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I have not been to Tokyo, but I still don't see how you make a plot of land as small as SF support 4-5 million people without still creating serious compromises

I have not been to Tokyo, but I still don't see how you make a plot of land as small as SF support 4-5 million people without still creating serious compromises to quality of life for the lower end of the price range. You still need to displace people for new development. Renters, just like owners do not want to move to make room for "new comers". Even if the move is close in proximity. EDIT: Another example - Santa Monica, CA. Renters hold the legislative power (64.1% renter population), but the opposite of what you describe happens - the renter-elected city council members oppose growth and renter-led coalitions block development of great projects. Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California http://la.curbed.com/2015/8/21/9928090/pretty-expoadjacent-office-space-rising-on-the-grave-of-the-bergamot http://la.curbed.com/2015/8/21/9928090/pretty-expoadjacent-o...

twblalock 10y ago
> I have not been to Tokyo, but I still don't see how you make a plot of land as small as SF support 4-5 million people without still creating serious compromises to quality of life for the lower end of the price range. Well, you should go there and see for yourself how much better it is. I have done that, and I can tell you without any hesitation that I would rather be poor in Tokyo than in San Francisco or any other major city in the US. You can get across Tokyo on a train for the equivalent of a few dollars, there is universal health care, rent and home prices are lower, and Tokyo is more cosmopolitan. Unless you are looking for software engineering jobs, Tokyo is a better place to live. And on top of all of that, the population of the Tokyo metropolitan area is almost as large as the entire population of California.
- sologoub 10y ago
  Some day... but for other reasons, I'm sure I won't have any desire to live there.

twblalock 10y ago

> I have not been to Tokyo, but I still don't see how you make a plot of land as small as SF support 4-5 million people without still creating serious compromises to quality of life for the lower end of the price range. Well, you should go there and see for yourself how much better it is. I have done that, and I can tell you without any hesitation that I would rather be poor in Tokyo than in San Francisco or any other major city in the US. You can get across Tokyo on a train for the equivalent of a few dollars, there is universal health care, rent and home prices are lower, and Tokyo is more cosmopolitan. Unless you are looking for software engineering jobs, Tokyo is a better place to live. And on top of all of that, the population of the Tokyo metropolitan area is almost as large as the entire population of California.

sologoub 10y ago
Some day... but for other reasons, I'm sure I won't have any desire to live there.