Part 4/12:
The tourism sector in Oakland has been severely battered. Local officials and residents alike lament the city’s tarnished image and unsafe environment, discouraging visitors from choosing Oakland as a travel destination. A local violence prevention worker, Ronald Weissinger, emphasizes that the city’s economic struggles are inseparable from its reputation for crime. He notes that while the staff and visitors at these hotels are friendly, the lingering perception of danger discourages longer stays and larger conventions.