West Oakland grew more dangerous, and many of Mitchell's supporters encouraged him to leave.

In December 1993, a 65-year-old man was killed in West Oakland.

In a recent interview he remarked about his home and lifestyle, "This is West Oakland, man.

Juxtapositions of images of the deep South and West Oakland.

All of which is frustrating for those who remember West Oakland's heyday.

A grass-roots effort lobbied successfully against rebuilding the freeway in the middle of West Oakland, making way for the park.

West Oakland has begun to deal with other issues as well, among them the onset of gentrification.

A few people on the mean streets of West Oakland, near the fallen freeway, were heard to comment that nature, at least, was fair.

Residents in West Oakland who were interviewed by investigators were not surprised about this, he said.

Following the earthquake, this section was rerouted around the perimeter of West Oakland and rebuilt in 1999.