wealth of opportunities for those looking to begin their own business venture.
However, retail space on any of the main streets, including Foothill Boulevard, Fruitvale Avenue, 14th Avenue, and International Boulevard can often be too expensive for first time entrepreneurs. In response to this many public markets have sprung up around the Fruitvale, which offer folks rentable retail space at a price significantly lower than the cost of an entire storefront.
“It’s very expensive for businesses to come into the Fruitvale,” said Mario Juarez, the man behind Plaza del Sol. “Plaza del Sol is an experiment to show that people can prosper if given the ability. Most folks just need an easy way to do business.”
Plaza del Sol on International Boulevard is one such public market. The market is made up of 20 spaces available for vendors to set up booths or small stalls and as of October was approximately 80% leased and still under partial construction on the inside.
Like other public markets Plaza del Sol puts the emphasis on small business and provides added flavor to the Fruitvale.
However, retail space on any of the main streets, including Foothill Boulevard, Fruitvale Avenue, 14th Avenue, and International Boulevard can often be too expensive for first time entrepreneurs. In response to this many public markets have sprung up around the Fruitvale, which offer folks rentable retail space at a price significantly lower than the cost of an entire storefront.
“It’s very expensive for businesses to come into the Fruitvale,” said Mario Juarez, the man behind Plaza del Sol. “Plaza del Sol is an experiment to show that people can prosper if given the ability. Most folks just need an easy way to do business.”
Plaza del Sol on International Boulevard is one such public market. The market is made up of 20 spaces available for vendors to set up booths or small stalls and as of October was approximately 80% leased and still under partial construction on the inside.
Like other public markets Plaza del Sol puts the emphasis on small business and provides added flavor to the Fruitvale.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Police have minimal leads regarding taco truck shooting
After more than two weeks of investigation police have learned little regarding the death of a 23-year-old man near a taco truck in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland.
Wayl Aljunaidi, an Oakland resident, was shot at approximately 10:42 p.m. at 3326 Foothill Blvd. while walking home on Thursday, Oct. 15th. Police say the shooting was reported at 10:45 p.m. and arriving officers found Aljunaidi in a driveway between Mi Ranchito Market and Produce and Pupuseria Lupita, in front of the Tamales Mi Lupita taco truck.
The victim was taken to Highland Hospital where he later died of his injuries at 3:15 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16th.
Oakland Police Officer Jason Andersen, who is currently heading the investigation, says he believes the shooting was a “robbery attempt gone bad.”
According to Andersen the investigation is currently still open and the Oakland Police are following up on the few leads they have received. “Nothing substantial has come out yet but I feel good about it,” he said.
Albert R. Lazano, President of the Latino Advisory Committee on Crime, a nonprofit organization that works as a liaison between the Latino community and the Oakland Police, said often people are hesitant to come forward with information they have, “Some reasons for not reporting information is language [and] fear. Sometimes the community doesn’t know how to reach out to the police or they are afraid,” he said.
Oakland resident, Steve Kelleghan, agreed. “People are not going to talk to the cops, people won’t snitch. They’re afraid of what might happen to them if they get involved.”
The Oakland Police are unwilling to release any information they may have on suspects in an effort to protect the investigation. “We have descriptions of suspects who were at the scene but I'm not going to release any information I have on them,” Andersen said.
Aljunaidi's death marks the city's 92nd homicide this year. Reports show that at the same time last year Oakland had suffered 107 homicides.
This is not the first killing in Oakland to happen at a taco truck. Last year on Jan. 22nd Abel Martinez Mejia, a 41-year-old father of four, was shot at a taco truck on 85th St. and San Leandro Ave while buying lunch. Mejia’s death was also an attempted robbery. Soon after, on Feb. 28th, 24-year-old Brandon Quilice was shot while waiting to get food outside of a taco truck on 38th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.
The shooting has not seemed to deter people from frequenting Oakland’s many taco trucks. “It’s too be expected,” said Kelleghan, “I’m not worried about it.”
Tamales Mi Lupita was recently featured on the Travel Channel as part of Anthony Bourdain’s show “No Reservations.” It had also been featured in an extensive review of taco trucks within the Fruitvale, “La Vida Taco,” written earlier this year by John Birdsall of the East Bay Express.
Police ask anyone with information regarding the crime to contact the Homicide Division of the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-3821
Wayl Aljunaidi, an Oakland resident, was shot at approximately 10:42 p.m. at 3326 Foothill Blvd. while walking home on Thursday, Oct. 15th. Police say the shooting was reported at 10:45 p.m. and arriving officers found Aljunaidi in a driveway between Mi Ranchito Market and Produce and Pupuseria Lupita, in front of the Tamales Mi Lupita taco truck.
The victim was taken to Highland Hospital where he later died of his injuries at 3:15 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16th.
Oakland Police Officer Jason Andersen, who is currently heading the investigation, says he believes the shooting was a “robbery attempt gone bad.”
According to Andersen the investigation is currently still open and the Oakland Police are following up on the few leads they have received. “Nothing substantial has come out yet but I feel good about it,” he said.
Albert R. Lazano, President of the Latino Advisory Committee on Crime, a nonprofit organization that works as a liaison between the Latino community and the Oakland Police, said often people are hesitant to come forward with information they have, “Some reasons for not reporting information is language [and] fear. Sometimes the community doesn’t know how to reach out to the police or they are afraid,” he said.
Oakland resident, Steve Kelleghan, agreed. “People are not going to talk to the cops, people won’t snitch. They’re afraid of what might happen to them if they get involved.”
The Oakland Police are unwilling to release any information they may have on suspects in an effort to protect the investigation. “We have descriptions of suspects who were at the scene but I'm not going to release any information I have on them,” Andersen said.
Aljunaidi's death marks the city's 92nd homicide this year. Reports show that at the same time last year Oakland had suffered 107 homicides.
This is not the first killing in Oakland to happen at a taco truck. Last year on Jan. 22nd Abel Martinez Mejia, a 41-year-old father of four, was shot at a taco truck on 85th St. and San Leandro Ave while buying lunch. Mejia’s death was also an attempted robbery. Soon after, on Feb. 28th, 24-year-old Brandon Quilice was shot while waiting to get food outside of a taco truck on 38th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.
The shooting has not seemed to deter people from frequenting Oakland’s many taco trucks. “It’s too be expected,” said Kelleghan, “I’m not worried about it.”
Tamales Mi Lupita was recently featured on the Travel Channel as part of Anthony Bourdain’s show “No Reservations.” It had also been featured in an extensive review of taco trucks within the Fruitvale, “La Vida Taco,” written earlier this year by John Birdsall of the East Bay Express.
Police ask anyone with information regarding the crime to contact the Homicide Division of the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-3821
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thousands celebrate Dia De Los Muertos in Fruitvale
International Boulevard and Fruitvale Avenue were unrecognizable on Sunday during Fruitvale's massive Dia De Los Muertos Festival in Oakland, which drew crowds well into the thousands.
Oakland Police Officer Jorge Pereda was surprised with the huge turnout. “We were expecting about 25,000 but it looks like way more than that,” he said. Pereda said police and festival organizers had a hard time estimating crowd turnout because of the recent recession.
Oakland police were positioned throughout the festival which spanned from the courtyard of the Fruitvale Transit Village down E.12th Street, International Avenue, and into the BART parking lot. “We’re here to make sure everything runs smooth, stays family oriented and so far things look good,” said Officer Pereda. The police even brought out a vintage police cruiser for display.
Having covered the Dia De Los Muertos festival for four years Pereda looks forward to the event. “It gets you out of patrolling, doing something different, not at all stressful. It’s like a day off without your family,” he said.
Eztli Chicahua, an east Oakland dance group performed multiple times throughout the festival in traditional Aztec attire including feather headdresses, painted faces, and ankle rattles. Many of their dances represented prayers to the dead.
Large crowds surrounded the City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation who set up bumper style sumo wrestling, allowing children to bump each other around a boxing ring using large inflatable bumper rings. The Parks and Recreation Office also oversaw a children’s jump house, a giant chess board, oversized checkers and dominos to encourage recreating a better oakland and playing with a purpose.
A large part of the festival was the multiple altars to the dead, including an altar dedicated to all of Oakland’s homicide victims from 2009. Vendor booths lined International Boulevard selling jewelry, flowers, food, face painting, sculptures, and t-shirts ordained with skeletons or decorated sugar skulls. Booths were set up by the Alameda County Library, Spanish radio stations, Univision T.V., Monster energy drink, and local travel agencies. The Oakland Museum hosted a craft booth where children could make their own day of the dead mask.
Calaveras de Azucar sold traditional hand-made and decorated sugar skulls of various sizes and colors. “No one is the same,” said Michelle Ortiz who runs the business with her family, making each skull by hand. The Ortiz sisters learned to make sugar skulls from their mother and grandmother.
Sugar skulls are a popular tradition of Day of the Dead. “It’s a Mexican tradition for Day of the Dead to commemorate the dead,” Ortiz said. “We put the names of the person who died on them.”
New this year to the ever growing Fruitvale Dia De Los Muertos Festival was Mexico by Hand. “I’ve heard about Fruitvale before,” said owner Peggy Stein. “We decided to come here this year but before we were at the Oakland Museum.” After living in Michoacan Mexico while filming a documentary for the government run folk art center Stein and co-owner Doug Wheeler were asked by local artists to help bring their art to the United States, which caused them to start Mexican by Hand and sell handmade Mexican crafts and folk art. “We’re trying to support their work up here,” Stein said.
County fair style children’s rides filled a section of the BART parking lot along with a stage showcasing various Mexican musical acts.
The festival is known to be the largest Dia De Los Muertos celebration in the Bay Area. The Oakland Tribune reports that Congresswoman Barbara Lee entered the event into the Library of Congress officially making it a historical event for Oakland.
History on the tradition of Dia De Los Muertos can be found through the Fruitvale Unity Council, who helped organize the Fruitvale festival.
Oakland Police Officer Jorge Pereda was surprised with the huge turnout. “We were expecting about 25,000 but it looks like way more than that,” he said. Pereda said police and festival organizers had a hard time estimating crowd turnout because of the recent recession.
Oakland police were positioned throughout the festival which spanned from the courtyard of the Fruitvale Transit Village down E.12th Street, International Avenue, and into the BART parking lot. “We’re here to make sure everything runs smooth, stays family oriented and so far things look good,” said Officer Pereda. The police even brought out a vintage police cruiser for display.
Having covered the Dia De Los Muertos festival for four years Pereda looks forward to the event. “It gets you out of patrolling, doing something different, not at all stressful. It’s like a day off without your family,” he said.
Eztli Chicahua, an east Oakland dance group performed multiple times throughout the festival in traditional Aztec attire including feather headdresses, painted faces, and ankle rattles. Many of their dances represented prayers to the dead.
Large crowds surrounded the City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation who set up bumper style sumo wrestling, allowing children to bump each other around a boxing ring using large inflatable bumper rings. The Parks and Recreation Office also oversaw a children’s jump house, a giant chess board, oversized checkers and dominos to encourage recreating a better oakland and playing with a purpose.
A large part of the festival was the multiple altars to the dead, including an altar dedicated to all of Oakland’s homicide victims from 2009. Vendor booths lined International Boulevard selling jewelry, flowers, food, face painting, sculptures, and t-shirts ordained with skeletons or decorated sugar skulls. Booths were set up by the Alameda County Library, Spanish radio stations, Univision T.V., Monster energy drink, and local travel agencies. The Oakland Museum hosted a craft booth where children could make their own day of the dead mask.
Calaveras de Azucar sold traditional hand-made and decorated sugar skulls of various sizes and colors. “No one is the same,” said Michelle Ortiz who runs the business with her family, making each skull by hand. The Ortiz sisters learned to make sugar skulls from their mother and grandmother.
Sugar skulls are a popular tradition of Day of the Dead. “It’s a Mexican tradition for Day of the Dead to commemorate the dead,” Ortiz said. “We put the names of the person who died on them.”
New this year to the ever growing Fruitvale Dia De Los Muertos Festival was Mexico by Hand. “I’ve heard about Fruitvale before,” said owner Peggy Stein. “We decided to come here this year but before we were at the Oakland Museum.” After living in Michoacan Mexico while filming a documentary for the government run folk art center Stein and co-owner Doug Wheeler were asked by local artists to help bring their art to the United States, which caused them to start Mexican by Hand and sell handmade Mexican crafts and folk art. “We’re trying to support their work up here,” Stein said.
County fair style children’s rides filled a section of the BART parking lot along with a stage showcasing various Mexican musical acts.
The festival is known to be the largest Dia De Los Muertos celebration in the Bay Area. The Oakland Tribune reports that Congresswoman Barbara Lee entered the event into the Library of Congress officially making it a historical event for Oakland.
History on the tradition of Dia De Los Muertos can be found through the Fruitvale Unity Council, who helped organize the Fruitvale festival.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Oakland Businesses Celebrate Return of Free Parking
Tomorrow evening businesses across Oakland will be extending their store hours in celebration of the recent decision by City Council to bring back free evening parking. Various merchants throughout the Fruitvale neighborhood are expected to participate in the event, staying open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Just outside the Fruitvale in the Dimond district, Paws & Claws will be hosting a special opening reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. along with "Dogs Bark," an art exhibit featuring the work of photographer Cathy Cade.
As many Oakland residents know, on October 6th, the Oakland City Council agreed to roll back their extension on metered parking hours from 8 p.m. to the normal 6 p.m. after numerous store owners throughout the city said the extended hours were hurting business.
Fruitvale hosts many different stores and restaurants, especially along Foothill Boulevard, International Boulevard, and Fruitvale Avenue, all who would benefit from your support and patronage Friday evening.
More information can be found at Shop Oakland
Just outside the Fruitvale in the Dimond district, Paws & Claws will be hosting a special opening reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. along with "Dogs Bark," an art exhibit featuring the work of photographer Cathy Cade.
As many Oakland residents know, on October 6th, the Oakland City Council agreed to roll back their extension on metered parking hours from 8 p.m. to the normal 6 p.m. after numerous store owners throughout the city said the extended hours were hurting business.
Fruitvale hosts many different stores and restaurants, especially along Foothill Boulevard, International Boulevard, and Fruitvale Avenue, all who would benefit from your support and patronage Friday evening.
More information can be found at Shop Oakland
Friday, October 16, 2009
Finding a chopstick in the haystack
The Fruitvale district of Oakland is famous for its taquerÃas, taco trucks, and Mexican restaurants but there is also a wealth of places to get Chinese food
View Chinese Food Restaurants in Oakland’s Fruitvale Neighborhood in a larger map
View Chinese Food Restaurants in Oakland’s Fruitvale Neighborhood in a larger map
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Lederhosen, Meat Pies, Beer, Oh My!
Nothing completes a crisp Saturday morning like a warm apple strudel and a cold beer. Yes, that’s right a tall frosty pint from one of the Bay Area’s best local breweries was the beverage of choice this weekend at Oakland’s second annual Oaktoberfest.
Despite being in only it’s second year the street festival proved to be a success, drawing a large and diverse crowd to the Dimond district this past Saturday.
Oaktoberfest was a celebration of the neighborhood’s rich cultural history, which includes a large german community. “Previously this area had beer-gardens and german cultural restaurants and resorts all along the street,” said Councilmember Jean Quan, who co-sponsored the event. “This was a german community, we’re trying to restore that part of the tradition.”
However, Oaktoberfest became more than an appreciation of the neighborhood’s german heritage. It became a celebration of the multi-ethnic community that presently resides in the area. Local shops, restaurants, performing groups, and community organizations came together to showcase what the Dimond district has to offer, lining a four block diameter at the intersection of MacArthur Blvd and Fruitvale Avenue with booths. “It looks like quite a party,” said Steve Vantassell, of the Mad Zymurgists the Tri-Valley’s homebrew club. A large biergarten, named for Bill Brand the late Oakland Tribune beer columnist and two stages completed the set up.
Although the festival was largely centered around beer it was a family affair with booths and activities set up for children. Oakland Parks and Recreation teamed up with the Dimond Rec Center to host a recycled paper crafts booth for kids and the neighborhood event organizers held a kinder friendly rootbeer garden.
Parents with children of all ages packed the streets, meandering from booth to booth while teenagers haunted the brewers tent eyeing the different beer vendors. Even the dogs came out in high volume, some being left at the Dance Doggie daycare pen area. “I love this because it feels like neighborhood,” said Kevin Pratt. “It feels like a solid family event.”
Returning this year to Oaktoberfest was alphornist, Allan Richards, whom you may recall seeing a few years back with his alphorn atop green mountains in the Ricola mouth lozenge commercial. Richards has been playing a multitude of horns for an estimated fifty-eight years, having first been taught by his father when he was seven or eight years old. He found his alphorn, a slender, hand made, wooden horn over 10 feet long with a painted bell, in a Chinese musical instrument store in San Francisco. “It’s an instrument that is used for a lot of different purposes,” said Richards. “Mainly for calls, to get people together.”
Richards plays other octoberfests and various other events, but enjoys Oaktoberfest. “I think it’s wonderful. It is the time of year, harvest time, when people should get together,” said Richards.
New to the Oaktoberfest was the homebrew competition organized by the Mad Zymurgists. “We had fifty-five entries this year, which is outstanding,” said Jon Koerber, the club’s vice president. All the entries were judged the Sunday before Oaktoberfest with the top seven entries moving on to Best of Show where they were sampled and evaluated on aroma, appearance, mouth feel or texture, and overall impression by grand master beer judges. Kevin Pratt, who served as a grand master judge said the entries were all of high quality. “I generally find home brewers make an extraordinary quality of beers,” Pratt said.
Dwight Mulcahy took home the award for Best of Show with his Weizenbock entry.
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