Whatever the case, the central question isn’t whether San Francisco is wonderful or awful but why its officials can’t manage to competently replace some trash cans.
Three years ago, my East Coast relatives flew to San Francisco for my daughter’s wedding. At the time, national publications were having a field day depicting the city as a pit of decay filled with poop-covered sidewalks and rampant homelessness.
My relatives were primed to see an urban landscape beset by used needles and graffiti-covered storefronts. Granted, our festivities took place on tony Nob Hill — and not the tawdry Tenderloin — but my guests were astonished by the beautiful and safe-feeling city they experienced.
The social media debate over this city by the bay encapsulates that dichotomy. Commentators often portray it as a progressive dystopia, while hometown cheerleaders post photos of its enduring magnificence. Detractors and partisans make relevant points. But both are missing the core issue, exemplified by news coverage of a mundane municipal topic: replacing decrepit trash cans on city sidewalks with modern bins.
This frustrating tale speaks to San Francisco’s primary problem: its inability to tackle the basic challenges of providing public services. Politically, the city has self-corrected a bit, as voters replaced the mayor, district attorney and school board with reformist challengers. But why can’t the city’s government get anything done?
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
A $20,000 model trashcan showcases San Francisco’s dysfunction
Steven Greenhut
Whatever the case, the central question isn’t whether San Francisco is wonderful or awful but why its officials can’t manage to competently replace some trash cans.
Three years ago, my East Coast relatives flew to San Francisco for my daughter’s wedding. At the time, national publications were having a field day depicting the city as a pit of decay filled with poop-covered sidewalks and rampant homelessness.
My relatives were primed to see an urban landscape beset by used needles and graffiti-covered storefronts. Granted, our festivities took place on tony Nob Hill — and not the tawdry Tenderloin — but my guests were astonished by the beautiful and safe-feeling city they experienced.
The social media debate over this city by the bay encapsulates that dichotomy. Commentators often portray it as a progressive dystopia, while hometown cheerleaders post photos of its enduring magnificence. Detractors and partisans make relevant points. But both are missing the core issue, exemplified by news coverage of a mundane municipal topic: replacing decrepit trash cans on city sidewalks with modern bins.
This frustrating tale speaks to San Francisco’s primary problem: its inability to tackle the basic challenges of providing public services. Politically, the city has self-corrected a bit, as voters replaced the mayor, district attorney and school board with reformist challengers. But why can’t the city’s government get anything done?
Read the entire op-ed here.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.