Showing posts with label Fruitvale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fruitvale. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Gated Community

When I moved to the barrio from my former garden city of Berkeley I noticed how many fences there were. Every house it seemed like had some sort of demarcation of perimeter. These fences reflect the social landscape with their lack of elegance. You know no rich people live on this street with their fucking fancy fences. The gates also speak of the separation between people. There is a desire to protect one's own assets, an understandable one and putting up a fence, while useless for the most part, is a psychological defense. The fact that most crime and abuse happens between people that know each other seems like an important thing to recognize. You're more likely to have your shit stolen from friends, and acquaintances than some random thug roaming down the street. Its your neighbors who are going to grift from you. So why put up a fence?
Pretty Basic Bastille. Lots of wire. Some rods. Probably better than a solely wire fence. It was also pretty tall. Which makes me a little less likely to climb over it... unless I got a ladder with my bugarly tools.
This is rad. The fence is spikey, which means dangerous, and they've locked in their front porch. Double security.
Set behind the picture below is this row of houses. Reminds me of a minuature version of the big gated communities in las vegas. I'm glad there's no fucking neighborhood association on this block screaming at me about my substandard fence.
A big ass gate. Fancy.

The spikey fence pointing at different angles gives the climber of the fence a little more to worry about. Especially since my pants hang between my legs unevenly! Ouch!
The arched fence between brick blocks. Wait a second! I could just climb on top of those small pillars and avoid the fence all together. Looks like I'm looting this house tonight!
The classic white picket fence. Dreams of middle class suburbia reside here in the barrio!

White, Spikey, and you can't park your get away car in front! Damn!

No hanging out after I've robbed them!? What the hell?

This place has the right idea, just board up everything. They've even protected their windows with steel bars. That means that no one can get in or out! A fortress of safety!

Boarded up in the barrio!


I thought these stairs were nice, although it does make stealing couches harder. Why can't they have ramps for cat burglars? Its also worth noting the gate/front door.



Double security here on a shit house, a fence and a bike lock! Formidable!

What no fence? No locked in porch!? wait what's that? Oh protected by a security group. Better steer clear of that sign.

None of the usual trappings, but the color of this house seems to say; "We have nothing of value, look at us, we don't even value good colors on our abode!"

Oh shit a dog? Wait is it a Chihuahua? I think I saw this guy's little pocket pup shitting on the lawn the other day. No big deal!

Locked in gate and a fence! Double your safety double your fun!
White and spikey. Fucking racist!
Black and spikey. Fucking racist!

Pointy tops! Wouldn't want to climb this and catch my balls on those spikes!



Classic wire fence. Meh no problem with my fence cutters!


Locked front door!

A fence on wheels!

Gate Guardians! Damn this one's seen some action! Missing a paw no doubt defending an intruder!
A spin on the classic white picket fence motif
Shitty house!
Look at that shitty fence! Burglars are going to hop over that for sure!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Graffitti Times

I haven't been in the barrio for a bit because of boxing. The punishment in the ring has had me laid up for a minute. I came home the other day and stopped by the neighbors to chat and drop off some gifts, a very neighborly thing to do if I say so myself. They informed me on some of the local events and reminded me that I should stop by the park.
Crappy Park

The park is located at the end of the block. Its small, dirty, and as pointless as most of the other crappy amenities within the urban sphere. The park is primarily empty during the day, but at night the hood rats come out and congregate. As one of the few public, open spaces (although the park technically closes at dusk) the park is a great meeting place for the local kids to hang out.
Stupid Rulez!!!
Its also one of the places where they can communicate with each other and the world through their not so secret language of delinquency - graffiti. When I need to know what's going on in the world I always look at the regional scrawl.

The language of delinquency

For the most part the scribble of graffiti is mundane, fights over territory, remarks on who gives the best blow jobs, and the occasional bit of news. The latter is what's really important. Its a great way of knowing whose locked up.Hope Demon36 has a good lawyer!!

I can agree with that!