4 ms·

I'm not from SF (or even the US) so I'm not sure I understand this situation. Usually people welcome new business opening in their area so long as it's not som

by jiggy2011 13y ago

I'm not from SF (or even the US) so I'm not sure I understand this situation. Usually people welcome new business opening in their area so long as it's not something that is polluting, because these businesses can do things like provide lots of jobs to people across the income/skills spectrum and also drive investment in local infrastructure and support local organisations and charities. In these cases the rising house prices can be a good thing because those who get positions at the new companies can buy these houses and price increases protect their investments. Is the difference that tech companies are only providing small numbers of jobs to people with specific skills who are brought in from other areas of the country/the world? Perhaps also tech companies are only interested in doing good on a global scale and not starting in their own back yard?

OafTobark 13y ago
SF is now the most expensive city to live in, in the US base on a few sources. While it's true normally growth and new jobs is seen as a good thing, here, it's specifically the tech sector that is growing with the majority of hires and wage increase focused entirely on developers mostly. Imagine if rent goes up 300% or more in the past few years and you work as a waiter or any other number of non-tech jobs. Increase salaries and demands for hires in the tech sector would have nothing to do with you nor would you probably qualify for a job yet you suffer from all the consequences of the growth and demand happening around you aka your wage is the same but trying to rent a place now costs several thousands of dollars more than it did 5 years ago. That's essentially the problem locals who aren't in the tech field are facing.
- omegaworks 13y ago
  >yet you suffer from all the consequences of the growth and demand happening around you aka your wage is the same What would a $15-$17 minimum wage SF look like?
  - OafTobark 13y ago
    SF already have the highest minimum wage in the united states. It has it's own minimum wage as a city compare to the state. That said, even if you increase to say $20/he, that roughly translate to about $40k/year. Compare that to where 6-figure salaries are the norm for entry developers (where is was maybe just $60k for fresh grads a few years back) and you can see the growing discrepancy. I understand that developers are viewed as providing greater value this they should be paid more than minimum wage laborers but that doesn't change the situation with housing costs for both buying and selling. In some cases a two bedroom place these days can go average around 3-4k for a decent place in a decent neighborhood.

OafTobark 13y ago

SF is now the most expensive city to live in, in the US base on a few sources. While it's true normally growth and new jobs is seen as a good thing, here, it's specifically the tech sector that is growing with the majority of hires and wage increase focused entirely on developers mostly. Imagine if rent goes up 300% or more in the past few years and you work as a waiter or any other number of non-tech jobs. Increase salaries and demands for hires in the tech sector would have nothing to do with you nor would you probably qualify for a job yet you suffer from all the consequences of the growth and demand happening around you aka your wage is the same but trying to rent a place now costs several thousands of dollars more than it did 5 years ago. That's essentially the problem locals who aren't in the tech field are facing.

omegaworks 13y ago
>yet you suffer from all the consequences of the growth and demand happening around you aka your wage is the same What would a $15-$17 minimum wage SF look like?
- OafTobark 13y ago
  SF already have the highest minimum wage in the united states. It has it's own minimum wage as a city compare to the state. That said, even if you increase to say $20/he, that roughly translate to about $40k/year. Compare that to where 6-figure salaries are the norm for entry developers (where is was maybe just $60k for fresh grads a few years back) and you can see the growing discrepancy. I understand that developers are viewed as providing greater value this they should be paid more than minimum wage laborers but that doesn't change the situation with housing costs for both buying and selling. In some cases a two bedroom place these days can go average around 3-4k for a decent place in a decent neighborhood.