I know this thread is long already but I can give my personal perspective as someone who has lived and worked in SF for the past 5 years. I completely understand their decision. I've lived in some bad places but SF is a different kind of bad. The average person's exposure to the bad parts is impossible to avoid and feels higher than other cities (despite whatever the stats might say).
The longer I stay the more nervous I get walking around the city even in broad daylight and "safe" areas. Family members have visited and had their phones snatched right out of their hands, homeless grab my bags, harassed everywhere, had my (and friends) cars broken into, and gunshots right outside my home. Witnessed all kinds of crazy things on my short walk from muni station to my office including avoiding the infamous poop, throw up, pee, needles, and broken glass. My partner's coworker was robbed at gunpoint then pistol whipped in the head like in a movie, had to stay in the hospital and has a bad scar now (wish I was making this up).
One time a lady was spreading poop all over the walls and our office door handle so I couldn't open the door. Another day someone spread, what seemed like, lard all over the sidewalk so people would trip. Homeless blocking traffic throwing and shouting things at cars. Saw so many of my favorite places to eat windows smashed and broken into over and over. I'd pickup something quick from Walgreens and see someone grabbing a bunch of things then walk out, even with a 24/7 security guard. It feels so futile seeing so much crime and nothing being done.
I love some of the food and exploring the city but the high costs combined with my growing uneasiness just make it not worth it anymore. I've recently been working from home and been a lot more relaxed (although home breakins are on the rise).
The longer I stay the more nervous I get walking around the city even in broad daylight and "safe" areas. Family members have visited and had their phones snatched right out of their hands, homeless grab my bags, harassed everywhere, had my (and friends) cars broken into, and gunshots right outside my home. Witnessed all kinds of crazy things on my short walk from muni station to my office including avoiding the infamous poop, throw up, pee, needles, and broken glass. My partner's coworker was robbed at gunpoint then pistol whipped in the head like in a movie, had to stay in the hospital and has a bad scar now (wish I was making this up).
One time a lady was spreading poop all over the walls and our office door handle so I couldn't open the door. Another day someone spread, what seemed like, lard all over the sidewalk so people would trip. Homeless blocking traffic throwing and shouting things at cars. Saw so many of my favorite places to eat windows smashed and broken into over and over. I'd pickup something quick from Walgreens and see someone grabbing a bunch of things then walk out, even with a 24/7 security guard. It feels so futile seeing so much crime and nothing being done.
I love some of the food and exploring the city but the high costs combined with my growing uneasiness just make it not worth it anymore. I've recently been working from home and been a lot more relaxed (although home breakins are on the rise).