San Francisco.Seriously, it's a city that fights against itself rather than for itself. The latest example of this is one I read about on SFGATE regarding the empty storefronts along 24th Street, which runs through the Mission District and Noe Valley.
In 1987, residents were bothered about the number of restaurants popping up and were concerned that other local neighborhood-serving business were being pushed out by increasing rents. So, a ban on new restaurants was instituted. Now that the economy has collapsed and there are blocks and blocks of empty storefronts, people are screaming to get those restaurants back. The planning commission is now going to reverse the rule and allow new restaurants to only replace ones that have closed.
Neighborhoods change all the time and I don't understand why people don't just let businesses in those neighborhoods to open and then allow them to run their natural course.
It reminds me of the American Apparel fiasco on Valencia Street.
There are several blocks of empty storefronts along Valencia Street (and have been for many years). Clothing retailer American Apparel wanted to move in. Neighborhood activists fought tooth and nail against having a chain store in their neighborhood and eventually got what they wanted. American Apparel's permit was denied and nearly two years later, that store front is still empty.
So rather than allow a business to come in, provide jobs and some much needed sales tax revenue, the city listened to these "neighborhood activists" and now everyone has nothing.
Hope they're all happy now.
you should run for mayor. you've got my vote.
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