Ways San Francisco is less liberal than we think we are – SFGate

Gentrification

The tech industry, Airbnb and luxury developments are taking over traditionally working-class neighborhoods, driving up real estate and pushing out less-well-heeled neighbors such as teachers, artists and old-time residents with immigrant roots. Case in point: Moderncondominiums, cafes serving avocado toast, and yoga studios are replacing bodegas, taquerias and rent-controlled apartments in the Mission District, which has long been a working-class neighborhood for the Latino community. The same thing is happening in Chinatown, the Bay View, the Excelsior.

The tech industry, Airbnb and luxury developments are taking over traditionally working-class neighborhoods, driving up real estate and pushing out less-well-heeled neighbors such as teachers,

Tech is filled with progressives who value left-leaning ideals. But the industry as a whole doesn't earn an "A" in liberalism as it's notoriously sexist. A 2015 Chronicle analysis of the Bay Areas "top 15 publicly traded tech firms by workforce shows that only a handful have a significant number of female managers reporting directly to the CEO." less

Tech is filled with progressives who value left-leaning ideals. But the industry as a whole doesn't earn an "A" in liberalism as it's notoriously sexist. A 2015 Chronicle ... more

Ever-widening income gap

Ever-widening income gap

Income equality has long been a liberal value, but these days left-leaning San Francisco is better known for its income inequality. A 2016 report from the Brookings Institution found

Anti-union ride-sharing services

The city's cab situation has issues and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft have made getting around the city much easier and provided economic opportunities and flexible jobs for many. But these companies tend to be anti-union and anti-worker, not your typical liberal ideas.

Anti-union ride-sharing services

The city's cab situation has issues and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft have made getting around the city much easier and provided economic opportunities and flexible

Building high-density cities is undoubtedly a liberal mantra as it's thought packing people into the cities and leaving the countryside pristine is better for the environment. But the many new residential buildings will mainly be inhabited by the wealthy. According to a January 2017 report from Paragon real estate, of the 80,000 new units in the pipeline in S.F., 9,000 are designated as affordable housing "but many of those are in the long-term Candlestick-Hunters Point and Treasure Island projects." less

Building high-density cities is undoubtedly a liberal mantra as it's thought packing people into the cities and leaving the countryside pristine is better for the environment. But the ... more

Public education has long been a liberal value, and Democratic politicians typically favor funding public schools over a voucher system. But in San Francisco, many parents don't send

Tech shuttles offering private transit

Corporate buses replace thousands of cars as they shuttle tech workers between San Francisco and the mega-campuses of tech giants such as Apple, Google, Facebook. But some argue these private shuttles promote gentrification and are a symbol of the city's ever-widening income gap. With dark, tinted windows, the sleek buses roll around town like limousines, only picking up well-paid workers who some would argue are moving into cherished neighborhoods and squeezing out long-time, less-affluent residents.

Tech shuttles offering private transit

Corporate buses replace thousands of cars as they shuttle tech workers between San Francisco and the mega-campuses of tech giants such as Apple, Google, Facebook. But some

Nimbyism

Some might say nimbyisma "not in my own backyard" attitude toward development of any sort whether it's a cell tower or low-income housing development or live music venueis killing SF's liberal image. The photo above shows a parking lot at the Forest Hill Christian Church on Laguna Honda Boulevard on Nov. 15, 2016. Residents were unhappy with a proposed plan to build 150 units of affordable senior housing on the site.

Nimbyism

Some might say nimbyisma "not in my own backyard" attitude toward development of any sort whether it's a cell tower or low-income housing development or live music venueis killing SF's liberal

Homelessness unsolved

Homelessness unsolved

Housing for all? Not in SF, where the the high home prices are entirely unaffordable to a full-time restaurant working and only affordable to .39 percent of teachers. Housing prices are even

You can smoke it, but good luck growing it legally. "Sacramento accepted about 70 applications for commercial cultivation licenses this year," said David Downs, the San Francisco Chronicle's pot reporter."SF has accepted zero and banned commercial growers in certain zones." less

You can smoke it, but good luck growing it legally. "Sacramento accepted about 70 applications for commercial cultivation licenses this year," said David Downs, the San Francisco ... more

S.F. is less segregated with far fewer areas of concentrated poverty, affluence and race than metro areas such as Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis, according to research from the University of Minnesota. But any San Franciscan knows that segregation still exists and certain neighborhoods don't reflect the city's overall diversity.

S.F. is less segregated with far fewer areas of concentrated poverty, affluence and race than metro areas such as Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis, according to

Cars are parked in the lot at the Forest Hill Christian Church on Laguna Honda Boulevard in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.

Cars are parked in the lot at the Forest Hill Christian Church on Laguna Honda Boulevard in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.

Ways San Francisco is less liberal than we think we are

San Francisco likes to think of itself as a left-leaning, open-minded, free-thinking, equal-rights type of town.

We're pro-choice and pro-environment. We issued the United States' first same-sex marriage licenses. We're fighting to hold onto our sanctuary city status.

We go to Burning Man, host S&M festivals and don't bat an eye when a naked person walks down the street. A mere 9 percent of our population voted for President Donald Trump.

In fact, the City by the Bay is often viewed as the most liberal city in America, but anyone who lives here knows some of our ways don't align with our liberal image. When it comes to income inequality, education, and even our bars' closing times, we don't entirely live up to our blue ideas.

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We looked at some ways San Francisco might not quite be living up to its liberal reputation and featured them in the slideshow above.

Of course, the term "liberal" has different meanings for different people.

In other words, this story and the examples are up for debate and you're free to disagree or agree and add your own perspective. After all, freedom of speech is a liberal value.

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Ways San Francisco is less liberal than we think we are - SFGate