San Francisco has lots of great qualities, but constantly telling ourselves that it is the greatest place in the world home to the greatest (or, in the author's words, the "smartest, most creative") people is tiresome. As South Park memorably put it, San Francisco has an abundance of "smug." The city has real problems, of which housing is only one.
The SF Weekly (an alternative newspaper here) has published several thought-provoking articles on the state of the city over the years. They are all titled, "The Worst Run Big City in the US."
San Francisco also has a civil grand jury that periodically issues reports on topics of citywide concern. These are generally ignored, even though they point out significant present and future problems (I'm thinking specifically of looming pension issues).
The SF Weekly (an alternative newspaper here) has published several thought-provoking articles on the state of the city over the years. They are all titled, "The Worst Run Big City in the US."
Those articles include: http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-12-16/news/the-worst-run-big-ci...
http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-04-14/news/the-muni-death-spira...
http://www.sfweekly.com/2012-06-13/news/muni-sfmta-buses-pub...
http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-10-20/news/let-it-bleed/
http://www.sfweekly.com/2011-01-26/news/premium-pay-san-fran...
http://www.sfweekly.com/2011-07-27/news/san-francisco-commis...
San Francisco also has a civil grand jury that periodically issues reports on topics of citywide concern. These are generally ignored, even though they point out significant present and future problems (I'm thinking specifically of looming pension issues).
http://www.sfsuperiorcourt.org/general-info/grand-jury/jury-...
I've lived and worked here since college, so I'm not immune to the city's charms. But we shouldn't be blind to its faults, either.
Edit: formatting