I'm not from San Francisco, but is 7th/Market really "a bad neighborhood"? I mean, maybe it's not Midtown Manhattan nice, but I also doubt it's East New York bad.
(I used to work at the University of Chicago, and took the Red Line to the 55th St. bus. I only had my shoes stolen on the Red Line once, and only watched a high speed chase come to an end with guns-a-blazin' while waiting for the bus once... but I'd still consider that a sketchy neighborhood.)
I've lived in NYC and SF. SF doesn't have bad neighborhoods, just annoying ones. Crackheads are a nuisance but they aren't very dangerous. Oakland might have some bad neighborhoods. Honestly the burbs scare me the most. I'm probably more likely to be shot by a high schooler in Fremont than SF.
Thanks for the data link. I'd consider the difference of 6.1 vs. 4.1 per 100k comparable. I was right about Oakland, though, at 26.3. Even Stockton is higher than SF at 19.7. I'll use that one to back up my fear of bored kids in isolated towns.
The problem in Oakland is gang activity. So your chances of getting randomly killed there are a lot less than the numbers might suggest. However, it does happen that people get caught in the crossfire. Oakland also covers a pretty wide area and there are some better and worse parts.
I have never been to Stockton, but you are right that the crime rate there seems surprisingly high. The cops blame it on the drug cartels. The city is fairly poor (median income 35k) and filed for bankruptcy last year. I'm not sure what the problems are there, but I'm fairly sure bored kids are not near the top of the list.
Incidentally, there is something distasteful about criticizing a city you've never even visited. Especially when you live in a much whiter and richer area. I grew up in a poor area that I'm sure many here would have looked down on. You can have pride in where you live without tearing other people down.
Well, after living in Harlem, south side of Chicago and SF, I would say the spot where Tu Lanh used to be (6th betwe Market/Mission at night, is an exciting little spot that reminds me of the others, but that's just one spot. I used to walk around there at night, you just have to be alert. It's far from one of the "worst areas".
Waiting at the Redline stop, I only knew one person who was brave enough.
It's bad, but I would say its notoriety comes more from the fact that it's so bad relative to the neighboring blocks. Walk two blocks and you're at the Westfield mall / Union Square.
(I used to work at the University of Chicago, and took the Red Line to the 55th St. bus. I only had my shoes stolen on the Red Line once, and only watched a high speed chase come to an end with guns-a-blazin' while waiting for the bus once... but I'd still consider that a sketchy neighborhood.)