(KRON) — About 40 plaques have been stolen from the seventh Avenue Oakland Stroll of Fame, stated Ronnie Stewart, the director of the West Coast Blues Basis.
The Stroll of Fame is situated on seventh Avenue between Wooden Avenue and Willow Avenue. Thieves stole about 40 plaques, Stewart stated.
Bob White, West Coast Blues Society Archives.
Bob White, West Coast Blues Society Archives.
Bob White, West Coast Blues Society Archives.
The show, titled “The Music They Played On 7th Street, Oakland Walk of Fame” commemorates the historical past behind seventh Avenue, which was as soon as referred to as “the Harlem of the West Coast.”
The realm was a hotbed for reside blues and jazz performances in golf equipment and bars on the block. Artists similar to BB King and Aretha Franklin acquired plaques for his or her performances on the road.
Too Quick’s brother killed in Oakland capturing Wednesday
In response to Stewart, every plaque prices $1,120 to exchange. In whole, the thefts precipitated about $150,000 in damages.
“I was so upset,” Stewart advised KRON4. “The emptiness inside was just unbearable. How could anyone do this? How could anyone be so unaware of the level of hurt that it was bringing to the community?”
Stewart believes they have been pulled out of the bottom to be bought for scrap metallic. KRON4 reached out to the Oakland Police Division for extra info, and we’re awaiting a response.
In 2012, the show was acknowledged as a everlasting historic piece of the Metropolis of Oakland.
A GoFundMe has been began because the group tries to revive the plaques. Stewart hopes BART, the Port of Oakland and native enterprise leaders will assist elevate cash as properly.
