A Tale of Two San Franciscos
1st September 2023
About ten years on from the first appearance of a San Francisco “poop map,” which documented human waste incidents on the city’s streets, the Bay Area gem is struggling more than ever. It boasts a 25.7 percent office vacancy rate, nearly ten percentage points higher than the average rate across the United States. The city’s population fell significantly during the pandemic. Property crime rates are the highest of any city in the country. The streets are filled with homeless encampments that foster grime, drug abuse, sexual assault and violence. Just a few days ago, fashion retailer Nordstrom closed its five-level store in San Francisco after thirty-five years of business. The store had been a fixture of the city’s downtown area.