{"id":24939,"date":"2023-01-27T12:10:44","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T20:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=24939"},"modified":"2023-01-27T12:12:33","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T20:12:33","slug":"40-reasons-not-to-leave-san-francisco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/01\/27\/40-reasons-not-to-leave-san-francisco\/","title":{"rendered":"40 reasons not to leave San Francisco"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SFGATE staff members celebrate what they love most about the city<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"From
Andy Andersen\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Dan Gentile<\/a>, SFGATE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan. 26, 2023 (SFGate.com)<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco is the type of city that captures you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many, it\u2019s love at first sight. How could you not fall for the fog-draped skyline, the stately Victorians or the many parks scattered throughout the city? Others might not warm up until the second or third date, the deal sealed by a life-affirming burrito or yet another impossible Steph Curry 3-pointer. Or maybe you need to stumble upon a punk concert on a BART train to be convinced that the city still has a renegade streak underneath its techie exterior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet San Francisco is far from a perfect partner. Issues of inequality, gentrification and high costs are just a few of the reasons many have lost faith, exacerbated by a pandemic exodus that we\u2019re still recovering from. Despite the many reasons to leave SF, there are so many things to love. To celebrate San Francisco, 20 members of SFGATE\u2019s staff contributed reasons we\u2019ve resisted the temptation to leave for less-foggy pastures. Here\u2019s why we\u2019re staying in our beautifully complicated city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The vegetarian burrito from Taqueria Cancun is one of San Francisco’s many good ones.Dan Gentile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Burritos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They can change your life<\/a> permanently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The weather<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the temperature occasionally rises above 90 degrees, the heat never lasts for long. Within a day or two, the fog always rolls in, spreading across the Sunset and Richmond before frosting the hills and dipping into the valleys. Tired of gray gloom? You can almost always find balmy weather in the Mission or the Bayview, where the sun comes out most afternoons, shining into the alleyways and across the bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Costumed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Richie<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Events in San Francisco and elsewhere offer locals the opportunity to don creative costumes. (Images by SFGATE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. It\u2019s the best costume town in the world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From Bay to Breakers to the city\u2019s yearly mass exodus to Burning Man, San Franciscans will take any excuse to escape from the normalcy of jeans and hoodies with a fantastic look \u2014 even if it means they may need to reserve sections of their closets just for costumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The Robin Williams Tunnel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On your way back into the city from a day in Marin, passing through the rainbow-painted archway dedicated to SF\u2019s patron saint of comedy<\/a> is a simple pleasure that naturally shoots a big grin across commuters\u2019 faces and feels like a huge welcome to the city and all its endless possibilities. Next time you drive through it, make a wish and hold your breath all the way through until you see that first glorious view of the Golden Gate Bridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SFGATE
SFGATE culture editor Dan Gentile digs for buried treasure in Golden Gate Park next to the Powell Street railway shelter.Charles Russo\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. The mysteries of Golden Gate Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The city\u2019s crown jewel is bigger than Central Park and full of the whimsical surprises that make San Francisco so special \u2014 from miniature Victorians<\/a> to flowing waterfalls<\/a> to a literal buried treasure<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tourists
Tourists snap a selfie in front the Painted Ladies. San Francisco is home to many Victorians, including the pastel-colored homes on Steiner Street.Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Quirky old houses, especially Victorians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco is known for its colorful<\/a>, old<\/a> Victorian<\/a> homes, some so special they\u2019ve been moved around the city<\/a>. But this didn\u2019t just happen in the late 1800s. The city came out in droves to watch the 5,000-square-foot \u201cEnglander House<\/a>\u201d crawl through the streets<\/a> of Hayes Valley in 2021, cheering as it cleared street signs and power lines. These homes are also full of quirks, from mysterious door levers<\/a> to split bathrooms<\/a> to \u201cCalifornia coolers<\/a>,\u201d making living in one feel like a window into another era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"With
With Tiki mugs and a pool, the Tonga Room in San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel is worth visiting.Douglas Zimmerman\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

7. Because it\u2019s still raining in the Tonga Room<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even our tourist traps are worth a visit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Day trips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A day off in the Bay Area is the start of untold possibilities. If you\u2019re up by 7 a.m. on Saturday, you could be in the snowy mountains of Tahoe by lunchtime, overlooking the expansive coastline of Big Sur with a cocktail in hand by the afternoon. Sleep in a bit, and you can be in a glorious state park to watch the sunset. Plus, an easy 30-minute BART ride to Oakland unlocks an entirely different city. If you\u2019re not visiting the Town at least once a month, you\u2019re doing SF wrong.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Any
Any city would be blessed to have a once-in-a-lifetime athlete like Steph Curry. Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

9. Steph Curry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You know this isn\u2019t normal, right? Not every city has a tiny immortal<\/a> magician who is as good at basketball as ever \u2014 which for him means as good at basketball as anyone has ever been \u2014 two months shy of his 35th birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Every corner store sells It\u2019s-It<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"It's-It...an
It’s-It…an SF classic since 1928.Lance Yamamoto\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

BEST OF SFGATE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel <\/strong>| An ode to US Route 395, arguably California\u2019s best highway<\/a>
Obscure<\/strong> | The weird history of this storybook Berkeley building<\/a>
History<\/strong> | How a pharmacy became one of SF\u2019s most cherished party bars<\/a>
<\/strong>Local<\/strong> | Visitors from all over the world visit this tiny SF corner store<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. High-quality \u201ccurb candy\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One millionaire\u2019s trash is another\u2019s treasure, and one could fill a whole apartment with oddities you find alongside a curb. On Haight Street, you might stumble upon a brand-new nylon string guitar left behind in a pile of furniture during someone\u2019s move. Or perhaps you\u2019re randomly gifted an antiquated Stella Artois art piece tossed from a city hotel<\/a> near Union Square. Not to mention the proliferation of free little libraries<\/a>, providing every neighborhood with a wealth of secondhand reading material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Interesting
Interesting doors can be found throughout San Francisco.Charles Russo\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

12. The doors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re not talking about Jim Morrison\u2019s tortured psych poetry but rather the beauty of simply strolling through a San Francisco neighborhood admiring the ornate, colorful and quirky front doors that may or may not lead to a chamber of secrets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cory
Cory Barnette gazes from behind his elaborate costume as the Bushman of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.Kevin Kelleher\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

13. San Francisco\u2019s rebellious spirit lives on<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Skaters bomb hills with reckless abandon, punk rockers throw rebellious shows on BART trains, the St. Stupid\u2019s Day Parade<\/a> marches on and the city\u2019s most divisive public performer<\/a> is back to scaring tourists at Fisherman\u2019s Wharf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Participants
Participants hold a large rainbow flag during the San Francisco Pride Parade on June 26, 2022.Douglas Zimmerman\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

14. It\u2019s an epicenter of LGBTQ culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even as the city weathers socioeconomic and demographic changes \u2014 which have affected the gay population dramatically \u2014 we\u2019re still a landmark for LGBTQ people worldwide. Where else in the world could a trans \u201cDrag Race\u201d alum become one of the most influential figures in city politics? Where else would a kinky, queer leather event<\/a> rival Pride<\/a> in popularity? And, most importantly, where does the rest of the country look to for the standard of how the LGBTQ community should be treated? It\u2019s all here in the City by the Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. Multilingual public transportation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every regular Muni rider hears announcements in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"San
San Francisco residents convert their garages into polling stations for the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3, 2020.Patricia Chang\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

16. Convenient voting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a city that\u2019s only 7 by 7 miles, somehow nearly 200 polling places are set up in peoples\u2019 garages scattered across the city\u2019s patchwork of neighborhoods, atop hills and at the bottom of valleys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mark
Mark McCloud, the owner of Blotter Barn, gives a tour of his many LSD-related artifacts.Charles Russo\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

17. The LSD museum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Counterculture holdouts are few and far between these days, but San Francisco\u2019s Summer of Love spirit still thrives in hidden corners of the city \u2014 like the crumbling Victorian in the Mission that houses what\u2019s likely the world\u2019s largest (and only) collection of LSD tab art<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. Flocks of wild parrots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s nothing quite like stumbling upon a gaggle of San Francisco\u2019s wild parrots<\/a> \u2014 a band of mischievous green-feathered creatures that have flocked to the city for decades. You can spot them soaring loudly in the sky or dangling from telephone wires near the Embarcadero or in Dolores Park, as well as the Lower Haight, Noe Valley, Lafayette Park, Crissy Field and even as far south as Sunnyvale and Brisbane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. The ocean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The Pacific Ocean is visible from many parts of San Francisco, including the hills above the Sutro Baths. Nicholas McCoy\/Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

20. Ridiculously easy composting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco has had large-scale composting since the 1990s and curbside pickup available since 2001, but in 2009, things kicked up a notch with a new mandatory waste diversion policy. The fact that we can toss food scraps, compostable takeout utensils and used paper products into a regular ol\u2019 Recology bin and they\u2019ll get whisked away to a new life is so wonderful for the environment that living in another city seems downright wasteful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"San
San Francisco’s Japantown is one of the country’s few Japanese American neighborhoods.eyfoto \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

21. Japantown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Outside of Hawaii and Los Angeles County, the United States just doesn\u2019t have that many large Japanese American enclaves, statistically speaking. But San Francisco\u2019s Japantown serves as one of the few places in the Bay Area where Japanese Americans (and all San Franciscans) can bond over good ramen, dollar stores and a cherished corner of California where a woman speaking Japanese can cut you the biggest, freshest block of tofu you\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Owner
Owner Tony Gemignani puts a finishing touch on a Detroit-style pizza at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, a North Beach staple.Douglas Zimmerman\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

22. The smell of Italian food in North Beach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

North Beach is full of bars, restaurants and shops with unshakable reputations: Vesuvio<\/a>. City Lights<\/a>. Tony\u2019s Pizza Napoletana<\/a>. Specs\u2019<\/a>. Each stands on its own. But what really makes North Beach special is the smell of Italian food. It\u2019s an overwhelming mood-lifter and stomach-rumbler, a somehow underrated part of the city. Let it waft over you, and then pick a spot \u2014 any spot, really \u2014 and enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People
People walk past a statue of Yoda from the “Star Wars” movies outside of Lucasfilm’s headquarters in San Francisco.Jeff Chiu\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

23. We are the center of the \u2018Star Wars\u2019 universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What other city boasts a Yoda statue? The Lucasfilm headquarters in the Presidio is just one more reason SF is an epicenter of geek culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Castro Theater in San Francisco, pictured on Dec. 18, 2021, is one of the city’s several historic movie houses.Patricia Chang\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

24. Our historic theaters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the century-old<\/a> Castro Theatre to the cozy and newly reopened 4 Star Theater<\/a> in the Outer Richmond, every old movie house has its own special qualities. Legendary filmmaker John Waters<\/a> is on the advisory board of the Roxie Theater and occasionally stops by. And the Balboa Theater\u2019s raucous monthly showings of \u201cThe Room\u201d and \u201cThe Rocky Horror Picture Show\u201d are can\u2019t-miss film events, the latter of which is accompanied by a live performance from the Bawdy Caste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Crowds<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\u00a0Bender's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Delirium<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Resident<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Clockwise from top left: Patrons enjoy the legendary Chinese mai tai at Li Po Lounge; Bender’s co-owner Johnny Davis blasts a playlist on his jukebox; resident DJ and founder of Motown on Mondays, Donovan “Gordo Cabeza” Hall, gets the crowd jumping at Madrone Art Bar; Delirium bartender Sheau-Wha Mau shakes up one of her signature margaritas. (Kevin Kelleher\/Special to SFGATE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. The best dive bars in America<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is not a subjective statement; it is an objective one, so much so that we hired America\u2019s first dive bar columnist to help cover an unending number of legendary neighborhood spots like Clooney\u2019s<\/a>, Black Horse London Pub<\/a>, Bow Bow, Doc\u2019s Clock<\/a>, Molotov\u2019s<\/a>, Shotwell\u2019s<\/a>, CC\u2019s, Tempest, Hi Dive, Zam Zam, Mauna Loa<\/a>, Edinburgh Castle<\/a>, Zeitgeist<\/a>, Phone Booth<\/a>, Li Po<\/a>, Bender\u2019s<\/a>, Madrone<\/a> and so many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"San
San Francisco boasts more than 200 parks, including Dolores Park in the Mission.Katherine Papera \/ EyeEm\/Getty Images\/EyeEm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

26. 220 city parks (and counting!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The city\u2019s impressive park system is always growing, most notably with the recent addition of Tunnel Tops<\/a>, which expands on the Presidio\u2019s already amazing 2 square miles\u2019 worth of (mostly) nature. John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park also permanently closed this year, which has given us a whole new way to appreciate<\/a> the city\u2019s crown jewel. Dolores Park on a sunny afternoon is essentially the town square. Downtown even has public green spaces between the tall buildings, otherwise known as POPOS<\/a> (though these may be at risk<\/a>). There\u2019s just nothing quite like being able to choose from so many luscious parks. And without them, of course, there would be no place for people to put their mysterious nightstands<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"David
David Miles Jr., known as the Godfather of Skate, roller-skates at the San FranDISCO pop-up roller skating rink in San Francisco’s Civic Center on Nov. 3, 2022.Douglas Zimmerman\/SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

27. The Godfather of Skate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all heroes wear capes \u2014 some wear roller skates. David Miles Jr. deserves a place in the San Francisco Hall of Fame for his relentless advocacy for skating culture, running the Church of 8 Wheels, Skatin\u2019 Place at Golden Gate Park<\/a> and even a roller disco<\/a> just steps from City Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28. Musical instrument shops and record stores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From North Beach woodwind showroom Flute World to electronic music outpost Mission Synths, San Francisco has a shop ready to send you on your way with a new instrument. And for those looking for musical inspiration, the city has some of the world\u2019s finest record stores, from Haight Street mainstays like Amoeba<\/a> and Vinyl Dreams to Parkside outpost Tunnel Records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A spectator smiles and dances as Phil Lesh & Friends perform at the last concert of the 85th Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco on Aug. 14, 2022. Magali Gauthier\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

29. Stern Grove<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For 85 years running, the city\u2019s premier summer concert series has been totally free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30. Rent-controlled apartments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding one of these last bastions of affordability might be the only reason you can<\/em> stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Martin
Martin Yan is one of many award-winning chefs with San Francisco ties.Lance Yamamoto\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

31. Pioneering chefs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco\u2019s trailblazing chefs have created a culinary legacy recognized around the globe \u2014 and their accolades are proof. Take for instance Martin Yan<\/a>, the celebrated chef who earned a place in America\u2019s heart with his hit PBS TV show \u201cYan Can Cook.\u201d He no longer has a restaurant in the city, but restaurateurs like Brandon Jew are carrying the torch for the next generation of Chinese chefs and scoring James Beard awards<\/a> in the process at his upscale restaurant Mister Jiu\u2019s. Not to mention the dozens of fine dining pioneers, like Dominique Crenn, whose artistic expression permeates through every dish at Atelier Crenn and helped her become the only female chef in the U.S. with three Michelin stars (as well as a consultant on foodie horror films<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
Two dogs enjoy a day by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. 4FR\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

32. It\u2019s a dog paradise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Walking through Hayes Valley, a random corgi owner might approach you and ask, \u201cWould you like to pet Boba?\u201d Friendly pups \u2014 and their owners \u2014 can be found everywhere across the city, romping in parks, barking in meetups and even enjoying their own fine dining restaurant. San Francisco just might be dog heaven. And yes, if we absolutely must, we would be delighted to pet a corgi named Boba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

33. Every street hides a wild history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco\u2019s early robber barons, adventurers, outlaws and pioneers built some of the weirdest and most wonderful structures in America, many of which still line our steep streets today. There\u2019s the cartoonlike tower on Telegraph Hill with no address, built by a lovelorn Italian immigrant<\/a>; the half-house in Pacific Heights that never got finished after two rich sisters became enemies<\/a>; the 130-year-old tunnel by the beach that\u2019s seen raves, ghosts and satanic rituals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These obscure architectural gems<\/a> seem to unearth themselves on any Sunday stroll, revealing a history that die-hard San Franciscans would never want to leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The San Francisco Bay Ferry is one of the city’s most underrated modes of transportation.Smith Collection\/Gado\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

34. The ferry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes being crammed shoulder to shoulder with commuters in a dark BART tunnel can feel a little claustrophobic. That\u2019s where San Francisco\u2019s ferries come in \u2014 a spacious, beautiful way to travel about the Bay Area using the same Clipper card you use to get around the city while sipping a ferry-themed beer from a local brewery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

35. The legendary drag scene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco\u2019s drag scene is still recovering from the pandemic, but the city is incentivizing its return. Applications for the city\u2019s first Drag Laureate<\/a> program launched in November 2022. The initiative will highlight a drag performer to \u201cserve as spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ Community of San Francisco\u201d by putting on drag events in collaboration with civic organizations. They\u2019ll be paid $55,000 over 18 months to bring San Francisco\u2019s rich drag history into this new era<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The view from Tank Hill in Cole Valley is one of many stunning sights in San Francisco.yhelfman\/Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

36. It\u2019s just so damn gorgeous<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In some ways, all big cities look the same. Dull downtown skyscrapers, busy streets, rows of apartments with no front yards or backyards in sight. San Francisco has that urban core, but take a few steps up any hill, and you\u2019re met with sweeping views of blue ocean and green mountains. Unlike New York City, where it\u2019s a surprise when a street dead-ends into the water, SF is never far from nature, and it\u2019s worth staying in for the vistas alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Danny
Danny Glover takes a moment for a few photos after filming the commercial “Lethal Vegan Pt. 2” in San Francisco.Nicola Parisi\/Special to SFGATE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

37. Danny Glover is still fighting for San Francisco<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And repping Vegan Mob<\/a> while he\u2019s at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

38. Parenting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The city\u2019s high housing prices keep many families away, but those who can make it work know it\u2019s an incredible place to raise children. Despite a Byzantine lottery system, immersive language programs mean your child may be bilingual at 9 years old. If you can trust your kids to take Muni, they\u2019ll learn patience and problem-solving, which is hard to come by in the suburbs. And there\u2019s always a new playscape to explore, like the Seward Mini Park, with two 40-foot-long concrete slides<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"San
San Francisco is 46.87 square miles of new neighborhoods to experience.Axel Schmies\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

39. You can just change neighborhoods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco isn\u2019t just one city; it\u2019s really dozens of tiny cities smashed together in 46.87 square miles. If you\u2019re feeling a lack of inspiration or bored of the same old streets, moving across town is an easy way to unlock fresh experiences. Just watch out for apartments that don\u2019t really exist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

40. Because there\u2019s a lot of room for improvement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it: For every one of the previous 39 reasons to stay in the city, there\u2019s an easy rebuttal framing it as a sign of San Francisco\u2019s demise. The city\u2019s identity was built on hippie ideals, but it can seem impossible for artists to afford even a one-bedroom apartment. We celebrate our diversity, but the most poignant San Francisco film of the past decade, \u201cThe Last Black Man in San Francisco,\u201d<\/a> is about the shrinking Black population (which has fallen from 10.9% to 5.7% in 20 years). Crime, drug addiction and mental health issues make walking down many city streets a shocking experience. The disparity between extravagant wealth created by the tech industry and our inability to provide solutions for the unhoused population is an embarrassment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complaining about these issues is actually one of our city\u2019s great unifiers, but running away from them isn\u2019t the solution. To truly celebrate the spirit of San Francisco is to acknowledge that the city\u2019s evolution is far from complete \u2014 and that change is necessary for the things we love to remain the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are our 40 reasons to stay, but we\u2019d love to hear more. Share with us why you\u2019re sticking around San Francisco on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Facebook<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimberly Alters, Amanda Bartlett, Joshua Bote, Andrew Chamings, Katie Dowd, Amy Graff, Susana Guerrero, Fiona Lee, Nico Madrigal-Yankowski, Grant Marek, Tessa McLean, Sam Moore, Steph Rodriguez, Victoria Sepulveda, Alex Shultz, Kendra Smith, Silas Valentino and Dennis Young contributed to this story.<\/em><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written By Dan Gentile<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan Gentile is the culture editor at SFGATE. He moved to San Francisco from Austin, TX where he worked as a vinyl DJ and freelance writer covering food and music. His writing has been featured in Texas Monthly, American Way, Rolling Stone, Roads & Kingdoms, VICE, Thrillist and more. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SFGATE staff members celebrate what they love most about the city Dan Gentile, SFGATE Jan. 26, 2023 (SFGate.com) San Francisco is the type of city that captures you.  For many, it\u2019s love at first sight. How could you not fall for the fog-draped skyline, the stately Victorians or the many parks… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24939"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24939"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24942,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24939\/revisions\/24942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}