CA has always been about boom and busts. Governor Brown knew this and kept a tight fist on the purse strings... to the chagrin and annoyance of the “we’re rich, let’s spend” crowd. If it were not for his fiscal conservatism it’s be even worse. Of course SF is the poster child for spending copious amounts of money on pet projects while ignoring the big issues.
San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
21–30 of 67 posts
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Temporarily" according to who? And still $15.5m and $XXm still to be spent on the new development, and for now it's a massive tent camp---this is why SF has budget problems is my point. They're squandering the resources they have and not even solving the problems, they're actually making it worse in most cases. Tents tripled in the city in the last few months: https://abc7news.com/homeless-coronavirus-san-francisco-…
There is now bidding for developers of the site. Here is a link to some better journalism about this topic: https://socketsite.com/archives/2019/09/city-seeking-develop...
The first comment on your story says it all:
>I mean, the Geneva Towers work, right? Sunnydale Housing is a pleasure to visit and is really well-kept.
>What we need is more government-owned, city-run housing. That’ll make things better.
Show me an example where the SF government has ever done this successfully and affordable. SF government is pretty clearly incompetent and probably fraudulent/criminal.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#23San Fran is a bizarre place. I'm an Aussie, an Americanophile, and I was in the States for months last year. San Fran was simply unpleasant - the people were rude (young and old) and everything cost too much. The taxes were insane too. I couldn't bear to live there - Salt Lake City seemed to have the most similar upsides with next to none of the downsides.
Canuck here who spends a lot of time in the States (or used to). SLC also has some of the most underrated and inexpensive skiing just 30 minutes out from the airport.
Underrated it is not, just search for Cottonwood Canyon traffic jams to see what skiing really is like here when the snow flies. 30 minutes no traffic, can easily be 3+ hours now.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Temporarily" according to who? And still $15.5m and $XXm still to be spent on the new development, and for now it's a massive tent camp---this is why SF has budget problems is my point. They're squandering the resources they have and not even solving the problems, they're actually making it worse in most cases. Tents tripled in the city in the last few months: https://abc7news.com/homeless-coronavirus-san-francisco-…
Where do you suggest housing these people. What if they refuse accommodations. Not sure if sf can legally just ship them to say Modesto where housing is cheaper
I don't have all the solutions, but I'd probably find a working model from another country and try to find a way to apply it here rather then this nauseating, arrogant, and ineffective strategy of just dumping money down an unaccountable hole and never demanding any results. SF voters are to blame ultimately for enabling this behavior.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
There they have the sexy underwear in Utah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_garment I used to live in the US, but I'm back home in Germany. I have 0 interest in going back.
LDS has some weird and deeply problematic traditions but this is just religious bigotry and elitism. The Catholic Church is known for being an international pedophile ring but we don't shame Parisians for being Catholic. Check yourself.
France has had laws on the book forbidding religious symbolism on government property for over a century. The Mormon Church, on the other hand, is the most influential institution in Utah politics.
I don't agree with the reductionist characterization of Mormons but it's comparable to the Vatican not Paris.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Canuck here who spends a lot of time in the States (or used to). SLC also has some of the most underrated and inexpensive skiing just 30 minutes out from the airport.
Underrated it is not, just search for Cottonwood Canyon traffic jams to see what skiing really is like here when the snow flies. 30 minutes no traffic, can easily be 3+ hours now.
I'll take three hours over 12 hours which is how long it can take to get to Tahoe from SF on a Friday when it's snowing.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#27Curious how local and state governments can face “fiscal chaos” while debt issues by the federal govt. is highly desirable. People say governments run deficits during economic downturns (which is true) but in the US local and state spending is more pro-cyclical.
Cities can’t print money
I’m not an expert in this area but I don’t think the fed funds operations by printing money. They issue debt which people exchange for money.
Although lately the fed just buys that debt back with printed money so...
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#28I think a more accurate description would be that San Francisco chooses chaos. I've never lived anywhere more unreasonably governed. It's like the government is actively sabotaging quality of life and squandering its budget. One example--the city spent $15.5m to tear down a McDonalds in the Haight and turn it into a homeless tent camp.
SF problems come from its people and wild economic and cultural swings. Government would love to have more influence, but it really doesn't. The McDonalds you refer to was a huge problem for a long time and right now the only argument is about exactly how big an apartment building to put there.
I think saying SF problems are due to "cultural swings" is borderline veiled racism. Sounds like something Hillary would say for sure. No, SF problems come from incompetence. No other city in the country spends as much per citizen and gets as poor results. Quality of life stinks here for the cost.
And no, you're erasing the voices of many locals who don't want more tent camps in residential areas when there are other city lots they could put them in.
Question--do you ever hold the city accountable for its vast and egregious failures? Look at how much money we spend and the results. It's pathetic.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where do you suggest housing these people. What if they refuse accommodations. Not sure if sf can legally just ship them to say Modesto where housing is cheaper
I don't have all the solutions, but I'd probably find a working model from another country and try to find a way to apply it here rather then this nauseating, arrogant, and ineffective strategy of just dumping money down an unaccountable hole and never demanding any results. SF voters are to blame ultimately for enabling this behavior.
See country = federal government.
If California has a perfect homeless solution that it’s peer states don’t share in. California will see immigration of homeless from other states.
Re: San Francisco faces fiscal chaos
#30San Fran is a bizarre place. I'm an Aussie, an Americanophile, and I was in the States for months last year. San Fran was simply unpleasant - the people were rude (young and old) and everything cost too much. The taxes were insane too. I couldn't bear to live there - Salt Lake City seemed to have the most similar upsides with next to none of the downsides.
There’s actually people who will be rude or give worse service if they hear it referred to as “San Fran” rather than sf or the full name. I hope that didn’t happen to you.