Unfortunatele a court in SF has stopped the care not cash program from being implemented. It doesn't look like SF is going to be cleaned up any time soon, I am sad to say.

The voters approved it, but then the court ruled that the voters don't have the power to approve something like that. Hmmmmm

SF does have a homeless problem, but I don't think it should deter people from visiting the city. I don't think that the problem is so bad as to negatively impact tourists. They will probably get panhandled, but it's not a big deal.

The liberals are the cause of S.F.s problems. The feel sorry for the bums but don't care about a mother walking down the sidewalk with her little kids looking at some bum urinating or lying in the grass with himself exposed.

Who runs that town the usless bums or the hard working people of San Frncisco?What they need is not free everything buta kick in the butt out of town.

Well, if you spend your hard earned money on a vacation you don't want to be harrassed by a homeless person at every other street corner who wreaks of urine. Yuck. :b(

Jim,

No kidding, SF is going to have to get its act together sooner or later. I just dread every time I HAVE to go there on business.

you guys, is it really that bad? i will be there for two nights in June. staying at Park Hyatt in Embarcadero area. maybe the whole town is not bad, just specific areas? if so can you please advise me where to avoid. i live in new york city so even though i dont like to see dirty smelly bums around, i dont think i will be too shocked by it.

Karebear,

The sketchiest areas anywhere near the Tourist Zone are
1) 5th-9th Streets between market and Howard (No reason for you to go here, there is nothing there, only empty store fronts and a couple of adult video stores and cheapo electronics & luggage rip-off stores)

2) a small area called the Tenderloin which is basically about 3 blocks west of Union Square. Again, nothing here of any interest to any tourist. This are is less shady that area #1.

Union Square, FW, Northbeach, Ghiradelli Sq, the Embarcadero, The Metreon area * other areas of interest to tourists are all perfectly safe.

A change is coming! San Francisco's next mayor will be Gavin Newsom. Ultra-liberals poo-poo him because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth - but he's the only member of the board of supervisors with the guts to tackle the city's homeless problems.

Dollars to doghnuts you'll hear better things about San Francisco once he takes office.

Tourist-wise the homeless problem isn't overwhelming - but definitely annoying. Reminds me of NYC in the early '80s.

I agree with BayArea's assessment of the situation.

I think most posters know I'm a big SF fan and tend to stay out of these bash contests but I heard a bit of irony on SF radio this a.m and saw it in the Chron's website.

There is a "nation's largest psychiatrists association" (Amer Psych Assoc.) convention in SF now and it appears one of the docs was assaulted by a homeless man with a Hx of mental probs....near UnSq.
We wish her a speedy recovery.

This just may be the straw that broke the camel's back.

Doesn't Gavin own a restaurant in SF?
Maybe that why he's pushing it?
www.sfgate.com for the article.

Having said that, I still can't wait to go back next month. Maybe because DANGER is my middle name!
:)>-
Kal D. Kahuna

Pugger, I live in Ca. and fly to S.F. about twice a month, I've stayed at the Kensington Park & the Vintage Court, they were just okay, not dumps but nothing special, the locations are both good.
Here are my suggstions: www.argenthotel.com new nice rooms great staff and lacation
www.marriott.com be sure to get the one on 4th street not Fisher Man's Warf (never stay in that area)also the W on 3rd street www.whotels.com
Expedia & Hotels.com usually have good deals
If you would like any more info. on S.F. restarants etc. please feel free to email me at [email protected]
Best of luck
Fluffy

karebear,

Yes, unfortunately it is that bad in SF. The main areas to avoid basically includes downtown/Union Square, South of Market, and the Mission.

I was in New York City las month. It is spotless compared to San Francisco, no exaggeration. You will be in for a shock when you see SF. I have read that per capita San Francisco has 10 times the homeless population that New York City does. That basically explains the general poor condition of SF.

We stayed in Fisherman's Wharf and had a really good time. There were homeless on the streets but did not bother us. The only homeless that were rude were some at the cable car turnaround who sang to us as we waited for a car and were upset when we did not give them money. The rest of our 5 day experience was good, actually very good.

I have stayed in the Union Square area twice in the last two months. I think it is a great area. We did not run into the homeless, filth, etc. anymore than any other city or town I have visited in the last few years. The Union Square area has great shopping, retaurants, etc. and is so convient to many ares in the City within walking distance. San Francisco is a great city - enjoy your trip!

thank you everyone for your responses on where to avoid. i guess everyhwere has its bad points. i planned this summer trip to California after people had make me forget my other two ideas New Orleans and Key West because NO was supposedly dirty and smelly and hot and Key West was also dirty and had a lot of bums around. I will be in napa 2 nights, monterey 2 nights, and i only have 2 nights in SF and originally i was scared this wouldn't be enough, but now i think it will be perfect.

karebear,

If you think that SF is not dirty and smelly with lots of bums, just wait and see. I have been to both New Orleans and Key West. They are spotless compared to SF.

Jeez Louise! I live in the city and my neighborhood is spotless. It is a much gentler city than NYC (which I love and adore, too). Some neighborhoods are nicer than the others--and, if you are looking for a bargain by staying in certain neighborhoods...you get what you pay for...and, if you don't bother to venture out of those neighborhoods, you have a very limited view of the city...

Chuckles, Maybe your neighborhood is clean, but that is true for most of the suburban residential areas in SF. The trouble is that the parts of SF that are dirty and frequented by street people are the very same parts of town that tourists are in. The homeless aren't going to hang out in a residential subdivison to beg for money. They are smart and park themselves in tourist areas where there are more people for them to harass for money.