San Francisco

Bay Area Growth Slowing

Wendell Cox — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:38:30 -0500

New 2010 Census data indicates that the two major metropolitan areas in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco and San Jose, have settled into a pattern of slow growth.

San Francisco: The San Francisco metropolitan area grew 5.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, a more than one-half drop from the 1990 to 2000 rate of 11.9 percent, from 4,124,000 to 4,335,000, for a gain of 211,000. Only in one decade (1970 to 1980) have the five counties of the metropolitan area gained at such a slow percentage rate.

The historical core municipalities of San Francisco and Oakland gained 20,000 residents, from 1,176,000 to 1,196,000. San Francisco reached a population of 805,000, up from 777,000 in 2000. As in the case of both the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, the State Department of Finance estimate (857,000) was well above the Census Bureau population count (We had previously questioned the aggressive population projections released by the State Department of Finance in an Orange County Register op-ed, 60 Million Californians: Don't Bet on It). Even with this increase, however, the city of San Francisco remains below its population peak of 827,000, recorded in a 1945 special census, according to the Census Bureau.

The city of Oakland declined in population from 399,000 to 391,000. The historical core municipalities grew 1.7 percent, compared to the 6.5 percent growth rate of the suburbs. The historical core municipalities captured nine percent of the metropolitan area growth, with 91 percent of the growth going to the suburbs. The State Department of Finance estimate, at 430,000, was more than 10 percent above the actual Census Bureau count. The city of Oakland also reached its population peak of 401,000 in a 1945 special census.

While San Francisco remains the second largest metropolitan area in the state (after Los Angeles), this distinction could soon be lost. Riverside-San Bernardino registered a population of 4,225,000 and at growth rates of the last decade, would pass San Francisco by 2012.

San Jose: The San Jose metropolitan area grew 5.8 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 1,736,000 to 1,837,000. The historical core municipality of San Jose rose 5.0 percent, from 901,000 in 2000 to 946,000 in 2010. San Jose captured 44 percent of the metropolitan area growth, the highest figure among the reporting metropolitan areas except for the largely suburban historic municipality of Oklahoma City (47 percent). The State Department of Finance had estimated the city of San Jose population at 1,023,000 in 2010, indicating that its growth estimate for the decade was more than 2.5 times the increase indicated in the census count.

The suburbs of the San Jose metropolitan area grew 6.7 percent and accounted for 56 percent of the population growth.

More Cap and Trade Delays in California

Kirsten Moore — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:17:19 -0500

The California Air Resources Board had good intentions when it developed a cap-and-trade plan to meet greenhouse gas standards, but according to a San Francisco Superior Court Judge, the Board made a few mistakes that will delay their efforts. The Air Resources Board is acting in response to AB32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which calls for the reduction of carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

They are being sued by a team of environmental groups, represented by the San Francisco’s Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, who disapprove of the Board’s inadequate analysis of alternatives to cap and trade. Not only that, but Judge Ernest Goldsmith found that the Board’s “analysis provides no evidence to support its chosen approach.” These issues are becoming commonplace in California these days, as they echo the criticisms of California’s High Speed Rail Authority’s quick decisions in building new rail lines.

The California Air Resources Board will not be able to move forward until it complies with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, which Governor Reagan enacted to make sure agencies in California both determined and prevented the environmental consequences of their projects. The environmental groups who raised this lawsuit, who would be disappointed if AB32 were to be delayed or abolished, want to assure that any environmental legislation would not hurt disadvantage communities in the state. Therefore, they are willing to wait for the Air Resources Board to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and explore the possibilities beyond cap-and-trade.

Acting too quickly without fully exploring all options has become a theme in California politics, mainly because the state is in such a rush to meet deadlines outlined in the legislation or that dictate the disbursement of federal funds. This haste to develop may ultimately hinder new projects since the public will be extra vigilant in making sure agencies find solutions that support their well-being.

San Francisco Considers the Country's First Ban on Pet Sales

Kirsten Moore — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:40:52 -0400

Bay Area businesses beware, San Francisco is once again considering banning a common city commodity. This time it is not environmentalists, but city lawmakers who are howling for change. If San Francisco’s Commission of Animal Control and Welfare approves the proposed ordinance, it will be illegal to sell any pets in the city except for fish.

Commission Chairwoman Sally Stephens, who seems to be the voice of pet sale opposition, claims that people buy small pets without thinking and end up giving them to shelters where they are euthanized. Those looking for an animal companion would have to buy one from a different city, adopt one from a shelter, or buy one through the classifieds. While this does make it that much harder to buy a pet on impulse, San Francisco residents would still be giving up their pets to shelters in the city. It also seems that many of the animals you would buy on impulse – guinea pigs, birds, and mice – do not typically go to shelters when they become difficult to manage or forgotten.

Pet store owners around San Francisco are making a fuss as their major attractions are being threatened. Dogs can sell for a few hundred dollars or more at pet stores, and losing this income source would surely strike a blow to pet businesses. The Board of Supervisors has the final say, but pet lovers and owners around the city are piping up.

As such a compact city, San Francisco seems to want to clear out any waste they set their sights on. Yesterday it was plastic bags, today it is animals. Who knows what San Francisco lawmakers will target next?

Hat tip: Newsalert

Elected Official Domestic Migration from San Francisco?

Wendell Cox — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:11:19 -0400

San Francisco, like every other core county in a metropolitan area of more than 1,000,000 (with the exception of New Orleans) continues to lose domestic migrants. Between 2000 and 2008, US Bureau of the Census data indicates that more than 10 percent of San Franciscans have left for other counties. But if one is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (board of county commissioners), it may be convenient for only part of the family to join the exodus.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle Supervisor Chris Daly moved the wife and kids to exurban Fairfield, claiming that the environment was better there for the kids, since they would live closer to their grandparents. Doubtless the environment will be better there for the kids in a lot of ways – more places to play, a safer environment and probably better schools.

What’s more, the Supervisor moved the family to a cul-de-sac, that urban form most despised by the most orthodox urbanites.

It is understandable that Supervisor Daly himself did not move, announcing that he continues to “eat, sleep and bathe” in his San Francisco home. Don’t be surprised, however, if when Supervisor Daly’s term expires, he should find the shower and bathtub more to his liking in the exurbs.

U-Haul Prices as Migration Indicator

Mark Schill — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:28:28 -0400

Austin fared very well on this year's Best Cities Rankings, and here's another interesting indicator of the difference in migration between Austin and San Francisco:

"When comparing California with Texas, U-Haul says it all. To rent a 26-foot truck oneway from San Francisco to Austin, the charge is $3,236, and yet the one-way charge for that same truck from Austin to San Francisco is just $399. Clearly what is happening is that far more people want to move from San Francisco to Austin than vice versa, so U-Haul has to pay its own employees to drive the empty trucks back from Texas."

This anecdote comes from a report comparing business environments in Texas to California.

Here's a table of the latest domestic migration numbers from US Census for all metropolitan areas of more than 1.5 million total population (rate numbers are per 1,000 population):

NAME	Population, 2008	Net Domesitc Migration Rate, 2008	Ave. Net Domesic Mig Rate, 2001-2008
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA	19,006,798	-7.6	-12.0
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA	12,872,808	-9.0	-12.2
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI	9,569,624	-4.4	-6.8
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	6,300,006	7.0	5.7
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	5,838,471	-3.8	-2.3
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX	5,728,143	6.6	4.5
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	5,414,772	-8.7	-5.1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA	5,376,285	8.2	10.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	5,358,130	-3.4	-2.9
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH	4,522,858	-1.8	-7.1
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI	4,425,110	-13.9	-9.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	4,281,899	12.3	17.9
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	4,274,531	1.3	-10.5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	4,115,871	-1.9	16.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3,344,813	3.6	0.9
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	3,229,878	-1.1	-1.0
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA	3,001,072	0.1	-4.8
St. Louis, MO-IL	2,816,710	-2.0	-1.8
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	2,733,761	2.4	12.9
Baltimore-Towson, MD	2,667,117	-4.6	-1.6
Denver-Aurora, CO /1	2,506,626	7.3	1.8
Pittsburgh, PA	2,351,192	-1.0	-2.9
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA	2,207,462	8.3	6.2
Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN	2,155,137	-1.7	-1.2
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA	2,109,832	2.2	8.7
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH	2,088,291	-7.1	-7.5
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL	2,054,574	1.6	15.9
San Antonio, TX	2,031,445	11.5	10.4
Kansas City, MO-KS	2,002,047	0.7	1.5
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV	1,865,746	7.9	23.7
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	1,819,198	-1.5	-16.4
Columbus, OH	1,773,120	1.4	1.8
Indianapolis-Carmel, IN	1,715,459	4.0	4.8
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC	1,701,799	20.9	18.2
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	1,658,292	-9.4	-0.6
Austin-Round Rock, TX	1,652,602	22.0	17.2
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA	1,596,611	-6.6	-3.7
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	1,550,733	10.9	9.6
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	1,549,308	-4.2	-5.9

How About a Betty Ford Bottled Water Rehab Clinic in San Francisco?

Ian Lausa — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:29:37 -0500

From late-night refrigerator raids to splurging on a new wardrobe, everyone is prone to the occasional overindulgence. For San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, that overindulgence meant nothing more than a plastic water bottle.

In June 2007, the mayor “issued an executive order directing city government to no longer purchase bottled water,” to cut down on waste in the city landfill and to utilize the pristine Sierra Nevada reservoir’s resources.

Last year, Newsom also called on restaurants to stop selling bottled water to customers and has generally declined bottled water at most events.

In something better suited to cushy celebrity gossip rags, an empty case of Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water was discovered in the mayor’s trunk of his car.

While a spokesman for the mayor has assured the public that the water was for the mayor’s security detail, the Newsom camp also issued a statement that would be better suited for rehab-bound celebrity.

“The mayor will be the first to admit that he occasionally indulges in bottled water,” said his spokesperson. “It’s not something he’s proud of.”

During these bleak economic times, the public’s hyper-vigilant scrutiny of politicians seems zeroed in on busting them on seemingly inevitable examples of hypocrisy.

Needless to say, Newsom will think twice before purchasing bottled water again.

Skepticism Towards Congestion Pricing in San Francisco

Andy Sywak — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:30:40 -0500

If there’s one place in America most likely to adopt congestion pricing, you would think it would be San Francisco. The combination of affluence, deep-seated environmentalism and a tradition of progressive politics would lend itself to adopting the program. But even residents there are skeptical.

Congestion pricing is the practice of charging commuters a fee for driving through a congested downtown area during peak commute times. In San Francisco, they are discussing a payment of between 50 cents and $5 to be assessed to drivers who commute between 6–9 a.m. and 3–6 p.m. The argument is that by doing so, you reduce congestion and raise public coffers to be poured into public transportation. In London, traffic was reduced 21% and public transit increased 36% when congestion pricing was adopted (it’s also been adopted in Singapore and Stockholm).

But SF is no London when it comes to public transportation. Anyone who has ever stuffed themselves into a city bus headed for points westward after work knows it is not nearly as reliable or as comfortable as “the tube.” It seems like there would have to be a rise in the standards of public transportation there to really make it effective – and money for that would not be available for some time given California’s budget circumstances.

250 Square Feet Condos in San Francisco

Andy Sywak — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:50:38 -0400

In this famously expensive city, one developer has a plan: Build 250 square-feet condos for singles who can then move on up. The 98 units will sell from $279,000 to $330,000.

Yes, it sounds like a glorified closet, but you have to admire Hauser Architects' sense of practicality for these Hong Kong-style apartments. The huge towers going up on Rincon Hill and South of Market are only meant for those earning well into six figures. It's refreshing that someone is actually building housing not meant for the super-wealthy. It could also serve as a harbinger of housing to come for single middle-class urban dwellers.

Homeless IT Worker in San Francisco

Andy Sywak — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:02:07 -0400

Yesterday, an article appeared in the SF Chronicle by C.W. Nevius about an Internet salesman who lives in a tent in Golden Gate Park because housing costs are too high. He works by day at a cafe and pitches his tent at night getting up before dawn when the police do raids to evict illegal campers.

With much of the new development in SF geared towards the flush Web 2.0 crowd, there are fewer and fewer places for the lower middle-class to live. The resident hotels in SF are not pleasant places to live or even visit (I went voter canvassing in a few three years ago).

What is the housing solution for the Tom Sepas of the world? If we ever start seeing 21st Century Hoovervilles, they could be populated by people like him.

A very sobering tale that shatters the popular vision of the everyman Internet worker as some high-flying urban hepcat.