Slashdot Mirror
How Oakland Is Turning Into an Art and Maker Mecca
First time accepted submitter Kevin Lee writes "The maker scene is taking off in Oakland with towering industrial art, that at times stands 70 feet high, and DIY business that made locally created goods by hand. But while this is a flourishing creative environment is popping off with new ideas, there's a battle in Oakland that could pave over this rich community with new residential housing. The Oakland Makers is a new initiative by artists and makers that hopes revitalize Oakland as a new advanced manufacturing hub and city that thrives on the making culture."
There are quite a few cities named Oakland and the references to steel sculptures made suburban Pittsburgh sound reasonable.
It's about seven paragraphs in that they tell us which Oakland they're talking about: "Oakland is also more affordable than San Francisco, its bigger, more glamorous sibling across the Bay."
Oh. Thanks.
"Maker" is a non-concept. "Locally created goods by hand" is what people have done since the cavemen. Just because you build something, but you blog about it or post instagram pictures about it, doesn't make this anything new, or interesting. You're not a "maker" if you build a table or a bicycle or a RaspberriPi-powered toaster, you're just a guy who builds tables or bicycles or toasters.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
I say there's more fertile ground for change in Detroit where they could really use the boost.
1) Housing is cheap, dirt cheap.
2) The government would welcome anything at this point to bring in new sources of industry and technology. Flight out of Greater Detroit has left a vacuum of fresh ideas and people.
3) There's a willing labor force who would jump at any opportunity.
Oakland is fine but we also need to stop concentrating on areas that are already prosperous and assist other areas that can use our help.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
I thought that a Maker was a term used by Fremen to refer to the giant sandworms of Arrakis
But would I have to live in Detroit?
The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
...don't come to Oakland. It's terrible here. There is no good food or good bars. There is no good place to see live shows. The weather is terrible. All this space and open parking is just too much for normal city people. Also, with San Francisco right next door you should really just go there because it's a great city with so much to offer. Besides..you'll probably get shot if you come to Oakland..right? That's what the headlines say...and you should really trust what the media says.
But seriously..don't come here...I like it the way it is and don't want everyone messing it up with their bad attitudes.
Best pay attention to that "affordable housing" philosophy happening in Oakland. We're suffering the same process here in Vancouver, Canada. Whole neighbourhoods of single family homes are planned to be demolished to make room for 8 story and higher apartment towers. The main problem is that when you're planning to rebuild whole neighbourhoods, it's not sufficient to just build as lots become available by buying out the owners or as the older owners die or move into seniors care. We've already had some properties expropriated from their owners to make their land available to the developers building the new apartments. Make sure this is clear, this is not expropriation for projects for the common good but expropriation to help a developer make money under the guise of "sustainable and affordable" development.
Look up ICLEI, and how it's directing the community planning policies in your area. If you're in one of the brighter areas that have withdrawn from ICLEI, make sure your by-laws and zoning policies have been cleared of the ICLEI influence.