> which lost 6.3 percent of its population between 2019 and 2021, a rate of decline larger than any two year-period in Detroit’s history

This is not an apples to apples comparison?

> Detroit’s fall was primarily driven by the relocation of the US auto industry to southern, right-to-work states, where auto producers, including foreign firms who build autos here, have avoided the union conflict that was endemic in Detroit. San Francisco’s decline is driven by absurdly bad local economic policies.

That's not what drove San Francisco's primarily. No mention of home prices? cost of living? or the pandemic?

The various vetoes different groups get on what someone can build on their own land is a good example a thing to get rid of. Assuming there’s any developers left at this point not friends with the gov there.