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A man with a needle in his arm, streets littered with trash, a car window smashed from an auto burglary \u2014 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<\/a> downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, what if I told you that\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s true that San Francisco\u2019s 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\u2019s homeless population<\/a>, despite a lack of facts to support the assertion. His alleged killer was ultimately found to be a tech industry acquaintance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s history, it is important to set the record straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same way that Rome isn\u2019t defined by pickpocketing and Cairo isn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a>. For the first time in a long time, most San Franciscans seem truly motivated to push these policies forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This resilience in the face of doubt and uncertainty \u2014 the ability to flourish after floundering \u2014 is why I moved back from a great life elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, why should a visitor still come to San Francisco?<\/a> For the same reasons I couldn\u2019t stay away: It\u2019s a beautiful place, with unique Edwardian and Victorian architecture and incredible access to the outdoors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Office workers may be slow to return downtown, but the city\u2019s culture hasn\u2019t 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\u2019s also an inspiring epicenter for innovation as the worldwide hotspot for the next-generation Web 3, biotech and AI businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even our social movements are part of the draw. The city\u2019s politics can go too far at times, but its culture reflects San Francisco\u2019s 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<\/a>. 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not to mention, we have some of the best hotels in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this comes with the understanding that the city\u2019s political apparatus needs to become more grounded. Regardless, San Francisco is seeing positive momentum \u2014 especially in hospitality, where the industry is looking to add 1,200 jobs<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t going anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is why many visitors are continuing to leave their hearts in San Francisco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex Bastian is president and CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.\u00a0<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Written By Alex Bastian<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u2014 these are some of the images you will see on the news about San Francisco. Some people have chosen to… Continue reading ![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/img\/logos\/black\/logo.svg\"){kind=logo}
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\u00a92023 Hearst Communications, Inc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"