San Francisco's Unique Character Crumbling as Wealthy Techies Take Over

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/culture/san-franciscos-unique-character-crumbling-wealthy-techies-take-over



It’s not just the 22 construction cranes dotting the San Francisco skyline and 5,000 pricey condos and apartments under construction. Nor is it the fleet of private buses ferrying 14,000 tech workers to Silicon Valley, or the explosion of restaurants and boutiques, or rents doubling, or the spike in evictions, or home sales now averaging $1 million.

What’s happening to San Francisco goes beyond the accelerating gentrification in multicultural districts like the Mission or Mayor Ed Lee minimizing affordable housing woes. The city that’s been a magnet for free spirits and immigrants and working-class people for decades seems to be losing its famous heart. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that its heart is being replaced by a software update.

The best encapsulation of this sea change, which is driven by a booming tech sector that’s generated 13,000 jobs since early 2012, might be this blog from former San Francisco Bay Guardian editor Tim Redmond, who begged the techie beneficiaries to stop treating the city he loves like a “rich kid’s playground.”

“When a 1990s tech-startup guy who admits he was part of the last generation of gentrification is now so fed up with the new arrival of high-paid techies that he’s ready to leave, it’s pretty serious,” he wrote in a piece titled, “The Mission ‘douchebags.’” He ended, “I know, I’m an old fart who is not rich and never will be... But if you’re lucky enough to be rich in your 20s, show some respect.”



***the san francisco i have such fond memories of is before the Pyramid.
when you drove over the bay bridges you see all the way to the ocean and see the breakers roll in.
and the colorful roofs of all the houses -- gorgeous.
people don't realize -- sf is not a very big place -- it's more of a town. or was.
a very rowdy, pleasure driven town.

[Douglas Carpenter]

1. I remember back in 1981 paying $325/month for ground floor one bedroom apartment in Duboce Triangle

And the city was just filled with all kinds of outrageous characters coming from everywhere and all wall walks of life. But of course the same could be said about Boston or New York or any number of other places. Once a place becomes so cool and the word gets around - in time money rushes in and then only those with money can afford it anymore. There will always be some hangers on. But even most of the hangers on eventually give up - because they just cannot keep up with the ever increasing expense. Then start accepting that they just cannot afford it anymore. Then the great bohemian enclaves are populated instead with rich techies, hedge fund mangers and other wealthy yuppies and guppies and folks other than the cast of characters who once made these centers so colorful and entertaining in the first place.

[Democracyinkind]

2. Then they, move and the rich follow them, and the cycle goes on...

Thinking along those lines, it's time to move to Cleveland or Detroit.

[demwing]

4. CLEVELAND!

[Democracyinkind]

5. I haven't laughed like this in months...

Thank you so much for that... I was there for 2 days in 2009 and the song eerily matches my impressions....

[demwing]

7. One more for you :)

[Democracyinkind]

9. Thanks...

Whoever made these has the right kind of humor for the times to come

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. Cleveland rocks!

[justiceischeap]

6. It appears Detroit is the new "hot spot" for artists

wanting someplace they can live cheap and create art.

[Democracyinkind]

8. I heard so too.

Which means that in 10-15 years, they'll be writing this same article on Detroit...

[justiceischeap]

10. Good for Detroit, bad for people who can't afford to go elsewhere

I find gentrification a double-edged sword. It's good for the economy (for some) and bad for lifelong residents. I see it happening in DC. I'm 42 and can't afford to live without 2 roommates and I'm in the burbs.

[Democracyinkind]

13. Tell me about it. I currently can't move back to where I belong because of gentrification.

The last appartment I looked at... There were 300 people there having a look. And I don't even live in the states.

Good for the city, bad for the people. I think you just found the perfect slogan for gentrification!

[tinrobot]

18. I had an entire house in Twin Peaks for $995 in the early 90's.

That same house would go for $3-4K these days.

But its not just San Francisco, every city has gentrification. It happened decades ago in New York (Soho/Village, etc), and it's currently happening in Downtown Los Angeles. The artists make an edgy place unique, then people with money want to hang out and pretend to be unique/edgy. Next thing you know, developers smell the money, rents double/triple, and the artists evacuate to the next fringe neighborhood.

[marmar]

3. k/r

[Paladin]

11. Sounds like what's happened to Austin. (nt)

[sibelian]

14. Pf! Why should THEY care?

They've got what they want. In a short space of time when what they want has turned into another bland, faceless shithole, who will they blame?

[Starry Messenger]

15. k&r

The whole Bay Area is getting insane.

[ananda]

16. Too sad.

That's happening here in Austin, too.

[Zorra]

17. Soulless people with lots of cash have ruined all the cool places I've ever lived.

You find a great place with good people, a creative vibe, and lots of soul, heartless greedy conservative yuppies "oh, we're not republicans, we're libertarians!" with no soul make offers people can't refuse and buy everyone out.