Not aligned with PG politically, but this is spot on.
And this lock up of the hair dye was pre-COVID (2019), fyi.
First the mom and pops got driven out by the chains, then the chains closed down some by the rampant theft. Soon everything will be bought at big box warehouse and Amazon after I barcode my forehead. I still opt for the smaller neighborhood shops to supplement Costco, though.
Coincidental justice: flagrant dude 'shopping' at Walgreen's last year finally gets a staycation but it took a 'viral video' to get woke to shoplifting being a thing in this town [1]
My lived experience? Non-residents are clueless. Slow recovery from boarded downtown. Small businesses, ouch. Dark humor is normalized watching tourists navigate social norms disjointed by ranting mentally ill homeless, outsized tents, needles and excrement from substance abuse as they enjoy our city sidewalks. [2] And the welcoming tourist sign at the usual tourist traps? "If you love it, don't leave it" because of the rash of car smash and grabs [3]
If you're a local that actually goes Outside, and not just live indoors ordering your life online, you know all this. Personally I think some tough love is in order, throwing more money at green vested street sweepers or loitering grouped community engagement ambassadors may look see-what-we've-done-good politically, but long term I think priorities must be placed; 30 yrs of overflowing 'crisis' needs to be triaged. [4]
And this lock up of the hair dye was pre-COVID (2019), fyi.
First the mom and pops got driven out by the chains, then the chains closed down some by the rampant theft. Soon everything will be bought at big box warehouse and Amazon after I barcode my forehead. I still opt for the smaller neighborhood shops to supplement Costco, though.
Coincidental justice: flagrant dude 'shopping' at Walgreen's last year finally gets a staycation but it took a 'viral video' to get woke to shoplifting being a thing in this town [1]
My lived experience? Non-residents are clueless. Slow recovery from boarded downtown. Small businesses, ouch. Dark humor is normalized watching tourists navigate social norms disjointed by ranting mentally ill homeless, outsized tents, needles and excrement from substance abuse as they enjoy our city sidewalks. [2] And the welcoming tourist sign at the usual tourist traps? "If you love it, don't leave it" because of the rash of car smash and grabs [3]
If you're a local that actually goes Outside, and not just live indoors ordering your life online, you know all this. Personally I think some tough love is in order, throwing more money at green vested street sweepers or loitering grouped community engagement ambassadors may look see-what-we've-done-good politically, but long term I think priorities must be placed; 30 yrs of overflowing 'crisis' needs to be triaged. [4]
[1] https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-Walgreens-shoplift... [2] https://www.city-journal.org/san-francisco-homelessness [3] https://sfgov.org/park-smart [4] https://www.youtube.com/c/InvisiblePeople