Opinion Piece
By Alex Bastian
June 7, 2023 (SFChronicle.com)
A man with a needle in his arm, streets littered with trash, a car window smashed from an auto burglary — these are some of the images you will see on the news about San Francisco. Some people have chosen to leave the city over it; this week, a major hotel ownership group announced it is looking to walk away from its investment downtown.
However, what if I told you that’s only part of the story, and after hitting bottom, the city is already taking steps in the right direction? What if I told you that while others left, I moved back to San Francisco from Los Angeles in 2022 to work in the travel industry?
Los Angeles is home to the largest group of the Armenian diaspora in the world. Being a member of the Armenian community, I never felt more at ease with my culture and identity than I did living there. But as a native San Franciscan who loves his hometown, I returned because I believe in the magic of this place.
It’s true that San Francisco’s pandemic struggles created a desolate downtown, with tech and finance employees working remotely and international travelers prevented from visiting. Absent the typical hustle and bustle of downtown crowded with workers and visitors, crime and drug use became much more visible. With fewer police officers than necessary, the city seemed unable to deal with these issues. Thus, a narrative emerged that all was not well in San Francisco, that the entire city had descended into lawlessness. People were quick to buy into it. When a high-profile tech CEO was recently killed, his death was instantly blamed on the city’s homeless population, despite a lack of facts to support the assertion. His alleged killer was ultimately found to be a tech industry acquaintance.
Yet the pervasiveness of the San Francisco in decline narrative, along with financial losses from the pandemic, have resulted in business interests questioning whether San Francisco is still worth the investment. At this pivotal moment in our city’s history, it is important to set the record straight.
In the same way that Rome isn’t defined by pickpocketing and Cairo isn’t solely scammers at the pyramids, so too is San Francisco more than the problems that have been shown on TV. Much more. And as a city, we are addressing our challenges head-on.
There is more consensus in the city that common-sense approaches are needed; in fact, San Francisco already implemented plans to significantly invest in public safety and is looking to restructure taxes to encourage businesses to come back to the city. For the first time in a long time, most San Franciscans seem truly motivated to push these policies forward.
This isn’t the first time the city has faced hurdles. Through our ups and downs, it has always remained a great investment. San Francisco has repeatedly come back stronger following earthquakes, fires, tech bubbles and busts, and other snags. Like other cities, San Francisco has always had problems. But it has always risen above.
This resilience in the face of doubt and uncertainty — the ability to flourish after floundering — is why I moved back from a great life elsewhere.
So, why should a visitor still come to San Francisco? For the same reasons I couldn’t stay away: It’s a beautiful place, with unique Edwardian and Victorian architecture and incredible access to the outdoors.
Office workers may be slow to return downtown, but the city’s culture hasn’t gone anywhere. Food lovers can count on being served fresh, delicious dishes at some of the best restaurants in the world, be they Michelin-starred or holes in the wall. Our museums, captivating concerts and performances, and successful sports teams playing in state-of-the-art stadiums are just a fraction of the activities this city offers. You can spend a day on the bay, or hike along the Pacific Ocean or under towering redwood trees after crossing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. It’s also an inspiring epicenter for innovation as the worldwide hotspot for the next-generation Web 3, biotech and AI businesses.
Even our social movements are part of the draw. The city’s politics can go too far at times, but its culture reflects San Francisco’s history of pushing the norms. For example, environmental sustainability is a baseline for how the city operates because of our desire to do things differently, resulting in an urban destination leading the way on being green. Our culture is why this city serves as a haven for LGBTQ people and why visitors will come from around the world for this month’s Pride parade. It is also why many immigrant communities, much like mine, have escaped war zones, persecution and poverty to make San Francisco their home.
Not to mention, we have some of the best hotels in the world.
All of this comes with the understanding that the city’s political apparatus needs to become more grounded. Regardless, San Francisco is seeing positive momentum — especially in hospitality, where the industry is looking to add 1,200 jobs.
This city has imperfections, but we are making progress in addressing our issues. Meanwhile, the incredible sights, culture and experiences that have made San Francisco a world-class travel destination for decades and a refuge for self-expression aren’t going anywhere.
It is why many visitors are continuing to leave their hearts in San Francisco.
Alex Bastian is president and CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.
Written By Alex Bastian
©2023 Hearst Communications, Inc.
