Oakland could has so much going for it, yet the city continues to nosedive. Oakland is:
* centrally located to SF, SJ, and the rest of the Easy Bay.
* cheaper than SF or SJ (unless you live in the Hills)
* an international airport.
* an international shipping port.
* convenient BART access from SF and the East Bay
* not far from UC Berkeley.
* (somewhat) cleaner than SF.
Full disclosure: I live in Oakland, but plan to move. I was bullish on Oakland, but not its city government.