Noxxx,

Lets come clean with the truth. You are working for the SF Chamber of Commerce and all you do is post misleading information about how great a tourist destination SF is, making it sound so nice when the truth is exactly the opposite. Also, let's stick to the topic at hand and not mention Portland, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, LA, or Chicago.
By the way, I was in Miami 2 weeks ago, and I hardly saw any homeless people on the streets.

I am not an SF hater as you think, but I do think it is important to state the truth.

Noxx, it seems silly to debate this here, but SF has a much, much worse homeless problem than any of those cities you mention. Can anyone image any city in the world where the authorities (including the police standing around) do nothing about drunks screaming and lunging at women and children? I saw this often in the Union Square area on a trip a few years ago.

I won't be back until the city decides to get tough with this. Throwing more money at the problem simply encourages more homeless to move in and take advantage of it.

SF has got to be the only city in America that forced Government housing projects in nice neighborhoods, rolls out the red carpet for the homeless and generally prefers to populate its city with the scum, freak degenerates of the world rather than decent hard working families. Take a stroll down the trash strewn streets of the Haight or Tenderloin. Liberal politics at their best. What a joke.

The homeless are definitely taking over Union Square and SF in general. Basically the town has become nothing but a haven for derelicts and prostitutes. Hardly a place to be recommended as a vacation destination.

I make it a policy to never post to these types of discussions, but it keeps coming back... so just this once.

OK, we get it. We in San Francisco have a homeless problem. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Now, while those of us who live here are busy working on solving it, will the rest of you please stick to the subject of travel advise? I come here for a break from my work - to dream and share stories.

We have heard that you would like the problem solved. Thank you for sharing. Please keep the Fodor's discussion civil - and better yet, focused on travel.

Sharon,
I guess you work for the SF Visitor's Bureau. It is time that you take off those rose colored glasses and start seeing San francisco for what it really is. One of the only cities in the country that has been on a steady decline starting back in the 90's. The homeless are only part of the problem. We should also mention the many prostitutes on the the streets both day and night, especially in the Union Square area and on Market Street. How about the increase in violent crime. Cab drivers are even afraid to pick up passengers for fear of being robbed or murdered.

OK, xxx,
You have stated it twice (on 2 threads), so now I need to respond (why you need to fabricate to make your point I am note sure). I am a self employed management consultant. I do not work for the visitors bureau. I just happen to visit this site because I like to travel - including within my own city.

C'mom, xxx. What do you get out of this conversation? And why won't you use your name?

I recently went to LA and San Diego for the first time. Now am glad that San Francisco was not in my itinerary and will avoid it in the future. I am glad for the information of how things really are. I rather spend my travel dollars where I can enjoy myself and would not appreciate experiencing the harrassment some have posted. Hopefully, those that are supposed to correct the situation will do so.

OK. Yeah. Right there "Traveler". Maybe you can just STAY in San Jose the rest of your life then?

Don't assume because you really don't know where I'm from.

I guess I can "assume" you may have been educated at San Jose St Univ from your sentence structure?

pseudo,

This is data from the US News and World Report ranking of San Jose State University. It is also the most respected of the California State Universities. I think YOU are the one that is ignorant.



San Jose State University Ranking

Undergraduate Computer engineering specialties: Schools programs:

1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)
2. Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)
3. Cooper Union (NY)
Harvey Mudd College (CA)
5. Cal Poly?San Luis Obispo *
6. Bucknell University (PA)
7. San Jose State University (CA)*

Undergraduate engineering specialties: Schools programs: Electrical/Electronic/Communications

1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)
2. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
3. Cal Poly?San Luis Obispo *
Cooper Union (NY)
Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)
6. United States Air Force Acad. (CO)*
7. Bucknell University (PA)
San Jose State University (CA)*

#16 overall for its undergraduate engineering program

Sharon,

And Sharon is your real name? I don't think so! Sharon, or whatever your name is, obviously you work for the SF Visitor's bureau because you keep posting false and misleading information about SF to mislead tourists into spending their hard earned money in your city.

NERD ALERT!!! NERD ALERT!!!
Where does it score in English skills?
Pocket Protector Univ.!!!!!

Pseudo, obviously you've touched a nerve! And must be pretty close to the mark with the SJSU prediction...

That's really sad -- San Jose State coming in last on both of those rankings. I guess that's why they are called [san] HOSERS!

Cliff,

Considering the ranking consisted of a total of 100 universities, San Jose State University's ranking is excellent, which is alot better than San Francisco State!

Our wonderful Mayor "Slick" Willie Brown has turned over Union Square to the prostitutes and homeless drug addicts. No doubt that it will be our top tourist destination!!

Is it going to be one giant homeless shelter? How convenient for the homeless to be right in the center of town. Nothing but the best for our beloved homeless.

Here's a clip from an article about the remodel...and no, it's not going to be the Hon. Willie Brown's castle!:

http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/unionsq.shtml
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"The $25 million renovations being conducted on Union Square itself, with the help of the Uptown Parking Corp. and the city and county of San Francisco, are scheduled to be completed in August 2002.
Plans include constructing a central plaza paved with granite where live performances will take place. The TIX Bay Area half-price theater ticket booth, now located on the perimeter, will be placed in the square, and a café will feature outdoor seating. Palm trees and gardens will be added as well. The Dewey statue is getting a face-lift, and four sculptures by R.M. Fischer will be installed in the square. This will no doubt make a great place to relax between shops."
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