Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
Our beloved Ricochet member Mert, aspiring constitutional lawyer and soon-to-be student of our very own John Yoo, is looking for advice about a place to stay in Berkeley, where he's soon to arrive as a visiting scholar. You can see his post on the member feed.
This is the part that made me laugh, in a sort of sad way, though. He called me today to ask whether it was safe to stay in a neighborhood he was considering. I had to tell him, "Well, no, probably not." I wanted to say, "Of course it is, Mert, you'll be just as safe as you are in Istanbul," but let's face it, many neighborhoods in America just aren't.
Basically, Mert:
Just don't walk in dark places at night, especially near liquor stores.
if you are a Sureno Funktown should be safe for you or anything below 20th avenue
if you are a Norteno 23-60's should be safe for you
if you are a Blood 70's should be safe for you
if you are a Border Brother 80-100's should be safe for you.
if you are a drunk Paisa no place is safe for you, if it's not gangbangers it's the 5'0 and Immigration
if you are white just stick to the hills, Jack London Square, and downtown, and nothing will happen to you
if you are Arabian stick to the liquor stores, most are Arabian
if you are Asian, Funktown is your town & of course Chinatown
if you are Mexican (or other Latino) La Catorce, or E' 14, especially Fruitvale
if you are black, West Oakland or the 70's
if you are a Latin King just dont come because there are no Latin Kings and you will get shot.
and if you are a tourist dont go to 94th ave, because there's shootings everyday and you might step in the warzone.
But you're a Turk, anyway, and other than that, you should be just fine. Most of America's much safer than Tarlabaşı. Enjoy your stay!
- Comment (9)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
I am sure Claire is correct.
I have always made the wrong choices in life, including where I chose to live.
You don't want to be me, being kept awake by sirens, or being in Trenchtown, while it was burning, while Bob Marley was safely in Miami.
Then again, this is your life, and being in Trenchtown while it is burning is an experience. Hiding under sheets of tin while bullets rain down from above is a part of life for many people. Running through fires can shape you, as a person.
I study crabs. I often think that humans in extreme circumstances give me insight when trying to figure out what crabs are thinking. To me, living in strange, or difficult environments sometimes proves useful.
I can't imagine not living in difficult places, or doing difficult things, for that reason.
What do you want to be, as a lawyer, Mert? Do you want to understand crabs?
I can't check the Member Feed (as usual), because I have to haul off food prepared for the family. I will check back tomorrow for the tomatoes thrown my way. With a recipe, that needs tomatoes.
Dec '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
Don't forget to vote with your feet (or if necessary run like hell).
Mar '11
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
Never eat at any place called "Mom's."
Never play cards with anyone named "Pops" or "Doc."
Jun '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
I would splurge to rent a safe place, a close place, and live like a peasant in every other respect, if necessary. If you're not safe going out at night, nothing else really matters.
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
I think I know the perfect place. You did say Berkeley, right?
Just kidding!
Oct '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
Live in Davis, and take the train to Berkeley. It's only about an hour or so, I think. West Sac might work, but I don't know the area (and I've heard bad things about it) so probably not.
Aug '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
Having lived for five years in "The Jungle" area of Los Angeles, also known as the Baldwin Village area of Crenshaw, I only once experienced any kind of crime. On MLK weekend, in our final year living there, our car was vandalized. The passenger window was broken and someone pulled out about 12 of my CDs and threw them around the parking lot. The $500 I had in the ashtray -- which was a coin tray for me as I don't smoke -- was still in the car.
During the five years in South Los Angeles, in an area controlled by the Black P Stones, I heard gun shots, saw police foot chases, and heard one young child wail in a way that I never imagined a human could cry. I experienced all of that, but I never once experienced fear or felt that I was in any real danger. The criminal element primarily victimized itself.
You see that picture on the Baldwin Village wikipedia page? That was across the street from my apartment.
Mert. If you stick to yourself, you'll be fine -- even in a dangerous area.
Oct '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
Ethan Safron: I think I know the perfect place. You did say Berkeley, right?
Just kidding! · Oct 6 at 7:00pm
Berkeley is, of course, a zoo, but there is no zoo in Berkeley. That was the SF zoo. But you probably already knew that. Sorry, couldn't resist...
Jun '10
Re: Mert's Looking for a Room in Berkeley
I was born there, my family still owns a home there. Rent a room in the Berkeley hills, away from the university. walking distance. beautiful homes. People shower there unlike further downhill.