How to Clean Up San Francisco’s Dirty Streets

24 08 2011

My previous blog post discussed Travel and Leisure’s recent list of America’s Dirtiest Cities.  As I stated at the beginning of that post, I have found San Francisco to be quite dirty with trash and litter in comparison with my previous hometown of Toronto.  While a lot of San Francisco is quite clean, there are definitely large sections that are downright filthy.  While I don’t want to complain about the city’s litter problems, I do want to offer a couple of ideas that I believe could greatly decrease the trash on San Francisco’s streets.  Below is a list of these ideas.  Some of them are more concrete, easy to execute ideas whereas other ones may require more thinking:

  • The public trash cans throughout San Francisco are far too open.  Homeless people can easily sift through the trash in these garbage cans and often end up throwing up a lot of the trash on the ground.  Additionally, if the trash can is full, the wind can easily blow the trash out of the can and into the street and side walk around the can.  The trash cans should be changed to a trash can that must be opened to deposit trash (similar to trash cans you would find at food courts).  In Toronto, for instance, many of the public trash cans would require you to step on a lever to open the top and deposit the trash.  Even when opened, it is difficult to reach into the trash, which would stop the problem of homeless people sifting through the trash and throwing the garbage on the streets.
  • Increase the fines on littering to something very high ($1000?).  This may sound extreme, but it will certainly make just about everyone to think twice about littering.
  • Incent those who pick up garbage on the street.  People get a small amount of change whenever they deposit an empty can or bottle.  Perhaps we could the same with garbage.  For instance, for each full bag of trash someone picks up and deposits to the San Francisco Garbage Collection Services, they would get $5.  While this would cost the city extra money, it could be offset by less need for street cleaners if it turned out to be a successful program.  The only potential issue is that people could abuse the system by simply taking trash from a garbage can to fill up a bag.
  • Give out fines for anyone who leaves out unsecured garbage or recycling to be picked up by garbage collection.  This garbage or recycling needs to either be in a closed bin or tied down so it will not blow away.

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Travel and Leisure Lists America’s Dirtiest Cities

9 08 2011

Having recently moved from Toronto to San Francisco, it wasn’t hard to miss the difference in trash and litter between the two cities.  I wouldn’t say Toronto is completely spotless, but it certainly is a heck of a lot cleaner than San Francisco which can be quite dingy in a lot of places.  Yet, according to Travel and Leisure’s recent list of America’s Dirtiest Cities, San Francisco only ranks as the 12th dirtiest.  The winner of this not so prestigious award: New Orleans (pictured above).  Yet, while this distinction is certainly not a favorable one, one look at the list reveals that the dirtiest cities also tend to be some of the most exciting cities as well.  So while Indianapolis, Indiana may not be on the top 20 list of dirtiest cities, it is very unlikely to make the top 20 for excitement or livability as well.  The top 5 dirtiest cities in America are listed below:

1) New Orleans

2) Philadelphia

3) Los Angeles

4) Memphis

5) New York City


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Neighbourhood Revitilization: A Success Story or a Story of Displacement?

2 07 2011

First of all, let me start off by saying that anything here is strictly my opinion and nothing more.  But I do believe there is a lot of truth in what I have to say.

Just about any city has at least one neighbourhood revitilization success story in the last couple of decades.  We’ve all heard it before: a once downtrodden neighbourhood has been transformed into a lively an energetic and livable neighbourhood.  It certainly sounds like a great thing.  For instance, here in San Francisco, SOMA continues to becomes one of the most livable areas in all of the city as it’s gentrification continues to spread west throughout the neighbourhood.  Similarly, in my former city of Toronto, the King West corridor has become one of the most desirable areas to live.  Just 15 years ago, this was not the case at all.

I will certainly admit that both SOMA in San Francisco and the King West corridor in Toronto are far more pleasant, safe and exciting than they were in the past.  But there is a side effect from all this change: the residential and commercial prices move up (and generally at a rapid rate).  No doubt, it’s perfectly normal for a desirable neighbourhood to cost more to live in or to own a business in than one that’s not so desirable.  Yet, when a neighbourhood often gets ‘revitalized’, the dynamic in that neighbourhood changes.  In the end, the people that lived in the neighbourhood at the start of this revitalization are not same as the ones at the end.  It’s another story of the rich displacing the poor.

With an ever increasing gap between the rich and the poor in many developed countries, this appears to be yet another situation in which those that cannot keep up economically truly lose.  While one would want to believe that these types of changes in a neighbourhood would result in a place that is more livable for everyone, this is almost always not the case.  And while I’ve brought up displacement due to money, I haven’t even touched on the displacement that sometimes happens due to demolition and new construction (most recently, for ‘luxury’ townhomes or condominiums).  There are many ways in which these people are being ‘exiled’ from these neighbourhoods, not just one.

In the end, this problem is one that can often lead to more harm than good.  Recently, many of these gentrified neighbourhoods have been located within the inner area of a city.  This often provides it’s residents with more access to jobs or services they may need.  But frequently, they get displaced to somewhere much farther away without these same jobs or services.  And while this problem of displacement is certainly one that is not going to go away (especially as more and more people move into the city), it is one that doesn’t have to to exist.  And I truly believe we can have it both ways: safe, livable neighbourhoods that are open to everyone.


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San Francisco Big Winner in Commercial Vacancy Rates

14 06 2011

The National Association of Realtors has once again released it’s Commercial Real Estate Outlook Report.  The report includes the national United States vacancy rates for industrial real estate,office real estate, retail real estate and multi-family real estate and then proceeds to break down these rates among the various metropolitan areas within the U.S.  As of the 1st half of 2011, the vacancy rates for the United States stands as the following:

  • Industrial: 14.1%
  • Office: 16.4%
  • Retail: 13.1%
  • Multi-Family: 6.0%

When broken up by metropolitan areas, it becomes apparent who the real winners and losers are.  San Francisco may be the true winner as it is among the top ten in the lowest vacancy rates for all four categories:

  • Industrial: 10.9%
  • Office: 12.3%
  • Retail: 5.9%
  • Multi-Family: 4.0%

On the opposite side of the spectrum is Detroit, which once again has high numbers in all four categories:

  • Industrial: 19.4%
  • Office: 25.7%
  • Retail: 17.5%
  • Multi-Family: 9.2%

But perhaps, when comparing Detroit’s number to the national numbers, it becomes apparent that the real losers are many of those smaller cities not listed.

To check out the Commercial Real Estate Outlook Report, click the link below:

Commercial Real Estate Outlook Report


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The Complete Dominance of Amazon or an Opportunity for Independent Bookstores

17 05 2011

Having recently moved to San Francisco, I was absolutely appalled to find out that pretty much every single major bookstore in the city had closed within the last year or was in the process of closing.  Coming from downtown Toronto, which had a plethora of major book stores within the downtown alone, it was sad to come to a city that had been utterly massacred by online book chains and digital reading.  I am generally very pro-technology, but this is one consequence of digitizing everything.

Bookstores are so much more than stores.  More than almost any other place of retial, they have a real sense of community and allow you to truly escape.  They were also the only type of stores that I didn’t feel pressured to buy anything after spending more than 15 minutes inside.  Yet, with the digitization of books and Amazon continuing to expand, it seems to be a sad reality that what has happened in San Francisco could very well happen elsewhere.  There are a couple of things, however, that an online book retailer and the digitization of books can’t fully replace:

  • the communal aspect of bricks and mortar bookstores.
  • being able to discuss your favorite books and get recommendations from helpful staff face to face.
  • the ability to browse and read any part of a book without purchasing the book first.  Sorry Amazon, but allowing you to read one chapter before purchasing the book doesn’t cut it at all.
  • the fact that books aren’t easily breakable and typically more portable.  When you are out travelling and backpacking, can you honestly say it’s much easier to have your IPad or Kindle out with you or an easy to read travel guide.
  • the big coffee table books.  Unless the Kindle and IPad suddenly double or triple in size, they can never replace these oversized books.
  • the idea of curling up with a good book.

After doing some research, I found that there was a lot of other people who feel the same way about what has happened in San Francisco.  Ultimately, despite the hate some people may have had for Borders or Barnes and Noble for putting independent book stores out of business, having no book stores is far worse than only having the big chains.  Yet, I found an interesting post courtesy of Paul Carr at Tech Crunch entitled Books Without Borders: A Victory For Amazon, But Also For Independent Book Stores which suggests that the downsizing of both Borders and Barnes and Noble is actually a great opportunity for independent bookstores.  The post mentions the situation in San Francisco and discusses the idea that independent book stores can once again thrive by focusing on the shortcomings of online book retailers and digital books.  While the pessimistic side of me thinks the Paul may be a little to optimistic, it does make me to know that others believe there is hope.


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San Francisco: First Impressions

25 04 2011

Well, it’s been exactly a month since my last post.  Things have been incredibly busy for a number of different reasons, but perhaps the main reason is my recent move from Toronto to San Francisco.  And as you may expect, I am excited by the chance to live in a new urban environment complete with it’s merits and it’s faults.

Obviously, I came to San Francisco knowing that it’s incredibly expensive, has a huge homeless problem and is quite dirty in areas.  And to be certain, all of these are definitely true.  But there are so many things that make it one of the most desirable cities to live in.  There are very few other cities that can boast such a beautiful natural surrounding.  The city has also done an amazing job integrating it’s history into the present.  And most of all, the city is truly beautiful and boasts a certain energy that you can’t find almost anywhere else.

But I thought i’d mention some things you may not know about the city.  Below are some random thoughts (both positive and negative):

  • The downtown area caters mainly to the 9 to 5 crowd and to tourists.  Toronto (my former hometown) had a downtown that was far more convenient to anyone living there.
  • The city has a very extreme class division.  More than any i’ve ever seen in any other city i’ve lived in.
  • San Francisco is truly a city of distinct and fantastic neighbourhoods.
  • There are more pedestrian laneways and streets than i’ve seen in any city in North America.
  • Despite being a very green city transit wise, San Francisco still has a horrible traffic problem.

So there you go, some of my first thoughts about the city after living here for a week.  And while these are merely my first impressions and do not hold any real weight given that i’ve only lived here for a week now, I am certain that the longer I live in the city, the better I will understand the urban fabric that makes this city so unique.


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The World: Now and Then

19 02 2011

The Amazing Stuff blog recently posted an interesting look at certain cities through the times with the blog post The World: Now and Then.  The mix of cities are certainly a touch random (including a really interesting look at the Upsala Glacier), but it’s still very compelling stuff indeed:

  • New York City
  • San Francisco
  • Dubai
  • Shanghai
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Upsala Glacier

So take a look and be amazed!


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The Great Reset by Richard Florida

13 01 2011

Any regular reader of the blog will know that i’m a big fan of the author Richard Florida.  Florida has written a number of outstanding books such as The Creative Class or Who’s Your City?.  Both books have a heavy urban focus and discuss why certain people decide on certain places to live or the new ways in which the current generations choose to live.

For his latest book, The Great Reset, Florida focuses on the recent recession and how it will change our economy and the way we live.  I have currently read half the book and am once again enthralled with the subject matter.  Florida relates our current recession to the last two economic crashes (The Great Depression and the Long Depression of the 1870′s) and discusses how these troubled times often brought about the greatest innovation that helped shape how people would live in the future.

As with any of his other books, Florida discusses a number of different urban issues.  He touches on the decline of the rust belt cities such as Detroit or Buffalo and the reasons for their decline.  Perhaps more intriguing is Florida’s focus on the decline of many of the sun belt cities such as Phoenix or Miami which were almost solely driven by real estate in the last decade.  Now that the recession has hit, property prices in these places have been decimated and unlike cities like San Francisco, Boston or Houston, they don’t have much else to rely on economically.

I will provide another post when I finish the book, but for the time being, I recommend anyone who is a fan of Richard Florida or a fan of social economics to pick up a copy of The Great Reset.


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What can $300 000 get you in real estate?

2 12 2010

With housing prices still deeply depressed throughout the world, I thought i’d take a look and see what $300 000 could afford someone in several of the major cities around the United States (give or take a thousand dollars or so).  Home prices have dropped considerably in some areas (such as Miami) while staying relatively stable (such as Boston).   The difference in quality might just amaze you!  Note that all these listings are in the city proper.  As well, also note that the listings will likely only be up for a few days or weeks.  Therefore, I created a small description of the property along with the link.

Miami: 3 bedroom, 1 bath single level  detached home. with large front yard  1216 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4465-Southwest-13-Terrace_Miami_FL_33134_M51691-35445

Cleveland: 3 bedroom, 3 bath luxury townhome close to the shore of Lake Erie.  2205 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7420-Goodwalt-Ave_Cleveland_OH_44102_M36987-55595

Boston: 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment in a late 1800′s condo complex.  380 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/60-Myrtle-St-Unit-5_Boston_MA_02114_M43540-59341

San Francisco: Studio apartment with large windows  access to a deck.  531 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/83-85-Brady-St-Unit-2_San-Francisco_CA_94103_M29615-58768

Chicago: Two bedroom, 2 bath condo in a highrise complex built in the 70′s and including a communal pool. 1300 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1415-North-Dearborn-Street-Unit-11b_Chicago_IL_60610_M87440-01602

Honolulu: 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in a highrise complex with a view of downtown Honolulu and the ocean.  1000 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1221-Victoria-St-Unit-1803_Honolulu_HI_96822_M70822-90298


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The Old City versus City Arguments

19 11 2010

When I lived in Melbourne, Australia back in 2006, I was shocked by the intense hatred that many Melbourne residents had for Sydney.  I assumed that since everyone was Australian, they would have pride for the whole country and all the cities in it.  Yet, I discovered that both some Melbournians and Sydneysiders would cringe when I complemented any aspect of the other city.  Of course, this is all human nature and these discussions can be very interesting (as long as they remain civilized).  I have linked many online city versus city discussions below (including the Melbourne versus Sydney one of course).  Check them out and enjoy!

Melbourne versus Sydney

Calgary versus Edmonton

Glasgow versus Edinburgh

Los Angeles versus San Francisco

Shanghai versus Beijing

Stockholm versus Copenhagen versus Oslo versus Helsinki

 

 


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