San Francisco, the city by the bay, has been my favorite place in the USA ever since my first visit 12 years ago. I was captivated by its natural beauty, diverse architecture, and progressive culture, so much so that I decided to live there part-time. Witnessing same-sex couples openly holding hands in public for the first time was a moving experience, especially coming from a much less accepting environment. While the city had its share of problems, like homelessness, I found the criticisms from people in my home state of Mississippi to be exaggerated and unfair.
Conservatives have long portrayed San Francisco as a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah, distorting the reality and targeting the city’s inclusive culture. It frustrated me to see them overlook the issues in their own red states while fixating on San Francisco. They weren’t upset about generic problems found in most cities. They despised how welcoming and accepting SF was to people from all walks of life. However, over time, I began to acknowledge that some of their criticisms were becoming accurate, particularly in the post-COVID era. I have visited the city six times since 2021, and it has become a mere shadow of its former great self.
Homeless encampments now line the downtown area, and much of the city has become filthy. Public drug use, from needles to crackpipes, is distressingly common. Union Square, once bustling with activity, now features numerous empty storefronts. As of March 12, 2023, the SF Chronicle reports that 31% of office space in the city is vacant, equivalent to 18 million square feet of space enough for 90,000 employees. Stores continue to announce their departure, citing the rise in theft and shoplifting as reasons for their closure. Notable departures include Nordstrom, Office Depot, Old Navy, Whole Foods, Anthropologie, and T-Mobile. San Francisco has already witnessed over 10,000 cases of larceny or theft in 2023, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Critics attribute the crime wave to laws like Proposition 47, which downgraded theft of under $950 to a nonviolent misdemeanor. These statistics are supported by my own experiences witnessing rampant shoplifting, especially at multiple Walgreens locations.
The exodus of retailers poses a significant challenge for city officials and the business community. To revitalize the downtown area and attract visitors and shoppers, San Francisco must regain control over homelessness and crime. Perhaps they can learn from New York City’s Mayor Adams, who has done an excellent job in leading the recovery efforts. Having spent considerable time in both cities, it is clear to me that New York City is faring much better after COVID, despite both cities being severely affected.
The current state of affairs in San Francisco is unsustainable. I commend Mayor London Breed for acknowledging the need for more aggressive law enforcement and less tolerance of criminal behavior, ““It’s time that the reign of criminals who are destroying our city…come to an end. It comes to an end when we take the steps to be more aggressive w/ law enforcement…and less tolerant of all the bullshit.”-London Breed. However, a more reasonable city council is necessary to address the issues effectively. Some council members are so woke they have insomnia, which is hindering progress. It is foolish to argue that we can’t do anything about homelessness until we achieve a completely fair world. San Francisco should prioritize job placement and temporary housing for those who have recently fallen into hard times. Permanent housing assistance could be provided to those who are self-sufficient but unable to earn enough to secure a stable living situation. Individuals engaged in public drug use should be arrested and compelled to undergo detox and rehabilitation instead of serving jail time. I don’t care what drugs a person chooses to use responsibly and in private, but we should all agree that people openly smoking crack or meth on the streets is detrimental to society. The mentally ill may require institutionalization and violent offenders should be incarcerated.
Fixing the city poses legal, political, and fiscal challenges, but it is clear that San Francisco cannot continue on its current path. The far left’s claims that any efforts to improve the situation criminalize poverty or infringe on the rights of homeless individuals are unfounded. While the homeless have rights, so do the hardworking residents tired of navigating through people sprawled out on the street and in doorways, trash, and excrement just to get into their apartment building. During my last visit, I heard many fellow Democrats and liberals express their dissatisfaction with the city’s decline. I had a memorable conversation with my barber in the Castro, who, as a gay hairdresser, not a MAGA nut job, is fed up with the city’s worsening condition.
The far left must stop making excuses for the rampant theft plaguing the city. Not all theft stems from desperation and destitution; many cases are driven by convenience, opportunity, greed, and a system that tolerates such behavior. It is condescending to assume that the poor lack the moral principles to refrain from participating in smash-and-grab robberies.
Growing up poor and with a drug-addicted father was not easy. My sister and I often had to resort to stealing food from the grocery store to feed ourselves and our little brother, particularly during the summer when we didn’t have school breakfasts or lunches to count on. We were only 9 and 10 years old at the time. This went on for several years. When I got a job as a dishwasher at 13 years old, earning $50 a week under the table, I stopped shoplifting. I understand what it is like to be hungry and desperate, but I do not condone violent or reckless theft. I cannot relate to people who smash car windows and snatch purses or who raid stores and run away with luxury goods. We were kicked out of multiple apartments because my dad couldn’t pay the rent. We moved from one shitty apartment to another, and to make matters worse, he didn’t have a car, so we had to move our few belongings in shopping carts. Talk about embarrassing! I resented both my situation and the system that allowed it, but I never thought it gave me a license to do any and everything. I still felt a responsibility to myself to behave better than my circumstance. Most poor people feel the same way I did. It’s extremely demeaning for people struggling financially to justify the egregiously bad behavior of a small segment of the poor by saying, “Well, they are poor. What do you expect?” Even if it’s expected, it shouldn’t be tolerated.
It is crucial to recognize that property crimes are not victimless. They cause financial loss and emotional distress. Hardworking individuals, some with limited incomes, suffer the consequences. Not all losses are insured, and if they are, there may be a large out-of-pocket deductible. Additionally, insurance rates increase across the board when claims rise in an area.
While reforming the system is necessary, defending the indefensible is counterproductive. It hinders progress instead of facilitating it. If San Francisco fails to make significant improvements, there will come a time when a Republican mayor becomes a viable option, much like Giuliani in New York City during its height of crime and poverty. The city need not sacrifice its wonderful character and compassion; it only needs to implement common-sense measures that almost all of its citizens already agree on. I truly hope San Francisco can return to its former glory and meaningfully help those in need.
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