Description

Hella Town reveals the profound impact of transportation improvements systemic racism and regional competition on Oaklands built environment

Often overshadowed by San Francisco its larger and more glamorous twin Oakland has a fascinating history of its own From serving as a major transportation hub to forging a dynamic manufacturing sector by the midtwentieth century Oakland had become the urban center of the East Bay Hella Town focuses on how political deals economic schemes and technological innovations fueled this emergence but also seeded the citys postwar struggles

Toward the turn of the millennium as immigration from Latin America and East Asia increased Oakland became one of the most diverse cities in the country The city still grapples with the consequences of uneven class and racebased developmentamiddisruption How do past decisions about where to locate highways or public transit urban renewal districts or civic venues parks or shopping centers influence how Oaklanders live today A history of Oaklands buildings and landscapes its booms and its busts provides insight into its current conditions an influx of new residents and businesses skyrocketing housing costs and a lingering chasm between the haves and havenots