Comments on Oakland Streets: Instructional Billboards

I don't think there is anything "wrong&qu...

2009-11-29T00:05:41.092-08:00

I don't think there is anything "wrong" with that playground, kids can go outside in Oakland, they just need an adult to go outside WITH them and a parent should go outside and play with their kids...

Nice post. thanks for sharing.. regards SBL
2009-09-29T23:04:48.170-07:00
Nice post.
thanks for sharing..
regards
SBL
Photogrammetry mapping

We can all agree that that's a toupee, right? ...

2009-07-22T12:48:31.643-07:00

We can all agree that that's a toupee, right? Seriously, that's a full, thick mane. It's like Demetri Martin hair.

In fairness, I actually really like most of the ot...

2009-07-22T11:00:27.946-07:00

In fairness, I actually really like most of the other First 5 ads (which are everywhere right now, since they just launched a massive PR campaign). Granted, I'm not the target demographic---but on balance they seem more helpful than preachy. (Of course, the one by my house is all in Chinese so I actually have no idea what it says---but the baby is cute and toupee-less!)

All of the billboards in your post are in North Oa...

2009-07-17T12:26:19.568-07:00

All of the billboards in your post are in North Oakland as well.

That was a great article, and I commend your girlf...

2009-07-16T22:03:24.385-07:00

That was a great article, and I commend your girlfriend, she IS at the forefront of positive change. But at the end of the day, she is telling people what to do too, though in a softer, more subtle way.

It is funny, but since moving here from Milwaukee (home of Will Allen) a few years back and meeting several east coast/New Yorkers, coupled with the sometimes overly laid-back, whatever

By the way, Pedestrianist, I think there will be b...

2009-07-15T09:58:42.931-07:00

By the way, Pedestrianist, I think there will be billboards or some comparable form of advertising wherever there are people in sufficient quantities. Check out this picture a commenter once posted of downtown Oakland in 1937: http://www.keyrailpix.org/gallery2/v/keyrailmain/album01/Key_22_Bway_Mar1937_RD.jpg.html

There were just as many or more billboards then as there are now, even

I agree that there is a cultural problem in the ho...

2009-07-15T09:50:57.306-07:00

I agree that there is a cultural problem in the hood--an overreliance on fast foods and junk foods. When you say the solution is to "tell people what to do," that comes off as very condescending, much like the billboards themselves. As I say, I also think that's an ineffective method of promoting change.

My girlfriend teaches organic gardening at a school on 103rd Ave

My comment wasn't meant to be ironic, and I...

2009-07-14T22:02:08.877-07:00

My comment wasn't meant to be ironic, and I'm not sure how it comes across "not sounding very well."

My sense is that the reason you find cheap produce stands in poorer latino barrios, yet not in other poor urban neighborhoods, has to do with the cultural differences of their residents. But I could be wrong, maybe there is another reason...

I have all those billboard in my 'hood too. I...

2009-07-14T16:30:18.320-07:00

I have all those billboard in my 'hood too. I think they're less of an indicator of a blighted neighborhood because of their message than they are because nobody would dream of putting any billboard in a gentrified neighborhood.

Presence of billboards = cars, with rare exceptions. If your neighborhood has a high volume of cars going through it, it will be blighted (show me

"It goes to culture, and in order to change t...

2009-07-14T11:18:43.482-07:00

"It goes to culture, and in order to change that you have to tell people what to do."

Um...maybe that was supposed to be ironic? That doesn't come off sounding very well.

That has to be one of the best opening sentences o...

2009-07-13T22:21:55.312-07:00

That has to be one of the best opening sentences of a blog post I've read in a while. I have got to disagree a bit though.

There may not be much produce in that particular neighborhood, but many poorer latino barrios have plenty of inexpensive fruits and vegies. There is no particular reason why West Grand and Market couldn't have small produce stands, save for the fact that

Every time I pass that day care center I just thin...

2009-07-13T21:39:36.532-07:00

Every time I pass that day care center I just think to myself how it is the most depressing looking daycare center EVER. It's a defunct weinershnitzel for crying out loud and the you can see the heat waves coming up off the rubber matting in the play area. ugh!