Sorry, I never experienced it in 1990's - I just heard that's what people thought of SF at the time. My point was a bit more optimistic but not well expressed

Sorry, I never experienced it in 1990's - I just heard that's what people thought of SF at the time. My point was a bit more optimistic but not well expressed - usually when places are considered 'bad' or 'poor' they often rebound with an awesome vibrant scene and culture. What I wanted to say was more along the lines that 'negative' reputation is usually a great cover for something special going on. I personally do believe SF has a boom/bust cycle in it's DNA. When I was in my early 20's and living there around the late 00's, people were talking about how 'SF is over'. I vividly remember an older fellow telling me that he's been hearing that line since the 60's, and yet somehow the city always manages to evolve into something new and 'legendary'.