Not only that, but the police don't give a rat's ass about anything but their own contract negotiations.

I wouldn't care for living in San Mateo myself (I just evacuated the Bay Area for Brooklyn) but I can confirm that there's some really good quality, affordable food to be had there, both downtown and in a little cluster near El Camino and 25th or thereabouts.

Little Shanghai may not be the best Shanghaiese-style Chinese restaurant in the bay area, but there pretty darned good, and will serve you lunch for like $5...

San Mateo is nearly as expensive as SF, boring for anyone under 40, and impossible to navigate without a car. (Some of us would rather walk 20 minutes than drive 20 minutes.) I strongly considered moving there, but I couldn't find anywhere worth living near San Mateo downtown for the price that I could find somewhere in SF, and my job provides a bus from SF anyways.

I think it comes down to suburban living versus urban living. There are people who prefer each.