Violent crime / theft happens - but not at a noticeably different rate than other large cities.
Still the most beautiful city in the US (imo) and the natural beauty 30 min outside the city in any direction is insane.
I can go months in Boston without seeing a single homeless person, drive around all winter with all my skiing gear in the back of my car, hell even leave my car unlocked with my laptop in it while running into a store, and never once seen a robbery or violent attack.
No, what happens in SF is extremely disproportionate to normal around the rest of the US.
- there is homelessness, but also something expensive that I enjoy
- there is crime, but also something expensive that I enjoy
- there is open drug use, but also there is something expensive I enjoy
It seems like a 'let them eat cake' response. "Why doesn't everyone just spend the money I do so I don't have to see all these problems?"
Some level of crime happens in most large cities, but if it became 'normal' something is extremely wrong. It does not have to be like this.
SF will likely have tax rev shortfalls this year, and their reserves were already tapped into. The surrounding communities however are much more fiscally conservative with large reserves still in tact.
That's an anecdote I guess but according to SFPD's own stats violent crime hit an all-time low in 2020 and was the same in 2021 and up only slightly in the first 5 months of 2022.
All my SF network stopped calling the police when crime happened. That includes violent crime such as street fights.
I was walking in SF and saw a guy holding a machete. He looked at me and said “don’t worry I’m not going to hurt you.” He then pointed down the street and said, “This is for him”. I called the SFPD and they never showed up. Later on a death was reported.
That told me all I needed to know about SFPD. you dont rely on them.
A peer once told me if you want the SFPD to show up, state you have a weapon and will use it in a public setting if necessary in defense of your life as the law permits.
- Well, no, this is NOT normal. these are the points of a failed city.
I couldn't imagine living in a place like that, let alone having kids grow up there.