At $27M, Oakland’s pothole payouts are the priciest of any Bay Area city | KTVU

Oakland has paid the most in pothole lawsuit payouts out of any major city in the Bay Area over the last five years, a KTVU analysis of public records shows.
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[@robappeldorn2162]

This isn't a pothole problem, this is a failed government, failed tax failed tort reform problem.

[@alihakimi1707]

When you prioritize dumb politics instead of real issues

[@RandomCaliforniaAdventure]

I guess Oakland would rather pay out $27,000,000 than actually pay for the pothole repair itself. Gotta love the wastefulness of this city's management

[@AuroraBoarder1]

@@RandomCaliforniaAdventure - at least they're paying them!

[@RandomCaliforniaAdventure]

@@AuroraBoarder1 thankfully yes! We know how the city can be fighting tooth and nails and this is especially true with the Oakland police department and some of their reckless officers whom they fight tooth and nail defending while paying an average pay out of $10-20 millions per year for "police misconduct".

[@joesmith3590]

Workers refuse to go to Oakland to fix them sooo.

[@unter1103]

"wasteful City management " i call that corruption

[@saramae9878]

Like mathematically it doesn't even make sense. Google says it costs about $400 to fix a pothole, accounting for crew/supplies/equipment. So these settlements could pay for fixing 67,000 potholes lmao, that's insane.

[@mattn.1310]

They misappropriated the money that was for the roads so now they need to pass special bills to get more money for the roads. Good job city of Oakland. Keep up the great work. What a lovely city.

[@rezzyy1]

yep, it's what happens when all of our road and gas taxes gets put into a general fund.

[@HBrown-pu2hb]

@@rezzyy1 Got to pay those democrat union voters to stay in power !

[@John-pz6nm]

Send a link supporting your narrative the money was misappropriated

[@Awesome_Aasim]

The cold truth is that these cities don't make enough money to fix these roads in the first place. To get more revenue in order to satisfy city budgets you have to densify. Otherwise you end up with a situation like Detroit or Vallejo, where the city files for municipal bankruptcy.

[@luxxlace6678]

I hit a pothole on the freeway in south San Francisco . It was a huge sharp ledge, I was going 60 in the slow lane . My car flew in the air & came down so hard I screamed. Looked at my dashboard just knowing some light was gonna come on & tell me my car was done for. But it didn’t so I drove cautiously. Less than 5 minutes later my 2 back tires alerted me they were going flat. Went from 40 to 0 PSI in less than 1 minute. AAA came out and it damaged the back tires so much the metal was showing. Didn’t even bother calling.. Took the same route a month later & it was paved up . I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one who damaged their car there. I can only imagine what damage it would cause if someone was going faster

[@jrxtrc]

Same thing happened to me in May of last year on 101 north just after the freeway overpass. Took out my right-side tires.

[@HBrown-pu2hb]

Amazing that the Highest gas taxes in the nation can't pave the roads ?

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Potholes are the LEAST of Oaktown's problems. 😂

[@bellagirlgirl8827]

With the shortage of cops, the potholes are the only thing slowing down the car thieves.

[@lividsnacks]

A pot hole left me stranded over the new years weekend in Oakland. I’m never going back.

[@richardperez7763]

Bad management no accountability

[@psylee8687]

Corruption at its finest

[@Doty6String]

you need a full suspension bike just to hit the STREET in oakland lol

[@cynymin6420]

I’m so glad to see our government fully funds the coffers for lawsuits. What a massive waste of tax payer money.

[@teeconsigliano7631]

this shows the BS of Oakland politicians saying they're supporting bicyclists

[@rudedude985]

There is an episode of The League where he draws a Swastik on the pothole to get it fillled 😂😂😂😂

[@Gratefuldeadgriffin]

Thao stole the money

[@philipbanks2462]

8th street/East 8th street near Laney College has to be Oakland's worst street. You can easily twist your ankle just walking across

[@rvierra7235]

It is amazing...with the taxes we pay in this F'd up state, you would think our streets would be lined with gold.

[@brianp5205]

I miss when only children rode bikes.

[@HBrown-pu2hb]

They are still children , just bigger !😂

[@magdavelas]

Potholes are not the only thing bicyclist have to worry about in Oakland... it's also the thugs driving around there who would mug them of their bikes.

[@eddieg6436]

Oakland is a CESSPOOL

[@John-pz6nm]

Your mind is cesspool

[@albeit1]

Put a private company in charge of fixing and insuring potholes and they’d fix potholes much quicker. As long as they are allowed to have armed security protecting them. $27 million is a lot of waste. And bureaucrats have no incentive to fix potholes in a timely fashion. But I also would not cycle so fast I can’t see the potholes coming. Come on! It’s only got 2 wheels.

[@Lee-yc1if]

I moved out of the bay to the Central valley. And year-round in my city which is the same size as Oakland there are two trucks with two guys each that just drive around and shovel asphalt into potholes. That's their job. And I have not hit a pothole yet

[@mrsleep0000]

Oakland must have known this report was coming out, they patched a ton of potholes that have been there for years yesterday.

[@bobjones1636]

2 generations of families ripped apart by the Alameda county court system has caused this accelerated societal decay.

[@wsol80]

If a cyclist is going so fast they cannot see the condition of the road ahead of them, why should the city pay their medical bills? I can see reimbursing damage caused to a motor vehicle, because in traffic it isn't always safe to stop or move to a different lane, but bikes should be able to avoid potholes if the rider is paying attention.

[@antr7493]

i will fill them in for 20 mil

[@b566t3]

No wonder why its a possibility Oakland going bankrupt

[@LostChildOfTime]

The sad thing about this is that there'd be less potholes and thus the need for neverending street repair, but also more money for it, if more people were on bicycles. Oakland has made good strides to make the city more bicycle friendly, but it's wasted twofold if the pavement isn't up to the task.

[@Ricky-uq8cl]

I’ve gotten 3 flats in a single month driving through Oakland

[@seeharvester]

That's your fault.

[@mrsleep0000]

Seriously, should pay attention to what your driving over, I drive through Oakland everyday to and from work and have yet to get a flat, and there are some massive potholes on my route.

[@seeharvester]

@@mrsleep0000 Ever drive over any bodies?

[@jimfesta8981]

These streets were paved long before the bicycle craze came on the scene. Back then the only people who rode bicycles were children. By the way, many of the sidewalks in Oakland were laid down in the 1920s.

[@MichaelHemotoxin]

When those roads were built he probably was a kid

[@Awesome_Aasim]

That is so untrue at so many levels. Bikes were and still are used as a practical means of urban transportation in many cities around the world. The first non-rail suburbs were bike suburbs. The reason there is a resurgence in popularity in bicycles is that cars are expensive and car infrastructure is expensive. A brand new bicycle is still far less than an old used car. Add in the costs of parking, getting stuck in traffic, and maintenance and cyclists still are far ahead costwise compared to drivers. And to be quite frank there never was a "bicycle craze"; people will take whatever method of transportation is fast, safe, and most convenient, regardless of weather, terrain, and anything else for that matter.

[@pinokodayo]

… you realize the roads need to be MAINTAINED….. it’s not a matter of “bikes weren’t popular when these roads were built” 😭 that is why there are lawsuits, the city has a duty to maintain safe streets, and when they don’t repair them, people get injured and sue. Would be much cheaper to just keep the roads maintained

[@jimfesta8981]

@@pinokodayo Once again, when these streets were laid down there were no designated bicycle lanes because heavy bicycle traffic didn't exist. That was the prevailing mindset that hasn't changed over the years until the city of Oakland got hit with lawsuits. In cities across America with inclement weather, they know they have to maintain their streets. Not so Oakland.

[@smoothoperator1083]

That city is a complete disaster. They better get that mayor out before it goes Bankrupt! 👍💯

[@JB-fq9dp]

They will vote another Democrat into office...same old BS over and over again.

[@smoothoperator1083]

@@JB-fq9dp 💯

[@albeit1]

My worst accident was on a bicycle. An extremely steep hill I was too dumb at 13 to avoid. Sounds like similar things still happen. It’s not always about cars.

[@HBrown-pu2hb]

Government Grifters !

[@kasio22B]

Come on Channel 2, please dig out the reports from several years ago-the Libby Shraft era, the city received a huge grant from the state for fixing the streets. Now, the people are still suffering from pot holes if not more. At my familiar neighborhood, they fixed 80% of the roads but left the rest to rotten for no reason. Apparently, this is how the city operates😡 Please do a report that the elected officials failed to do their duties years after years with no accountability!

[@supremewhip]

They have a lot worse problems than potholes. Much deeeeper problems 👀

[@Al-xb9fo]

The average home price in Oakland is 800K. There’s plenty of people that have money here! We need competent government officials running this city. Hopefully someone who is tough on crime steps up soon!

[@John-pz6nm]

Doesn't matter OPD is corrupt. Under Federal Oversight for over 20 years More police is not the answer

[@pukataiamoni9161]

Repave the whole street, dont just fix a pothole.it's just putting a bandage on a deep cut when you know you need stitches.

[@propblast82nd]

Oakland has a Democrat problem

[@demetriharlan5887]

I was in the Town one day, hit a pot hole so deep it changed my radio station. White parts of Oakland get thier whole streets repaved, East/West Oakland just get patch jobs.

[@eleonorulibarry5340]

IT'S HOSTILE NOW IT'S NOT

[@wyliem]

use the potholes to house the homeless

[@seeharvester]

Make Potholes Great Again! FJB 2024

[@ms.elaine5635]

Oakland sucks! Our quality of life is so poor! It’s impacting my emotional, mental and physical health!!

[@18ajlucas]

I feel where your coming from

[@Winstonrodney6989]

I feel sorry for you. My daughter lives there and I used to visit twice a year. I literally feel on edge at all times when I am there. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live that way all of the time. I am always so glad to get back home to my small, safe, friendly midwestern city.

[@ms.elaine5635]

@@Winstonrodney6989 what really hurts my feelings is that i worked 7 days a week 16 hours a day to buy this house AND I have no peace or sense of safety! I did everything I was told I was supposed to do AND i am living in hell!

[@AuroraBoarder1]

​@ms.elaine5635 - you need to sell and get out while you can. Real estate prices in Oakland are still high, but they're starting to drop.

[@ms.elaine5635]

@@Winstonrodney6989 I a sure!! Oakland is killing me! Since I moved back here I am in/out of the hospital all the time! I am 59 - too early to retire and get social security yet this CITY is so toxic!

[@latinwaterpoloperez]

Those idiot bicycles should know there are potholes,

[@papasmurf3529]

At the risk of sounding like an old fart...FIX THE DAMN ROADS

[@RavagHer]

there is potholes everywhere. even construction from pge or ebmud....those roads are patched by a blind guy its so bad. u know where there aren't a lot of potholes? the nice area in Piedmont right under highway 13....those ppl got money

[@robappeldorn2162]

A realtor was showing a house across the streat 3 months ago, a bunch of criminals in masks and hoods drove up, got out, ran into the house and robbed and pistol whipped the realtor. Can he sue the DA's office and the judges and the defense lawyers and the mayor and the city council for millions for not getting rid of criminals? Probably not, taxpayers don't have a strong lobby in Sacramento, Trial Lawyers have a great lobbyist.

[@John-pz6nm]

What an ignorant premise Was it proven this specific criminal was not prosecuted or released early? Of course not

[@seeharvester]

Time to ban bicycles. Mayor ?

[@smhs1262]

Oakland out potholed Petaluma?

[@dejor100]

How much of the payouts are for drivers? How much for bikers? How about pedestrians?

[@albeit1]

They said the biggest awards are for cyclists. Going too fast to react to these dangers, it seems.

[@pinokodayo]

Drivers are usually not injured by the potholes and usually aren’t the people suing. These pothole payouts are for personal injury lawsuits from cyclists and pedestrians (though pedestrians are usually injured on sidewalks)

[@dejor100]

No payouts for vehicle damages?

[@albeit1]

@@pinokodayo I imagine an elderly person could fall by stepping into a pothole that they don’t notice. But usually they’re pretty careful.

[@uamssamu5635]

Also the majority demographic in Oakland are too lazy to work so no tax revenue.

[@doriangray4937]

We give and give and give for these problems to be fixed but they never get fixed. Of course these things keep happening and new issues arise because of normal wear and tear but it seems the money never goes to fix any of it before they are asking for more. Just like those billions that were supposed to go to fixing or at least trying to fix the homeless issues and disappeared and nobody can tell us or has a record of where the money went. Again it goes back to the folks that run the cities and the state. The DEMOCRATS. Well we know at least some of it goes to pay for the freebies given to the illegal immigrants that Biden welcomed into the country and Newsom welcomed into the state, and they don't care if you have a problem with it. They do as they please with your hard earned tax dollars.

[@SolMuun]

It's a minefeild.

[@HBrown-pu2hb]

But fixing pot hole causes Global Warming can't do that 🤫🤭🤗😂😂

[@true4795]

Biking cost and cause the users and the others health, life and money more than anything else ever since made

[@Awesome_Aasim]

The reason biking and walking are dangerous is because of all the cars; look at the crash in the West Portal neighborhood as an example. Discourage car usage wherever possible and fix up the roads and it becomes much, much safer. In fact, cars contribute far more to a sedentary lifestyle than bikes.

[@Dwn2Race]

Democrat Utopia….

[@leighbotts9694]

Republicans have no real answers either. They just like to point fingers.

[@pedrobetancourt]

We should have Tesla pay for potholes my street didn't have any potholes before all these hipsters started driving Teslas

[@AuroraBoarder1]

Don't blame Teslas, blame the residents. About a week ago, I saw a KZbin video about road construction workers avoiding Oakland because they kept getting attacked. That's the real reason for the potholes.

[@UpUpDnDnLtRtLtRtBAStart]

Said this in another comment - it has nothing to do with EVs. And this problem has been here for a minute. And I don’t like EVs for the most part. I’m just from Detroit and in development so i know how pavement works. It’s simple heat and cold expansion over time. Concrete isn’t sitting n a hard base so after time the base settles and w the heat and contraction there are divots, then potholes. That’s the lifecycle.

[@irishledden4924]

MOST liberal "men" drive Toyyoyo's.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Pedro's comment is tone-deaf and non-sequitur. Car companies do not create potholes. Regular wear and tear, heat damage (from the sun as well as circumstances), tectonics, and more damage asphalt over due time. Potholes and road issues are *inevitable*. Now... could a better system be in place to quickly attend to road issues? Ummm, maybe. MAYBE. But when you consider the logistics, it's a bloody miracle that highways and freeways aren't overwhelmed by more damaged areas than working, smooth, flat stretches of road.

[@pedrobetancourt]

@AuroraBoarder1 that part is your democratic party defunding the police and soft on crime combined with Open borders policies

[@robertbranco1126]

Maybe if they fixed the roads first they would have never had to pay offs those hurt .. they could have done all of Oakland .. stop voting Democrat wait what happened to build back better 😂

[@chrisp.frye-noodles8761]

Oakland also has a feral chimp problem.

[@HBrown-pu2hb]

Feral pigs also 😂

[@anti-social6368]

Great job by this City’s administration. Democratic 🤡 leadership.