Why “The World’s Most Beautiful City” Looks Like Hell…
When I tell people I live in San Francisco, they’ll usually follow up with “Lucky you. That’s one of the world’s most beautiful cities.” I agree. But that’s easier to notice on a weekend nature hike then a Wednesday morning trip to the dry cleaner.
This great column in SFGate makes this point in three elegant ways.
1) San Francisco is a city with stunning views and natural features which makes it all too easy to neglect how things look at street level, where we live our lives.
2) San Francisco can’t market itself as a world class city and look like a decaying also-ran. Cities like Copenhagen are leaving us in the dust.
3) Every dime of this city’s budget is an all-or-nothing battle royal for special interests. Or as the article puts it better…
“Why invest in parks when there are homeless people on the streets? Why fix a plaza when the education system is in tatters? Why spend money on “aesthetics” that could go toward social programs? Or health services?”
Here’s why. If a city doesn’t look nice, people don’t move there. Current residents see less of a reason to stay. No people means less tax money, fewer businesses setting up shop, depressed economies which leads to cuts in social programs anyway.
San Francisco has earmarked funds for the improvement of parks of an major boulvards like Valencia St. I’ll be eager to see how these turn out.
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4 Replies to “Why “The World’s Most Beautiful City” Looks Like Hell…”
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“Here’s why. If a city doesn’t look nice, people don’t move there.” I think you’re going to have a hard time with this one. Is San Fran really have trouble attracting people to live there? You’ll know when this is becoming a problem when rents start falling faster than the US median.
“Here’s why. If a city doesn’t look nice, people don’t move there.” I think you’re going to have a hard time with this one. Is San Fran really have trouble attracting people to live there? You’ll know when this is becoming a problem when rents start falling faster than the US median.
Scott,
San Francisco’s big problem is getting people over 25 and below 70 to stay. It can atract people just fine. But it’s still seen as a playland for the young and single as opposed to a city where anyone creates a life. Its lack of concern for its infrastructure plays a big part in that.
Scott,
San Francisco’s big problem is getting people over 25 and below 70 to stay. It can atract people just fine. But it’s still seen as a playland for the young and single as opposed to a city where anyone creates a life. Its lack of concern for its infrastructure plays a big part in that.