Shocked by Oakland’s decline, a resident seeks to revive one block at a time

Obad Qoashasha stands behind a plastic barrier at the cash register of the Handy Corner Market in East Oakland, helping a steady stream of customers with their purchases.

Customers come to the market on the corner of Scoville Street and 57th Avenue for snacks, a drink or a mop — the market has a little bit of everything.

In the four years Qoashasha has been the market’s manager, he said, there’s been a shift in the community — a noticeable effort to keep the business and the surrounding area clean and safe.