Construction crew abandons repaving job over safety concerns in East Oakland

Several roads in the Sobrante Park neighborhood of East Oakland have been left ripped up for weeks. Construction workers abandoned the job over safety concerns in May, according to Oakland Public Works.
Subscribe to KTVU's KZbin channel:
/ @ktvufox2
KTVU delivers the best in-depth reports, interviews and breaking news coverage in the San Francisco Bay Area and California
Watch KTVU's newscasts on www.ktvu.com/live
Download KTVU's news and weather apps for free at www.ktvu.com/mobile-apps
Subscribe to KTVU's newsletter at www.ktvu.com/newsletters
Follow KTVU on Facebook: / ktvu
Follow KTVU on Twitter: / ktvu
Follow KTVU on Instagram: / ktvu2

[@DemPilafian]

Every single resident interviewed blamed the city. Anyone care to blame the person who actually pulled a gun on the construction crew?

[@SixtiesFan87]

They voted for the woke DA's and judges. They approve of the violence

[@unknownuserbutnotabuser]

precisely. theyre psychotic crybabies. the whole neighborhoods that way because if ya got one two or three ALL of them are they just dont always show their true nature depending on whos around

[@mrsleep0000]

Nah, at this point its the city and countys fault for not doing their jobs to protect the citizens.

[@RichardLucas]

They would do better if they could.

[@unknownuserbutnotabuser]

@@mrsleep0000 the citizens obviously need no protection when theyre the ones that ran off the road crew - so they can also be the ones to get off their lazy pathettic tax paying entitled azzes and fix it themselves if they want " a real road" or "a better one" oh and by the way they probably WILL put trump back in office and now that he's a "genuine criminal" things are gonna really get interesting

[@Isscah]

Thank you to this contractor who stood up for their employees safety.

[@unknownuserbutnotabuser]

NO DOUBT rather than just firing guys that refuse to risk being shot or ran over - I guess people are FED UP with endangering their own lives even more than cops for a paycheck because even cops are "allowed" to shoot back SOMETIMES

[@stevejobs3816]

Lmao

[@d.4227]

They don’t want to be killed.

[@Ratt611]

Pulled a gun because they were asked to move their car. Says alot about oakalnd.

[@Dizzymarvel]

Oakland is right where it needs to be…broken

[@MamaMOB]

Yea... Oakland

[@NerdsWorldNYC]

Yeah.. your car, suspension, and tires can continue driving over this ripped up asphalt like you're driving in the Baja with a dune buggy 😂😂😂😂😂

[@machineman6498]

Pulled a gun? Yeah, we’re out.

[@HeavensProtocol]

The City is not the problem. It's the single Mothers making monsters.

[@williamking6531]

It's the government creating single mothers.

[@cyclewisconsin105]

Really, sounds like an uneducated statement.

[@skunkben8657]

​@@cyclewisconsin105source?

[@mike-xn1qj]

@@cyclewisconsin105 Please feel free to use your "education" to point out their error in evaluating blame.

[@KonaLife]

@@cyclewisconsin105keep ridin your bike and defending Oakland. It’s an s-hole and you know it.

[@wsol80]

Maybe Pamela Price and the city council should pick up a shovel?

[@karied6251]

Recall the D.A.

[@cyrussarraf4166]

The state of a community reflects its culture

[@propblast82nd]

Seems like yesterday when Democrats in Oakland were marching in the streets yelling defund the police 😱

[@mikepond4865]

Bingo

[@karencarpenter5845]

You can give police the entire city budget, they still don't help the citizens they literally sit outside Starbucks and play Pokémon.

[@stevejobs3816]

Don't you have another storming of the Capital to plan? 🤣🤡🤣

[@propblast82nd]

@@stevejobs3816 Communists shouldn’t talk

[@stevejobs3816]

@@propblast82nd traitorous confederates shouldn't talk 💀

[@dev_nickf]

The one lady is more worried about her car than the construction worker getting threatened with deadly force for working on the streets they want fixed. Most of the residents are broke and don't give af but theyll bitch about the city while continuosly trashing it.

[@bribri6985]

That sobrante park area in east oakland can care less about the construction worker's safety. All they really care is their streets getting repaved. As long as they drive to and from their houses on newly paved streets. These are also the same freakin people who would continue to vote democrat because they feel safe in their little neighborhood away from crime.

[@tys1646]

I needed my car towed and I was in East oakland and I called triple A and they wouldn’t send a truck 😂😂😂I was mad af

[@marcspence1905]

Wow I would like a refund if this is true.

[@KonaLife]

Maybe you should move.

[@marcspence1905]

@@KonaLife Maybe you should use your brain?

[@blokcomNativeFaces]

@@KonaLife Nah don't encourage him. If he moves into a red county or red state, he'll just take his warped messed up progressive politics with him

[@stevejobs3816]

Lmao

[@fillup40]

Good for the workers.

[@stoneybowmann]

I've got zero sympathy for a neighborhood tolerating awful behavior against crews. I'm sure most people don't condone the behavior but blaming the city for the violence isn't cool

[@christovelasquez9595]

The ignorance of the residents openly saying they arent worried about violent crime on their block when the road workers had guns pulled on them meaning the residents are getting exactly what they voted for.

[@visibletoa11usersonyoutube]

Good on the construction crew for standing up for themselves. More workers should learn from them.

[@Litvagopnik]

Every single one of them played victim.

[@karied6251]

Recall Sheng Thao. Recall Pamela Price.

[@Venim85]

They all vote Democrat though. They're all idiots.

[@kangthao5121]

What did the mayor of Oakland said? Crimes are down? 😂

[@mikepond4865]

She works from home.

[@ternie6515]

More like crimes are going down right now as we speak.

[@blanddan7893]

😂

[@paulcrescenti5581]

News FAIL. No police interview. What is the status of the investigation into the firearm brandishing of the construction worker? Is this incident another “non-crime” within the city of Oakland?

[@stevejobs3816]

Lmao

[@maddslothii2532]

jokes on you there probably is no investigation. and even if there was there would be no prosecution.

[@garcjr]

California gun laws only work if they're actually enforced.

[@Danny_ll]

My last construction company didnt even bid jobs in oakland

[@OrganicBaseBeing]

Time to defund the Mayor and Supervisor of Oakland.

[@Mytu-iq7qc]

Would like a follow-up as to whether Oakland PD was contacted about the gun incident, and if so, how it responded.

[@edmundgonzalez8731]

They need a crew of social workers to finish the job...

[@jcrrrrrrrrr]

military needs to take over

[@bucktooth002]

In Phoenix they sometimes have police on scene while doing construction.

[@Denniss7420]

@@bucktooth002 In Oakland the power company PG&E also has Police at the location when changing poles, gas lines etc.

[@tracywood6268]

YOU VOTED FOR THEM~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@striker44]

Off roading in oakland. 😂

[@jeschr3462]

Everywhere. There are massive potholes in every district and they take years to get filled up.

[@stevejobs3816]

Lmao

[@northsidelocs9991]

Now they can really use the motocross bikes 😂

[@coastalhillbilly3419]

“The people we voted for are neglecting us”

[@1209Misty]

This is my whole thing. Everything in California is what it is so when you have nothing and you see the government is not helping you, you have to make nothing into something. So if you see these construction workers out there doing their job and you see that they feel unsafe in your neighborhood. you as a community need to band together and I don’t care if you have to stand out there all day to make sure those roads get done. But if you and your community need to surveillance your own neighborhood to make sure your construction gets taken care of, then that’s what you need to do. But it seems like there’s no community in Oakland and they just expect the police to do everything. And in life nobody is gonna do the job the way you will, so if you want to make sure things get taken care of in your neighborhood. I suggest you talk to your neighbors of where you guys can watch your own block to make sure that your roads get taken care of. But to keep complaining and saying things are getting worse but yet you’re doing absolutely nothing to take care of yourselves and your own neighborhood. If you didn’t know your construction workers felt uncomfortable and that’s why they left, now you know they feel uncomfortable. so instead of doing absolutely nothing when you see them, how about you go offer them some water, chitchat with them, and ask them what you can do to help them feel secure to take care of the job. Communication can go so far but people actually have to look at the workers next to them in their community and actually care about them instead of thinking they can just be replaced. How far has that mentality of they could just be replaced, gotten Oakland 👀 In fact, that’s exactly what is wrong with the bay area. People do not know how to appreciate other people and being good hard workers that they treat people like peasants and just expect the work to be done because they’re getting paid. Well, clearly, these men’s lives are worth more than what they’re getting paid and since they’re so replaceable just go replace them with somebody else. The problem is it’s a little too dicey. Maybe this is a prime example of why you need to care for the neighbor, and maybe even get to know the neighbor, possibly stand together with the neighbor, and create your own community policing. Stop being sheep and start acting like you know what wolves look like. Stop treating people like peasants and start treating people like neighbors of a community, not neighbors of separation. These are choices each and every person have in Oakland, yet they choose to do nothing and blame it on the police. Yet, nothing changes.

[@lyndsay4153]

I completely agree. The lack of community is what has contributed to the downfall of Bay Area neighborhoods more than anything. No one wants to get involved, get to know their neighbors, help each other out, look out for the community, etc. That's why we see so much trash, degradation, crime and disregard. I will say though, some of these contractors are super shady. It's likely they'e already been paid, the workers are paid and they see a far bigger job with more expenses than they can handle and they won the bid on the job with a lowball offer and now don't want to complete it. I don't discount the matter being a safety issue AND the other financial matter I mentioned.

[@user-zg1wz8fh8f]

They got blacked

[@stevejobs3816]

Lmao

[@phinethkyu]

All of the problems in Oakland and similar cities can be solved at the voting booth.

[@patrisio3]

Not in Oakland. The only voting choices are progressives, socialists, or communists. Anything else was run out of town and the Bay Area as a whole years ago.

[@bitty_beastly47]

Lmao no. You can't vote out "culture"

[@phinethkyu]

@@bitty_beastly47 May not can vote out culture but you can vote out those who fund and condone it.

[@maxpeterson8616]

Took long enough to get to the safety issues.

[@siutitipale51]

I don't understand how people be like "I'm from Oakland I'm from Oakland I'm from East Oakland" but yet treat the entire city like s*** and trash it and don't give a f*** about anything of this city.

[@hoosierdaddy8002]

Safer in Mogadishu .

[@maxpeterson8616]

You've been?

[@BigB0ss00]

@@maxpeterson8616 probably watched Black Hawk Down so yeah, it's safer there

[@abfutrell]

Embrace gravel roads for safer neighborhood speeds.

[@marcspence1905]

This is one good thing to take away from it, Im from east oakland and I endorse this.

[@MrMountain707]

When I worked street construction, addicts would try to fight us from time to time.

[@WalkawayRene12]

Wow, such uncaring leaders in Oakland!

[@Deletedcommentfactory]

Oaklands Law: everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

[@RussiaisAriddle-ih6bg]

Blame residents

[@sawdustismanglitter6]

taxation without representation. property tax, income tax, and gas tax. we pay for what again?

[@247riffraff]

In other words, they need to put police out there.Why the crews are doing their work

[@youngtied2092]

Not the police job to enforce construction 😂

[@ricjona1069]

Brought to you by blue city people, policies, politics, and politicians.

[@DamWalsh]

Defund the police. How is that working out ?

[@leiag201]

The road looked like East Oakland, but the homes and the people don't

[@tommycordova3665]

Ignorance runs deep in that community. Blaming the construction works, why not blame the person who pulled the gun. Such bullshit

[@ronjohnson9032]

Vote blue no matter who, eh?

[@kylemelanieflynn2344]

Good move on the contractor’s side… I wouldn’t want my crew working there either… one of them gets a gun pulled on him, then another hit by a car? And the residents first thought is to blame the contractor for suspending the project? 😂 So sad, I guess the residents got what they wanted… a defunded police force

[@alexi2460]

So sad, how about military safety barriers. Why doesn't the governor collaborate with the Mayor of Oakland for budgeting more safety guatds

[@Trump-rv4nz]

Democrats the gift that keeps on giving. Calling mayor Thao , come in mayor Thao

[@user-wv8pw8pc2k]

Its the 13%

[@sub-harmonik]

there are a bunch of latinos in oakland too, and whites and asians do participate in smaller numbers as well

[@maddslothii2532]

to be fair it is closer to 7% if you take in to account the the male to female break down of the crime also.

[@montaukrygar]

Always the 13%.

[@jameslcowan]

My grandma lives in that neighborhood, I dream of the day I can get her out. I'm a contractor and you couldn't pay me enough to do any work in that area.

[@ydne]

Looks like Mayberry, USA to me. Unpaved streets and all.

[@jasonsmith1143]

blame the EXTRAORDINARY people (criminals) NOT the City's

[@mrsleep0000]

The city and county isn't putting people in jail for committing crimes, so they are just as culpable.

[@Denniss7420]

There's NO Law & Order. Maybe, Stop defending career criminals and Lock them Up!!!!!!!!!

[@cardinalstar2048]

Every construction worker especially prevailing wage, has the right to full stop if conditions are not safe. 💯

[@TomLudkey]

Gangstas menacing with guns..? Hommie da construction clown don't play dat game. 🤡

[@wolfthornhawkridge5705]

Always leaving the laundry detergent on the playground.

[@MrYAMAHA32177]

Just drive slow and be careful, and it will be just fine. . Make sure you have the proper tools onboard to change tires in case flats. . Carry multiple cans of fix a flat just incase you have more than one flat. . Have a local wrecker service on speed dial if your vehicles rims are damaged since you will need to be towed. . Keep windows rolled up to keep excessive dust out.

[@maddslothii2532]

you are easier to aim at at those slow speeds though.

[@Gino25423]

Defund the police 👮 😂 working great so far

[@sadiemaycastellano6977]

Well, who was going to pay for that anyways, after a multi-million dollar budget deficit?!

[@georgecuster527]

Joakland

[@Denniss7420]

You people need to start calling for the NATIONAL GUARD. But You won't..........because of YOUR politics.

[@pachuco1815]

life doesn't grow on trees life is loaned not owned by anyone on earth

[@AlexRocks24-7]

Don't blame them 🫤

[@phongdao6302]

Where are those damn protests for justice and against violence? Come on residents, show us that you really care and start protesting against the those thugs! Nobody to blame but the residents themselves as they let criminals run the city.

[@gnarlycat]

People in Nicaragua wake up every morning grateful that they don’t live in Oakland

[@goldenSun415]

Or Pay President Bukele to take our criminals amd place in his Super Max Prison!

[@chrisbrowne4669]

Send in the Seals to provide cover for the Seabees to pave. Oakland is a 'no go" zone.

[@bobjones1636]

See what happens when you systematically remove children from their fathers care through the Alameda county family courts. You get highly accelerated societal decay.

[@aldoushuxleysghost]

You'd be surprised what can turn around when you start actually prosecuting crimes

[@gavindaly5731]

If the "community " is so concerned , why don't they guarantee the work crew's safety ? I'm sure there's a few legal gun owners in the neighborhood . Stand strong together .

[@louispegrossjr-jk5dn]

I was a supervisor with the paving department. Yes, I am glad they pulled out. Folks get three days' notice to move vehicles on a certain day. Have the time they don't want to move it or try and park on sidewalk. The cops and tow trucks have to be ready to tow vehicles and have cops stand by do owners want act a fool. Now a employee had a gun pulled on him and one hit. He maybe able to retire early and be paid.

[@loloybaloloy4402]

America used to be great, I wonder if it can be Made America Great Again?

[@MrShanester117]

Fail

[@maddslothii2532]

@@MrShanester117 well with an attitude like that

[@TheJugster1]

We lost this country already ,just look what’s goin on everywhere,it will get worst ,,, soon it’s no longer USA

[@prometheus5700]

Maybe the Army Corp of Engineers can finish it. They're used to being under enemy fire while working.

[@cabin567]

But I thought the New Baseball Team, Ballers was going to fix Everything in Oakland!

[@johnnytran800]

Talk about having 2A for all the wrong reasons.

[@scorproy123]

Please dot blame them. They are innocent victims.

[@jiggilowjow]

good luck humans. i dont see us making it to 2250

[@pukataiamoni9161]

Should of hired Mcguire&hester

[@hyphydan]

Love it, looks like Tijuana or North Fair Oaks.

[@timmothy58]

kalifornia pretty, "it's the kalifornia way"...er gag...

[@SploogeonGoogle-sl6wh]

Take a poll in the neighborhood and ask them how they voted. I can't be sure, but i have a hunch.

[@norodom2074]

Blame your neighbor who pulled a gun.

[@amNoah6113]

Am worried about the report’s safety, Oakland is a dead city 💀

[@GeorgeFKnopp-lx9pq]

No one is surprised. Everyone knows what is going on - I don’t blame the workers at all. The traders are concerned about construction debris? They’ve left because it’s Dangerous for the rest of us. Stop blaming others and own up to. What is really going on.

[@GeorgeFKnopp-lx9pq]

Residents, not traders. Ugh spellcheck.

[@Foodmeow]

Owner who did not want to move his car is accountable. Hurry up

[@TWNo1-c5s]

It’s Oakland style speed bump. It slows down car thefts

[@christopherlee738]

no news on the event that lead the contractor in making this decision?

[@sivanm2130]

At least they’re going to get that road repaved. That’s lucky in Oakland.

[@sneat2028]

As of yesterday the job has continued.

[@svenm7264]

Circling the wagons around criminals for sharing the same flesh tone has consequences.

[@shaunmc013]

Where’s Thao???

[@pacificcarpophagous]

Betty Yu is pretty brave.

[@plll1188]

only worry about themselves!

[@MultiMojo]

San Francisco roads are worse than Somalia's.

[@Kokopellli]

Defund the police gone wrong 😂

[@maddslothii2532]

If only we could have seen this coming...

[@Nicholas_Devine]

What do you expect? That neighborhood is notoriously known as one of the worst neighborhoods in Oakland. Brookfield too.

[@bchandle]

so confusing, the people of Oakland support criminals yet after the damage is done they demand someone fix it. it's like someone yelling protect murderers, then when that murderer kills someone they yell why didn't anyone do anything about the murderer? smh

[@daveaver2804]

Where are the broom sweepers?

[@Denniss7420]

Their sweeper was stolen and used to break into a cannabis dispensary.

[@daveaver2804]

@@Denniss7420crazy. City of Oakland should send 2 once a week until…

[@kohort1]

Stop neglecting your kids

[@LWRC]

Why don't these neighbors cry to the person who pulled the gun on the construction worker or the driver who hit one??!!! I don't blame the construction company for pulling out!!!

[@MrMountain707]

Good on them. Safety is the most important thing. Its the basis of society.

[@mcdizzle1863]

Good going Oakland 👍