Eber: San Fran’s overdue Makeover

San Fran is a mess.  Drugs, crime, homeless, illegal aliens, city hall corruption, massive deficits, unreliable transportation, high taxes and regulations killing businesses and forcing folks to flee.

It will take a revolution to turn this city around.  The “moderates” (socialists) took over.  Lots of words, few actions—and a continuation of protecting criminals from foreign countries.  They oppose ICE arresting drug dealers, violent criminals and petty thieves.  Actions not words define the city—and the actions have not changed.

San Francisco’s overdue Makeover by Richard Eber

Richard Eber, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views,  2/24/25   www.capoliticalnewsandviews.com

It is true “I left my heart in San Francisco”.  Every verse of the iconic song sung by the late Tony Bennett applies to me.  As a proud 4th generation native of the city by the Bay, this place will always be special to me.

All four Grandparents of mine were survivors of the Earthquake and Fire in 1906.  Both my folks graduated from Lowell High School. They proudly lived their entire lives in this crown jewel of the West.  No doubt a stash of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat, was strategically placed in my crib.

With these credentials firmly in place, it has sickened me to see what has transpired the last quarter century in the city of my youth.  Homelessness, rampant hard drug use, high crime rates, and Leftist government policies, have virtually destroyed this wonderful place I used to call home.

Currently San Francisco is experiencing a downward spiral that threatens the survival of this once great town. Signs of its demise are everywhere,

With tax revenues plummeting due to vacant office buildings,  excessive shop lifting forcing closure of luxury department stores, and the tourist-convention trade fleeing to greener pastures, this city is experiencing what has been called a doom loop.

Places of fine dining have shuttered. Even Walgreen’s drug store chain has split town.  A less traveled Municipal Railway system is drowning in debt. Parents have not only pulled their children from a broke DEI-Woke school system, but have moved their families to the safer confines of suburbia  

There is little doubt the toughest job these days is being Mayor of San Francisco. Newly elected to the post, Daniel Lurie has a lot in common with Donald Trump. Neither men held public office prior to being elected. As multi-millionaires, both self funded their campaigns.

Trump and Lurie ran for public office after years of frustration experiencing the decline of our democratic system of government.  Having a couple of fellows running office not being on the take has recently proven to be a refreshing experience for voters.

Lurie, heir to a major portion of the Levi Strauss fortune, is  a prominent philanthropist. He  started the Tipping Point Community Foundation some 20 years ago.  Thus far it has donated 500 million dollars to homeless, mental health, pre-school education and other worthy causes.

The question comes to mind if  the politically inexperienced Lurie can stem the tide of San Francisco’s decline.  Can past glories of this iconic city ever be recaptured?

With a more moderate Board of Supervisors than served under former mayors, Lurie will need to be a hard liner to combat San Francisco’s many woes. For him this means implementing a local DOGE program to include:

• Cutting the city work force by at least 25%.  This may sound like a high figure, but there are more loafers on staff than could previously been found at  a Thom McAn shoe store.  For generations rampant corruption is so prevalent that those actually working don’t question why no shows at job sites are a way of life.
• This reduction in the number of city employees also applies to a less traveled Muni transportation system and public schools that have experienced declining enrollment for years. Numbers don’t lie, even if Progressive’s are in a perpetual state of denial.
• Reduce homelessness by making life more difficult especially for junkies and alcoholics. This means addicts get out of jail pass for rehab then mandatory incarceration after three convictions for felonies and/or misdemeanors.  Bad childhoods are no longer an excuse.  Three strikes and your out then jail or a one way ticket on Greyhound..
• Homeless must be banned in the Financial District and tourist destinations such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Union Square etc..  San Francisco is not a KOA franchise for those lacking shelter.  Programs to assist them should not interfere with the  rights of taxpayers, business owners, and the victims of crime.
• Put an immediate end to costly Sanctuary City policies that no longer can be afforded. Any hope of receiving Federal assistance depends on getting along with the Trump administration. Eliminating  this financial albatross is a necessity for San Francisco’s future prosperity.
• Stop alienating visitors with leftist political ideology. As a Bastian of hope, San Francisco has been the headquarters of real DEI long before it was invented. No need to grandstand and turn people off.

The lone exception to these seemingly Draconian measures is keeping the police force fully staffed.  The SFPD needs to be given authority to enforce the law and not be saddled down with DEI-Woke codes of conduct. The new mayor needs to exile defund the police activists to Los Angeles where Mayor Karen Bass will undoubtably embrace them.

If the City can be considered to be a safe place to visit and reside, it is certain the convention and tourist trade will return.  One element of San Francisco’s past glories are  commuters. Following Covid-19, these work from homers are not destined to return to the city in such great numbers. This void cripples BART and other businesses that once served them.                                                                                                                                                                                        To fill vacant office space, why not convert most of the skyscrapers located South of Market to residential dwellings?  An urban market exists for retirees  and those who do not wish for dependence on autos to dictate their life styles  Such a makeover would not only enlarge San Francisco’s tax base; but would also populate empty restaurant tables.

Mayor Daniel Lurie is faced with what amounts to a Hobson’s Choice.  He can either appease the  destructive Marxist policies of his predecessors at City Hall, or do what is necessary to revitalize the place..

A positive sign would be to see hotels filled once again without being populated by the homeless.  Even better would be exiled natives like myself once again returning to visit this cultural Mecca  without dodging panhandlers at every turn.

The city that once prided itself on” being the place that knows how”, deserves a second chance.

Good luck Mr. Lurie.