By Clark Milan
STAFF WRITER

Oakland has experienced many dark and turbulent days, leaving the Bay Area community to wonder if the violence will ever stop.

The city has been the subject of countless drug busts, robberies, but the recent shooting of four police officers has left officials with the question whether or not improvement can be made.

On March 13, SFGate.com reported a 23 percent decrease in felony crimes since Jan. 1 of this year. However, Oakland still upholds more than 200 harmful acts each month.

Not all Oakland neighborhoods are dangerous territory, but when the word “Oakland” is brought up, many people automatically think of danger.

Many strategies have been placed in order to better the overall being of the crime-ridden city. Since early February the department has changed its deployment tactics to schedule more officers for Thursday-through-Saturday shifts, when crime occurs with greater frequency said Oakland Police Capt. Anthony Toribio to The Chronicle on March 13.

Improvement also depends on the community itself – children need to stay in school, teenagers need to occupy themselves with productive and educational after-school program and parents need to participate in their children’s lives.

The forming of neighborhood committees for the areas concerned would also contribute to ensure the progress of their residents.

Just like any other city, Oakland has the potential to become a bigger and better place. Streets utilized as hit-and-run locations can turn into an environment where residents can walk their dogs without fear. Children can play in playgrounds without their parents’ concern for their safety. Families can live peacefully and not worry about their homes getting burglarized.

Brighter days will come, but it takes time. In Oakland’s case, it may take longer than someone would hope for. But there’s nothing wrong with hope.

Photostory by Christina R. Hernandez
Editor

The Dia de los Muertos festival in Fruitvale ran down Oakland’s International Boulevard, stretching from Fruitvale Avenue to 39th Avenue on Oct. 26, 2008. The main attractions were the altars, a Dia de los Muertos staple, created by professional artists and members of the public who were moved to honor life and death.

Dia de los Muertos, Spanish for “Day of the Dead,” is a Mexican tradition of honoring the dead, dating back to pre-Columbian times. It is currently celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 1-2, coinciding with the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Altars include traditional decorations, such as hand-made skulls and skeletons, adorned with elaborate designs, yellow marigolds, sugar skulls, and pan dulce, though personal artifacts and photos are also used.

Three stages, located at Fruitvale Avenue, Fruitvale Village, and at 35th Avenue along International Boulevard featured a variety of Latino bands and dancers. It was unclear exactly where the official festival ended, as crowds stretched to the 4000 block of International Boulevard, reaching a fourth stage just past 40th Avenue.

Around 1 p.m., crowds congested the boulevard, especially around the stages. Intersections that would have normally taken seconds to cross on foot instead took several minutes, as people tried to navigate themselves though the festival or get a better view of the performers. Bands, including including Toni Quintero y Su Poder Michoacano and Mystique and others of different genres such as Latin rock, salsa, Duranguense and Norteño performed during the festival.

Aztec and Mexican folk dancers in full regalia entertained the visitors with different styles of dancing, and a troupe of “muertos” played tag games with children in the crowded street. Many vendors sold Dia de los Muertos decorations. The predominant element of the decorations is the skeleton, often specifically the skull, or calavera.

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