4 ms·

How can a city with so much income and smart inhabitants become such a #$*@&? What happened?

by 101404 6y ago

jedberg 6y ago
Huge wealth disparity.
dpoochieni 6y ago
Good intentions, bad government, as usual... Sadly... as usual
cameronbrown 6y ago
Not enough of a balance in local politics? Republicans and Democrats are both shitty sides of the same coin, so there's a reason they're 50/50 in most stable places.
testfoobar 6y ago
See where some of the money goes yourself: https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2018/san-francisco/ https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2018/san-francisc...
Lammy 6y ago
Things make more sense when you take a look at the post-WW2 black population growth in the Bay Area compared to the rise in interest in "local control" growth policy and the timing of some famous "Progressive" votes like the Freeway Revolts: https://i.imgur.com/6F0gP4l.png https://i.imgur.com/6F0gP4l.png I certainly can't speak to _intentions_, but I can observe the result of how basically every decision taken since the '60s has worked to maintain the segregation that used to be legal at the time: http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?bayarea http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?bayarea
refurb 6y ago
Yes, SF has lots of high paying jobs and smart people, but don't kid yourself, that's a very small slice of the 1M people who live in SF. Just hang around outside a public school in SF when it lets out. The vast majority of people who live in SF are middle to lower class in terms of income. Why do you think there is so much hate for tech in SF? Because most people who live in SF have zero contact with tech workers, but they hear all the stories of throwing money around their city.
coenhyde 6y ago
Existing property owners have too much control to prevent new construction. Consciously and subconsciously they restrict new construction to boost property values. IMO most of SF's problems can be traced back to this. And it's a vicious cycle. Once you're in debt up to your eyeballs for your home, you do not want to see the problem fixed. SF city doesn't want it fixed either because they want more property tax dollars. Of course there are other problems too but they would be easier to solve with cheaper property prices. California should tax property at their current market values instead of purchase price. This would fix the tax sort fall and put downward pressure on property prices.
- mixmastamyk 6y ago
  That’s the housing crisis, yes. While related, it is not an excuse for shit in the street and high crime. They could probably improve tourism by providing mental and homeless help outside downtown. Maybe break even or profit. No political will apparently.
  - cameronbrown 6y ago
    Nah.. housing crisis causes the poor to have nowhere to go. It's the root cause.
ScottFree 6y ago
Massive corruption and socialist policies. But, I repeat myself.

How can a city with so much income and smart inhabitants become such a #$*@&? What happened?

by 101404 6y ago

How can a city with so much income and smart inhabitants become such a #$*@&? What happened?

jedberg 6y ago

Huge wealth disparity.

dpoochieni 6y ago

Good intentions, bad government, as usual... Sadly... as usual

cameronbrown 6y ago

Not enough of a balance in local politics? Republicans and Democrats are both shitty sides of the same coin, so there's a reason they're 50/50 in most stable places.

testfoobar 6y ago

See where some of the money goes yourself: https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2018/san-francisco/ https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2018/san-francisc...

Lammy 6y ago

Things make more sense when you take a look at the post-WW2 black population growth in the Bay Area compared to the rise in interest in "local control" growth policy and the timing of some famous "Progressive" votes like the Freeway Revolts: https://i.imgur.com/6F0gP4l.png https://i.imgur.com/6F0gP4l.png I certainly can't speak to _intentions_, but I can observe the result of how basically every decision taken since the '60s has worked to maintain the segregation that used to be legal at the time: http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?bayarea http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?bayarea

refurb 6y ago

Yes, SF has lots of high paying jobs and smart people, but don't kid yourself, that's a very small slice of the 1M people who live in SF. Just hang around outside a public school in SF when it lets out. The vast majority of people who live in SF are middle to lower class in terms of income. Why do you think there is so much hate for tech in SF? Because most people who live in SF have zero contact with tech workers, but they hear all the stories of throwing money around their city.

coenhyde 6y ago

Existing property owners have too much control to prevent new construction. Consciously and subconsciously they restrict new construction to boost property values. IMO most of SF's problems can be traced back to this. And it's a vicious cycle. Once you're in debt up to your eyeballs for your home, you do not want to see the problem fixed. SF city doesn't want it fixed either because they want more property tax dollars. Of course there are other problems too but they would be easier to solve with cheaper property prices. California should tax property at their current market values instead of purchase price. This would fix the tax sort fall and put downward pressure on property prices.

mixmastamyk 6y ago
That’s the housing crisis, yes. While related, it is not an excuse for shit in the street and high crime. They could probably improve tourism by providing mental and homeless help outside downtown. Maybe break even or profit. No political will apparently.
- cameronbrown 6y ago
  Nah.. housing crisis causes the poor to have nowhere to go. It's the root cause.

ScottFree 6y ago

Massive corruption and socialist policies. But, I repeat myself.