Recent San Francisco Experiences

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh great, a friend and I are going next week for 5 days (just two women.) I really hope this is exagerrated.

I do know two older (early 60s) family members who just went in April and their only comment was that there were a lot of homeless people.... which SF is well known for. These are Fox News watching 60 year olds, so I hope that's an accurate representation of what they saw. They stayed in Union Square, which is also where we are staying.

Tons of homeless people in union square. I was targeted by homeless youth the last time I was there, and I was nearly mugged. A local saw then casing me, approached me and scared them off. I had noticed them as well and sensed something was off, so I was grateful to the local who stepped in. He said it happens a lot.

Where are you from? Have you ever interacted with any homeless people before? I'm the person going with a friend next week, and I have lived in Baltimore and my friend lives in DC. We both have had "encounters" with homeless before... so this is not unfamiliar for us. Just curious if this was something you'd never dealt with before, which is why it sticks out so much to you, or if it truly was a unique situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh great, a friend and I are going next week for 5 days (just two women.) I really hope this is exagerrated.

I do know two older (early 60s) family members who just went in April and their only comment was that there were a lot of homeless people.... which SF is well known for. These are Fox News watching 60 year olds, so I hope that's an accurate representation of what they saw. They stayed in Union Square, which is also where we are staying.

Tons of homeless people in union square. I was targeted by homeless youth the last time I was there, and I was nearly mugged. A local saw then casing me, approached me and scared them off. I had noticed them as well and sensed something was off, so I was grateful to the local who stepped in. He said it happens a lot.

Where are you from? Have you ever interacted with any homeless people before? I'm the person going with a friend next week, and I have lived in Baltimore and my friend lives in DC. We both have had "encounters" with homeless before... so this is not unfamiliar for us. Just curious if this was something you'd never dealt with before, which is why it sticks out so much to you, or if it truly was a unique situation.

Obviously you have not seen or experienced California homelessness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh great, a friend and I are going next week for 5 days (just two women.) I really hope this is exagerrated.

I do know two older (early 60s) family members who just went in April and their only comment was that there were a lot of homeless people.... which SF is well known for. These are Fox News watching 60 year olds, so I hope that's an accurate representation of what they saw. They stayed in Union Square, which is also where we are staying.

Tons of homeless people in union square. I was targeted by homeless youth the last time I was there, and I was nearly mugged. A local saw then casing me, approached me and scared them off. I had noticed them as well and sensed something was off, so I was grateful to the local who stepped in. He said it happens a lot.

I was once mugged in Takoma Park, the peace and love capital of DC.

[Anonymous]

I was in the Union Sq area in October and found it gross. I walk by a homeless encampment in DC to work and Union Sq was a lot worse. Also saw a man exposing himself while many people just walked on by. I was not impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh great, a friend and I are going next week for 5 days (just two women.) I really hope this is exagerrated.

I do know two older (early 60s) family members who just went in April and their only comment was that there were a lot of homeless people.... which SF is well known for. These are Fox News watching 60 year olds, so I hope that's an accurate representation of what they saw. They stayed in Union Square, which is also where we are staying.

Tons of homeless people in union square. I was targeted by homeless youth the last time I was there, and I was nearly mugged. A local saw then casing me, approached me and scared them off. I had noticed them as well and sensed something was off, so I was grateful to the local who stepped in. He said it happens a lot.

Where are you from? Have you ever interacted with any homeless people before? I'm the person going with a friend next week, and I have lived in Baltimore and my friend lives in DC. We both have had "encounters" with homeless before... so this is not unfamiliar for us. Just curious if this was something you'd never dealt with before, which is why it sticks out so much to you, or if it truly was a unique situation.

Obviously you have not seen or experienced California homelessness.

No I have not, hence the questions? Seems obvious to me. I have been to southern California (LA and San Diego) and never noticed any homeless/any difference from what you see everywhere.

[Anonymous]

It’s gross and Seattle is just as bad.

[Anonymous]

This is really a federal issue since other states keep shipping their homeless to CA.

[Anonymous]

We once drove from San Diego to LA and saw a guy shitting alongside the road when we were stopped at a red light. So LA must be as bad as SF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We once drove from San Diego to LA and saw a guy shitting alongside the road when we were stopped at a red light. So LA must be as bad as SF.

LA is worse than anything you'll see in DC/East coast, but it is nothing compared to SF. (I live in cA)

Homeless have always come to California, warm weather, services etc. So, as someone else said, it's nothing new.

But the last few years it has exploded!

It's young people who are just hanging out doing drugs to be honest. Lots of older people with mental health issues, but a lot of young people. Which pisses me off.

SF has that dirty feel, I don't believe LA feels that way at all, unless you're in a few areas of downtown LA.
Anyway, the state remains gorgeous and stunning, but something needs to be done about these pockets of homelessness.

[Anonymous]

Wow ... so many suburbanites afraid of city folk. My 25 year old DD lives there OP and makes more money than most people do.

I have never had a single person ask me for money in SF. It happens to me every single day in DC. Maybe get a life or just stick to the burbs and leave travel to others who are more adventurous. I go to SF 4 times a year and really love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow ... so many suburbanites afraid of city folk. My 25 year old DD lives there OP and makes more money than most people do.

I have never had a single person ask me for money in SF. It happens to me every single day in DC. Maybe get a life or just stick to the burbs and leave travel to others who are more adventurous. I go to SF 4 times a year and really love it.

WTF -- you think anyone cares about your daughter's salary? Go tell to your book club, honey.

[Anonymous]

We are midwest transplants that now live in SF with our young daughter. We live the the Pac Heights area, but venture around the city with her all the time. Sure, there are areas of the city I won't take her, but that's the case with any place. If you are that worried/scared about the homeless and seeing poop, please don't come here. You will just be looking for that and not enjoying our beautiful city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow ... so many suburbanites afraid of city folk. My 25 year old DD lives there OP and makes more money than most people do.

I have never had a single person ask me for money in SF. It happens to me every single day in DC. Maybe get a life or just stick to the burbs and leave travel to others who are more adventurous. I go to SF 4 times a year and really love it.

WTF -- you think anyone cares about your daughter's salary? Go tell to your book club, honey.

[Anonymous]

There are some crazy people on this post. Like any big city, stick to the tourist areas and you'll be fine.

And give a water or a sandwich to a homeless person if you get a chance. It might make some of you feel better about yourselves and your fellow human beings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are midwest transplants that now live in SF with our young daughter. We live the the Pac Heights area, but venture around the city with her all the time. Sure, there are areas of the city I won't take her, but that's the case with any place. If you are that worried/scared about the homeless and seeing poop, please don't come here. You will just be looking for that and not enjoying our beautiful city.

Have you seen the Mission Bay playground? It's kind of a couple of blocks behind UCSF Mission Bay. It's beautiful!