Wow! Thanks for sharing.

Is there any wonder why there is such distrust with government right now and just an adverse reaction to the continual request for more money?

I hope for the day when government departments turn on each other (because they realize one department's inefficiencies starves funds for their own department) and become a driving force for true improvement?

If/when the teachers union starts to call out the the gross inefficiencies in our prision system and our ridiculous amount of administration in this state, their credibility will go up.

Uh huh. Well explain this to me: If everything is so wonderful when Republicans are in office, how did they ever get voted out?

I really wish we'd all get a way from this Democrat/Republican mud slinging fest. Both political parties are failing the US in a spectacular fashion.

Competence is a trait we should expect of our government and transends political parties.

Not sure the SF example is truly about Democrat policy. It looks more like nepotism, corruption, and an indifferent public.

San Franciscans can afford to run their city stupidly becasue they "owned" half of Northern California. The Hearst family owned the other half. Anytime SF needed money for something they just sold some property.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the "city" doesn't have anymore property to sell.

What a bunch of garbage. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I love everything about it. The park system is extraordinary. I feel safe on its streets and can think of no other city in the United States that combines such beauty and character. Would you rather live in Dallas or Houston?

'please'--SF is a nice place to visit and I'm sure your glowing comments are because you don't live there. This article is the equivalent of turning on the lights in a dark room and watching the )liberal) cockroaches scrurry around.
Your beautiful haven of S.F. is becoming a leftist cesspool bound to deteriorate further. The primary redeeming quality of the city is the Giants...let's hope the politicians won't find a way to screw up our winning baseball team.

15 years in s.f., bub. Best years of my life. Best city in the US. Probably doesn't measure up to some people who hold little rock or houston or fargo up as model. But s.f. is no hick town.

"Please",

San Francisco used to be a wonderful city - I used to live there. It was fun, vibrant, forward looking, business friendly, and successful. Lots of jobs, and the location for the headquarters of many Corporations.

It is still a beautiful tourist city and can be fun to visit. (If you don't get mugged.)

However, if you are living and working there, it is corrupt and run by a liberal machine in partnership with the unions who are in constant "shakedown mode". I have knowledge, because on a small scale many years ago, I was involved. Camouflaged campaign contributions are "requested" or extorted in every situation. No major project proceeds until every last campaign dollar is wrung from the developers or those with a financial interest in a project. I doubt that you have any comprehension of the campaign money that will change hands over the planned development of Treasure Island? Or, why it took so long in Sacramento for the approval of the Bay Bridge design and start of construction a few years ago?

If you've got a problem in San Francisco and are seeking some type of assistance from the local political machine, you had better have your check book ready. The politicians never handle the contribution directly, the money always goes to a friend of a friend, who will eventually funnel it back into the politician's campaign coffers. The trail is complex and the politician is legally in the clear. In San Francisco it's the liberal Democrat machine - in other cities, it might be the same with Republicans -- I don't know.

I used to be a Democrat, but after my experiences in San Francisco I don't think I can ever again bring myself to vote for a San Francisco Democrat seeking higher office. It sickened me to see the Democrat candidates we voted to send to Sacramento during the last election.

So, keep going to San Francisco and enjoying the parks, restaurants, etc. It's a fun place to visit -- just don't look too deeply at your "beautiful city" -- it has a very ugly side.

Arroyo,

Your tales are the stuff of urban legend. I lived there until just a couple of years ago when job transfer made my commute almost impossible. Your time in the city sure varied from mine. I found the s.f. city bureaucracy very professional and above-board.

You can find muggers hanging out around the dumpsters of Pleasanton too. Like any large city one has to be observant and savvy enough avoid potentially problematic encounters. That's urban life. Sorry you couldn't handle it.

As for handling San Francisco -- I do it everyday and get along just fine. On the surface it's a great place -- Scratch the surface and you will find a cess pool of political corruption. Perhaps, you and I are operating at different levels of political experience. I guess I just operate at the "urban legend" level.

I'm glad your San Francisco experiences are all positive. And, you just keep on smiling, buying your Lattes, and hanging that stocking on your mantel.

Yes, Arroyo, I'm certain you encounter difficulties with others almost wherever you go.... Ever wonder why? It must be all those latte-drinking democrats who are trying to pick your pocket.