Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
The monthly Art Murmur brings out hundreds of people, many of whom have plenty of ideas for improving Oakland.
On the first Friday of every month, 23 art galleries, most of them between 22nd and 26th streets along Telegraph and Broadway, open their doors to visitors.
Vendors, performers and live art projects fill the streets. The Art Murmur has become wildly popular, attracting hundreds of people from all over the Bay Area and beyond.
What's Your Story?, a collaboration between The Chronicle and public radio station KALW (91.7), was on the scene to do a little homework for the next mayor. I asked people the first three things the new mayor should do and whether they had any general advice for the city's new executive. Their comments can be heard at sfgate.com/blogs/opinionshop.
The Art Murmur represents what they love about Oakland and a vision of its potential - a vibrant, creative and diverse community that is also safe. Those interviewed were aware the city is changing and expressed concerns about gentrification. About half the people I approached don't live in the city but were visiting from other parts of the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., and Europe. [MORE]
