Potholes Don’t Discriminate, but a Plan to Fix Oakland Streets Reveals Stark Divides in the City

The city has a plan to tackle its pothole problem that it says is equitable. But, some residents say it isn’t fair.

1 minute read

April 8, 2019, 9:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


Oakland Hills California

Basil D Soufi / Wikimedia Commons

A three-year plan to repair decrepit streets throughout Oakland, California, was developed using an equity framework that would not leave out parts the city that have been neglected in the past. But residents in the city’s wealthier Oakland hills neighborhoods are not happy with the proposed distribution of $100 million of funds, which will provide bigger investments to lower-income areas in the flatlands, such as East Oakland and Fruitvale. 

"The department weighed two factors equally to decide how to dole out the money: how many miles of poor roads lie in each zone, and how many households qualify as 'underserved' — meaning they are low-income, people of color, non-English speakers, elderly or young," reports Rachel Swan.

Oakland hills residents say that the vast majority of the funding comes from taxes they pay, and roads in their neighborhoods are dangerous and in need of repairs.

"Still, the urgency is greater in low-income neighborhoods, where the cost of fixing a popped tire or a broken axle could drain someone’s livelihood," says Swan. In addition, an analysis of streets in poor condition shows many more residents along each mile of roadway in East Oakland compared to streets in the North Oakland Hills.

Sunday, March 31, 2019 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Mid-rise brick buildings with retail and restaurants on ground floor on sunny day in Soho, Manhattan, New York City.

In Dense NYC, What Does ‘Human Scale’ Mean?

Advocates reject the NIMBY label, arguing that they seek a more sustainable, incremental pace of growth modeled on mid-rise neighborhoods.

45 minutes ago - Next City

Nevada State Senate building.

Nevada Legislature Unanimously Passes Regional Rail Bill

If signed by the governor, the bill will create a task force aimed at developing a regional passenger rail system.

May 28 - KRNV News 4

Blue sidewalk curb cut painted with white accessibility symbol.

How Infrastructure Shapes Public Trust

A city engineer argues that planners must go beyond code compliance to ensure public infrastructure is truly accessible to all users.

May 28 - Governing