Safety in San Francisco
 

I am seeking advice and safety information prior to a visit to San Francisco. I was last in SF ten years ago and I stayed at the Adelaide Inn just off Taylor St and west of Union Square. This was an interesting part of town but at that time I encountered no problems. If any one has an opinion on this part of SF as an area to stay please email me your comments.<BR><BR>Thanks Ross

I just returned from a short SF trip Grant St near the corner of Sutter (just below the Chinatown arch near Union Square). At night, walking northwest (towards Tenderloin District)I did see a surprising number of homeless men, generally staked out on each corner with a cup asking for spare change. I ignored all of them, made not eye contact and no verbal responses. I was not hassled beyond the initial request for money and did not feel uneasy at any time - I just accepted it as an unfortunate aspect of this city's current social problem. Late at night walking back to the hotel, most of them were gone - one fellow walked up to me for money, became hostile when I said no and then immediately apologized to me for his angry words. All told, my trip there was a positive experience and I never felt unsafe. Obviously, a single woman should take certain precautions especially at night but this is true of any major city (most suburban areas as well for that matter).

For what it's worth, both SF and SJ PD have just refused to cooperate with the Justice Department in tracking down and interviewing about 2,000 illegal or with expired visa immigrants of Middle Eastern origins. They say it will ruin the good local community relationships they have developed.

X not everyone is a redneck, there are probably no crime related problems from the group you are mentioning.<BR><BR>

I have a similar question about the fairmont. Will be staying with Daughter in August and only for 2 nights. Will we have to wald through unsafe areas to get to fishrman's wharfl. How central is this area. Hope I am not hijacking this thread Ross.

The Fairmont is right off the cable car lines, which will zip you through 20+ residential blocks down to the foot of the wharf area near Ghirardelli Square. Just hop on and take the ride down, but be prepared to wait in line for your ride back up--you may want to grab a taxi or walk through North Beach instead. That area is more interesting and pretty safe, though a longer route.

<BR>Hey Y,<BR>It would seem that visitors with expired visas are breaking the law and should be tracked down, particularly given events of last year.<BR><BR>This is not a redneck or paranoid driven objective.<BR><BR>I believe you owe X and apology.

Do you consider being asked for money by the indigent unsafe? If so, then you need to get out of the trailer and see the world. Unsafe is standing in the center of a gang of handgun waving crack addicts when you're alone on a side street at 3 in the afternoon and nobody comes to your aid.

Y, I bet you are one of those Bay Area liberals who think just because "you care" that there will never be, God forbid, any activity like 9-11/NYC in the Bay Area? <BR>Not a redneck, just a realist who likes to error on the side of safety.

Perhaps Y just doesn't think your comments are relevant to Ross's question. Is Ross concerned about possible terrorist activity in San Francisco while he's visiting or street crime? My guess is street crime, but I could be wrong. X, do you consider this information you've shared to be reason enough not to visit San Francisco or San Jose? Do you think Ross should cancel his trip?

I would say that the lack of cooperation from officials there tends to take some of the lustre away from San Fran.<BR><BR>Does that make it any less safe than other cities? Maybe, maybe not, but indicates a lack of willingness to enforce the laws.<BR><BR>If safety is a concern, go to Yosemite.

Didn't something happen to some women at Yosemite a few years back? No area is ever 100% safe. John Walsh was on Larry King the other night and mentioned that he thought crime only happened to people in "other areas".

Ross, to get back to your original question:<BR><BR>The Adelaide Inn is in an area of S.F. which borders the Tenderloin. In general, it's in an active area of restaurants and hotels. If you were staying there again, I would recommend NOT walking to Market Street via going south on Taylor, but going east to Powell St. and then down to Market. You would then avoid the part of Tenderloin which is probably the worst. Walking in the uphill direction (towards California St.) is o.k. If you are at all a savvy traveler, I think you already have the street smarts to sense when you're entering an iffy neighborhood, and will have your guard up. You will run into panhandlers throughout downtown S.F., but as Owen comments, adopting a policy of no eye contact, no response is a good deterrent - it's what I do, and I'm a local. I think you'll do fine.

think again tj it could also indicate that they are not seeing significant problems. X I live in Manhattan on the upper east side hardly a liberal community thinking people yes liberal no. Lived through the events 911 and guess what, it did not send me into the streets to malign Arabs. So you are about as on the money about me as you are on illegals in SF, REDNECK! ...You have said nothing to show us anything different. HERE ON THE THINKING COAST we are not comfortable maligning groups without any information to back up our claims. REDNECK!!!

YYY, you are a bigot for calling someone a redneck. That is a racial slur. You claim to be someone on the "thinking coast," but your words show that you are ignorant. <BR>

Wow just bumped into this thread. I agree with Y you really can't come to a conclusion that because they don't want to crack down on homelessness that there is a sense of lawlessness, that is a leaping generalization. Any city will go down in an instant should crime with homelessness become so huge that it will alienate tourist or more importantly business and community members. Tell me the city does not want to prosecute drug dealers that is not such a stretch with your thinking X.

That is a crack down on homelessness or illegal immigrants. Have you all followed a stories of people that have been locked up sense 911? Also from the east close there have been numerous editorials in papers across the country on this. Last I checked it was something like 500. My guess is SF is aware of the hundreds that are getting caught up in this frenzy.

Ok so not all of us can spell in a hurry :)

I think people are just not aware of the numbers that are getting thrown into jail because they have expired visas. Are they breaking the law? … yes is it prudent?… I doubt it . They are just keeping these people in prison at tax payers expense I thought the number was up to 5000. That is 5000 people in jail cut off from families. I know this is a scary time but it is just not a practical measure. Hats off to San Francisco for not complying. <BR><BR>Too your question Ross I found San Francisco very safe. I think it is like any city the crime ridden areas are usually identifiable and avoidable. I would stay away from the civic center.<BR>

What if 1, 2 or 3... of the people arrested in the "frenzy" were "cell leaders" and by being arrested, stopped some follow up terrorist activity?

what if: that same reasoning could lock up all Arabs as Japanese were locked up during WWII. Dimes to donuts San Francisco was more impacted with the encampments the Japanese endured and this why they are not complying. Actually my Time Out San Francisco says the Japanese community in San Francisco was far greater before the encampment days. The federal government displaced these people and they did not return to the city. So while I was just thinking outloud here this is probably closer to the reason to why they don't want to comply with the a federal round up. <BR><BR>Not a safety issue for you Ross.

What if 1, 2, 3... real Japanese spies were taken out of commission due to being locked up during the war?<BR>Yes. Have fun in San Francisco. It's a regular Disneyland.

If that where true I don't think the U.S government would not have formally apologized to the Japanese people. What if policy is not responsible law making. You could just apply it to everything. What if one woman might steal a loaf of bread let's luck up all women. Not very logical or thought out.

The government does not have 5000 men in prison as Katherine claimed. They rounded up a small group of people with visa violations. This is very different than the WWII internment of Japanese families. Most men have already been released while the others are being held on immigration and other crimes. Many cooperated with the government, and their information helped us avoid other terrorist attacks. For more info, go read some articles on cnn.com or foxnews.com.<BR><BR>However, I don't see what this line of discussion has to do with Ross' question about San Francisco, so I'd like to change the subject. <BR><BR>Ross, I went to San Francisco last year and stayed at a hotel on Fishermans Wharf. It's worth it to splurge on a nicer hotel if you can.

ok what if I did spell check first.<BR><BR>What if:If that were true I don't think the U.S government would have formally apologized to the Japanese people. What if policy is not responsible law making. You could just apply it to everything. What if one woman might steal a loaf of bread let's lock up all women. …not very logical or thought out.

Immigration violation was the round up reason, 5000 or nearing it is the number I have heard also on NPR (national public radio). FYI If you are paying attention to the newspapers or this thread.

This thread has become funny can't believe it took off like this. It really is about what people know. You see X and just a thought, you really aren't so far from those scary liberals you just should know a thing or two before you define yourself politically.

As logical as flying 3 large planes into 3 major buildings. Until 9-10-01 no one thought anybody would do that either.It's a whole new world out there. It is now truly becoming survival of the fittest, most aware. I don't know about you but I don't speak Farsay and don't look good in a berqa.

It's all good politics unless they are coming for you.

PSS as a NY I can tell you that we always knew NYC was a terrorist target. Sad but we use to joke about it. Was also in NYC during the first attack at the WTC back in early 90’s. I worked in the towers a few years ago also. Thing is reactionary legislation is not necessarily effective legislation. I think that is what SF sees.

All legislation is reactionary.<BR>And if it wasn't for me all of California would be in the dark. I am a hero, dammit. A hero I tell you.

Tell me why you are a hero Gov Davis I don't know much about you.

Because I kept the power running so the San Diego Union can run their GD presses.<BR>I hand picked consultants with direct ties to the energy companies and aides who owned stock in energy companies because who best to negotiate with energy companies but energy company people?<BR>The Legislature is here to carry out my visions.<BR>And I'm requiring all illegal aliens to get a driver's license and therefore have to have auto insurance before they will operate a vehicle on my state's rotten roads. GOT IT! I'm a hero, dammit.

Hey Genius. I made you what you are today so sit down and shaddup!