It’s not just the closed store fronts. It’s the thousands and thousands of people’s livelihoods destroyed. All their hopes and dreams….all gone. And all unnecessary.
My cousin bought a restaurant in SF. The health department there is aggressive. When you buy the business, they come in and say they don't like your tiles, they don't like your sink, all sorts of pointless things that cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix for a small, family-owned business. Its difficult to think the City of SF cares about small business, family owned, immigrant owned business, seems they want these places to fail.
@@jamesbrown4364 and many fleeing San Francisco going elsewhere for lower cost of living and lower rents. I have read about this in news articles over these last few years.
@@fleur257 Same in England, councils are too greedy to allow you to visit town, park for free and collect the money later, via 'business rates' (Huge taxes on all businesses) - so they put in huge parking costs and an army of traffic wardens. It's evil and stupid - so they do it.
Born and raised in Chicago and in 50 years the utter destruction of that city is staggering, Watching you roam the neighborhoods there gives me a strange sense of deja vu comparing the two cities. I miss neighborhoods where everyone knew each other, there were little "Mom & Pop" shops all over, and businesses had been in the family for generations. Community pride is a thing of the past, nobody connects anymore like they used to with people barely talking to one another. Depressing as hell, and the rot is spreading.
My husband and I have lived in Chicago since 1984 -so about 40 yrs. The 77 neighborhoods seem to be alive and well. During the past several years, downtown has seen a slight decline. Not this drastic but concerning. Ironically one of our sons has been dating a girl from the Bay Area so he goes between Chgo & Midway on a regular basis. He seems to enjoy both areas. Yet his girl friend says San Fran has changed. Our son think Chicago is still the place to be.
Lol, you are a Joke. Cabrini Green is gone, almost all the projects are gone. The city has lost 800k in population most of them poorer African Americans. Every year 10 new condo buildings open downtown. The Lincoln Yards project is ongoing. The Morton Salt are is developing. Fulton Market has popped up. The fact you say this now shows me you never really never hear nor even visited here recently. Petty crime is up but all other metrics are down. Chicago isnt even in the top 10 in murders like the boogieman GOP likes to argue about. Chicago is nowhere as bad as San Francisco.
As an Englishman, I visited San Francisco about 40yrs ago, and it embodied the "American dream" we were told about. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. So sad that it has since become the American nightmare.
As a person who lives in a Midwest college town, I find the rapid decline of San Francisco to be morbidly fascinating. Restaurants, banks, retail shops, beauty shops---ALL CLOSED. I wonder if the voters are intelligent enough to figure out that this didn't happen by accident, that it is due to foolish and misguided government policies. Do the voters even care???
Agree 100% with your comments. They got what they voted for, Newsome, whose liberal policies have made San Francisco a ghost town. Great job Newsome. Keep up the great job pretty soon California will be a ghost state!
San Francisco was arguably the most beautiful large city in the US. Homelessness, addiction, mental illness, crime and the impotence of local government has destroyed it.
Yes. They did the same thing in Phoenix. Homeless drug addicts were concentrated in an old part of town. Mostly, small houses and apartments. Now that the property has been sold for pennies. The drug addicts have been moved out and big expensive multi million dollar buildings are going up. The politicians and wealthy working together against the common people.
@@Anonymous-vr9hp About 25 years ago. We "had" property rights. Then a nationwide law was passed stating that local community representatives/politicians could make you sell at market value for the betterment of the community. So "they" lower values, force you to sell cheap, and get rich off the peasants. The local media is paid off or threatened.
No you're insane thinking these people voted for any of this..Its a Corporate takeover using Socialism (legislation and government over reach). They get their orders from NGOs/Foundations. Then they are bribed...
I worked at Lucca from 2006 to 2010. It was the best job I ever had. It was the heartbeat of the mission and respected city wide. Valencia Street was a hub of activity, and flourishing businesses. It’s heartbreaking and disgusting what has happened to San Francisco, but having lived there for 15 years I can say first hand the residents of San Francisco don’t have a clue. Their lefty woke stance has decimated the city and they keep voting for more. Gavin and the pelosi family have used and abused that city, embezzled and became rich and the spineless Bay Area population drank the kool aid. I moved right before Covid after my 5th truck was stolen and now I watch SF crumble from afar. Thank god.
Hey montyagain...Me and a buddy got to drink a beer with Kojak at a bar right next to the St Francis Hotel..is that anywhere near where you were? We were US Navy stationed at Treasure Island 1976
@@vintagemxer9165 What are you? An election denier? Probably a climate denier, a virus denier and a holocaust denier as well. I'm sure you'll deny being a denier, but then you always do.
So true. Every word. After working in the city for almost 30 years, I came to the conclusion that most of the city’s citizens are hypnotized by woke ideology. It’s that dangerous groupthink that won’t allow San Francisco to improve.
I literally just got back from San Francisco. It's also true that a lot of places are also closed in Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf. Sadly, even the icons of old San Francisco restaurants have been attacked. namely the signs of the old Doggy Diners that used to be around San Francisco were displayed in Golden Gate Park until some human trash decided to burn and destroy them.
I visited San Francisco 10 years ago and to see it reduced to this is beyond depressing. Went from a vibrant place full of people and turned into a hollow shell.
@@odietamo9376 You didn't see a lot of streets or neighborhoods that looks deserted and closed shops and homelessness before in big cities of the US compare to now , so there is something obviously wrong with the system , they need to divert it back before it too late .
@@odietamo9376 High rents, bad Covid policies, surging crime rate, absurd bike lanes and out of control homelessness have all contributed to the downfall of a once great city. The contagion of what we see here will spread to other streets and neighborhoods if nothing is done.
I grew up in CA. My mom worked in the fashion industry and we used to go to SF on a pretty regular basis when I was a little kid. I remember that San Francisco very fondly. The last time I was there, for a conference in 2018, it was already way down the slippery slope. My hotel was only two blocks from Moscone Center and the walk was scary dangerous. Now the place looks like a rotting corpse.
Thank God I got to see this town just before the town went to "Hell." What a disgrace, a beautiful location a once vibrant city- looks like the town was taken over by the Clearance Department!
I'm all for safer bike lanes and cities that will redesign streets to make it happen. Down the center is new to me. I would have to ride my e-bike on that lane to know if it sucks or not. Are there well placed secured bike racks? In my opinion Metal Leo needs to do some research about how safer bike lanes can improve cities. There are far worst problems in San Francisco than safer bike lanes. I live in Florida, so I will never see that street firsthand. I have visited San Francisco a few times when it was a nice city.
I used to drive a delivery truck in SF back in the late 1980s. I hated it because it was so cramped, hectic and busy. The traffic was bumper to bumper on those streets all day. You could NEVER find a place to park. That's what I notice the most from these videos, not the shops but near zero traffic. You could film a movie without blocking the street now. It's unconscionable how they have allowed a handful of junkies to destroy a once great city.
I worked in San Francisco for 26 years until my retirement in 2020. I love the city and it breaks my heart to see what has happened to it in the last few years.
If you voted for Democrats like Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom, Ed Lee and London Breed, in San Francisco, than you have yourself to blame. And before you ask me where I’m from, know that I spent all my life warning voters about what was about to happen while living and working in SF. But nobody listened. So, I’m out. Enjoy the CCP, Black Rock and Vanguard, who will buy up all the properties and will have you living under the boot, 1984 style.
Wow. It has changed so much since I visited in 2009. We walked through the Mission District and it was hopping with cafes and shops. My friend warned, at the time, that the homeless around there could be pretty aggressive and that it was getting bad. Who knew it would lead to this. Very sad.
I went to redondo beach CA in 2006. It was so beautiful, went to the beach each day. Saw the Santa Monica pier. Haven’t been back since. Glad I got to see it before all this shit happened.
I saw this same thing in my city, Albuquerque. It's run by the same type of idiot politicians who ran SF into the ground. About 8 years ago, we got a bunch of federal dollars to reduce what has always been our longest stretch of motels, shops, businesses, Central Ave. It was part of the original Route 66... and it was just jam packed with businesses of all kinds.... Theb, the "free money" came in... but there was a catch: We had to reduce the car lanes from two to one lane, and introduce a bus system no one wanted. The construction alone shuttered many businesses. The ones who stuck it out two years, were awarded with about a year of "normality" before Covid hit. Now it's mostly just a scary stretch of road, with decrepit old motels from the Route 66 era, and no activity, but strangely, the traffic is still terrible-- worst of all worlds. It's so mind blowing to see just how badly leaders destroyed the livelihoods, the dreams, the success of so many people. It's criminal. ... and why?? So the biggest banks who have massive cash reserves, can come in, after real estate tanks, and buy it for next to nothing? Or, is it just to appease Greta?
Removal of parking is crazy! 70 spots removed?! Removal of parking and traffic for the storefront is detrimental for the "location location location" realtor mantra and owner revenue. Without positive cash flow, sales and employment go bye bye. Government loses out on tax revenue.
I stopped going to San Francisco 10 years ago when it became impossible to find a parking spot anywhere in town. Even if you did want to go “shop” they were charging ridiculous rates $20+ for a half day in a guarded lot. If people take chances and park on the streets there is a high likelihood they will come back to a vandalized car. 🥴
By design.. . These people are paid to break into cars. It's an agenda and we are run by cartels. It also brings down the real estate... So they buy it up for pennies
You mean to tell me there's actually more FREE Parking in SF now?? I find that VERY hard to believe! Even with all those businesses closing people STILL JAM THE STREETS there and absolutely NO PLACE TO PARK FOR MILES anywhere near Fisherman's Wharf!
It was a great city in the 90s and early 2000s. The wheels really started to come off the cart around 2013. At least that's when I really started to notice. I miss it dearly.
"I would never go back to a city where the people running it actually HATE every citizen living there." You're probably hated because you're maga. Maga isn't something that's welcome in major cities
@@donTeo136 "I never equated socolism with hate, as you say.. But facts speak to that." Nope, the people claiming that SF is falling apart are the ones who equate with hate. MAGA is about hate and is not welcome here. SF is not socialist, we are moderate liberal, and it's about caring about your fellow man and advancing human society.
@neutrino78x Hugo Chavez said the same, exactly that... now they live on 40usd a month. And either starve or flee across boarders..that's your 'caring'.. Your advancement.
San Francisco, the United States, most expensive ghost town. Someone needs to send this to the mayors office. But I’m sure they wouldn’t give two cents about it.
I remember being downtown in 2011 and I was shocked how many homeless addicts were on the street. I can only imagine what nearly 15 years of urban decay has done to the overall vibe.
I live in Mexico and I have been to the US several times. This makes me feel sad and I almost can feel the frustration of residents, business owners and workers as well. They didn't deserve all of this.
They absolutely deserve all of this - *they voted for it.* Even as it was being done to them, they were given the opportunity - *MULTIPLE opportunities, really* - to change course *and they demanded MORE.*
I've travelled all throughout Mexico from San Luis Portosi to Queretaro, Leon, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, none of them look like most American cities, and I live in the Soviet States of America. Mexico just looks better and better every day. Plus, the Mexican people are VERY patriotic, more than most Americans that like to set Old Glory on fire for kicks.
Thank you for documenting this tragedy. I grew up in these areas in the 70s when it was full of successful local business owners. This is absolutely inexcusable as well as heartbreaking.
Good idea, the left wing fascist Democrat politicians are the cause of this and should be charged and made to pay out of their own money. They have got away with this destruction of our country far to long.
@@CephlonMayngrum so does that mean they cant do something about it? people dont make mistakes? get real these politicians lie themselves into office, the people are just gullible.
lol they did vote for it and blame the Christian white man for the destruction and then move to a conservative white area because no crime them vote in the same cancerous democrats that destroyed San Fran….liberalism is a mental disorder.
Oh I just saw a lot of San Francisco TH-camrs telling me about how the right wing is making everything up about everything being closed. And the City is doing nothing to help the businesses. But they always seem to film their episodes from nice parks in Pacific Heights.... thanks Leo
Same here. Some of my liberal friends who still live in The City are in complete denial, and when I was talking to them about this recently, they told me it was Fox News / right wing propaganda. I told them how I was just out there visiting a few months ago and saw it with my own eyes and they kept making excuses. Incredible.
Every television show and movie, pretty much, tells you that businessmen are evil. California is where most of these shows and films are planned. Californian voters apparently believe this, and vote accordingly. They’re fleeing, at least a lot are, and soon will ruin Nevada, Texas, Florida and so on. They believe nonsense AND THEY VOTE.
In 1966 We often spent a weekend in San Francisco! Market st was a very busy street with cars and buses, lots of shoppers enjoying everything!! So sad to see it as a Dirty Junkyard now!😢
It’s really quite unbelievable how a lot of the landlords more than doubled the leases. They made it unaffordable for businesses to stay. All of these businesses would still be open if they had reasonable lease prices. Some of these leases used to only be about $2000 a month. And now most of them are over $6000 a month. No one can afford to lease them.
What are the taxes? Seriously a lot of raised rent is due to raised taxes. I know that the rents here are double but so are the taxes and the prices people are getting to fix things is high. If you don't make any money and I didn't last year due to the cost of doing business, you find a way to make more. I'm doing better in a $14,000.00 dividend portfolio that I'm making in two houses worth $550,000.00. As soon as people start buying, I'm unloading them despite having to give the government $1.000.00 a month extra to Medicare a month for a year. It's all-evil landlords - not evil tax collectors or evil plumbers and the like. @@waynefoote3781
BINGO!! Rents leases sales beyond abnormal. Easier to blame US largest city failure on homeless shoplifting not the profits first, guaranteed usual+ ROI property caste. CV lockdown etc was like a stroke or respiratory failure while maxing heart rate during a record long binge.
I lived in SF from 98 to 2002. It was a really vibrant place when I lived there. It's really gone to shit now. I am so glad I live in Los Angeles where businesses can actually operate and thrive. SF is doomed unless they get better leadership. It's sad because it's one of Americas most beautiful cities, but it's been run into the ground by it's politicians.
@@gangoffour6690 I don't see it happening in LA unless all the Latinos decide to move elsewhere. They are a very conservative and hard working bunch, and they don't roll with the kooky type of ideas they have in San Fran.
I used to live in Potrero Hill and liked visiting that Nordstrom Rack near Trader Joe's. What a big change and good thing I left in 2021 because I knew the city will go down the drain.
Sold my place in Potereo Hill and moved to Woodland near Davis and loved it here ever since..everything is thriving. Thank goodness. I felt so bad for those who are stuck and can't sell their homes.....
America, it's politics and it's cities are rotting at the seams. It's a country for " the wretched, the tired, the poor, the criminals, and the law breakers". 😢
If you give the people, “paper” and one day to “choose,” it wouldn’t be a blue, sanctuary city. Trust me! I lived in SF for 5 years. When I went “to choose” in 2016, the lady checking names at the desk actually got mad at me for showing my “name card.”
@@odietamo9376exactly! There are many neighborhoods in SF that doing just fine … despite the lousy SF politics … Leo has found a niche of showing the worst of SF and other parts of the Bay for the views/clicks. All of these out of towners that do not live here, buy into his ‘doom loop’ agenda 👀
@@SergioFernandez-cj4mt I understand your feelings here, and your not completely incorrect. However, one of the most beautiful and Iconic cities in all of America has been turned into a cesspool by thieving progressive politicians and putting on a pretty face isn't going to motivate anyone to change this back to what it should be. I was stationed at Tresure Island in the early 80's and would love to re-visit if not for the fact that it's completely unsafe, and filthy now.
This was my old neighborhood. I remember having so many good times at all those restaurants that are closed shopping at all the stores that are closed and enjoying my life in San Francisco. I live in Florida now since 2019 and nothing is closed here, but all of my friends and family ,still in San Francisco , deny that anything has changed or they say and believe that all of this destruction is better then what was there before and that it is necessary to make the world a better place. They are under a spell . That is the only way I can explain their behavior. It’s as if they have nothing else in life to hold onto except their ideology.
Spiritual blindness....it has to be.....lived and worked in the beautiful city of SF in the 80's.....this is when the decline started....I've been back and dont recognize some places....horrible conditions.....absolutely crazy letting the druggies and criminals rule the street
Kills me when I see bicycle lanes with NO bicycles. See them in every big city yet rarely is there ever a bicycle using them. Meanwhile the businesses start closing just so the city council can virtue signal.
While on active duty I visited San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was really great. I have spoken to people who have been there in the past few years and what has been allowed to happen is so sad. I will not go back now. I want to keep my wonderful memories intact.
A buddy I had while in the army talked all the time about SF and how great it was. As soon as his enlistment ran out, he was moving to SF. That was in the 1990's. I often wonder if he is still enjoying his home in SF, or did he move on by now.
Honestly think at this point you can't vote your way out of the tyranny. We are ran by large corporations and ppl who can careless about individual ppl. It's all greed. We are coming into scary times.
What do u mean? I live in the UK, so don't understand ur reference 🤔 I understand if it's cos rent gone up and the local council government restrictions on traffic.
And as a Fresno California resident don't forget about the train! They ripped our town apart for the train that never will be. The train that goes to SF a town that is gone! The bay area is the last place we want to go now.
I grew up frequenting many of the places you show here. That vegan place on Mission was awesome. Unbelievable footage. Thank you for pointing out the issue of those huge bike lanes. Notice there is NO ONE using them.
Just went to Berlin, Germany and Stockholm, Sweden and you know what their business districts were like? OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Pretty much EVERY store in every commercial district I drove through was open and occupied.
Most of the European countries r small,have less cars,more trains and, very crowded cities with small roads(best place for bikes) ..here it’s different story …the libs aka democrats brought bike lanes to have less corbon climate change bs …it doesn’t work like that & our country is massive without car ..it’s impossible to live..if u don’t have a car, u can’t even get p u s s y,. +crimes( democrats refusing to enforce laws because they don’t want to put blks and Hispanics to prison) that’s racist..another one democrats anti business attitudes & high taxes r all contributing for the decline of California
Making streets more pedestrian-centered normally increases foot-traffic to stores, especially in a city like San Francisco where most people don't travel by car... When I lived in SF there was massive foot-traffic in the areas you're describing. I went to those restaurants and bars, and I didn't know a single person who got to them by car. That said, when everyone was getting kicked out of their affordable homes I saw the writing on the wall and left SF. I never thought it'd get this bad though.
"Making streets more pedestrian-centered normally increases foot-traffic to stores, especially in a city like San Francisco where most people don't travel by car..." Like where? Where has this happened?
@@quabledistocficklepo3597 Congress Avenue in Austin, West Trinity Place in Decatur, Downtown Gainseville, Orange Avenue in Orlando, Flagler Street in Miami, and the list goes on and on. There are plenty more examples in the United States, and even more in Europe. Almost without exception, when a city makes a street more pedestrian-friendly, this leads to more foot-traffic and more money for businesses (usually around 30% more).
This is a lesson learned. We are not like Europeans. The addition of bike lanes was likely done without considering if any of the "new" customers on bikes live anywhere close to these shops or have any inclination to actually ride/walk to these shops. Also very likely that no veto option was give to the shop owners.
To be fair the people of SF had a choice. They elected these people that very clearly told them what they were going to do. The people in SF are getting exactly what they voted for. They wanted this.
They did this in Chicago: Eliminated much of on street parking for “bike lanes” to the detriment of small businesses. Why? $$$ 1) To force more drivers into paid-taxed and connected-parking lots and structures. 2) Boost parking -fine- fraud “revenue.” Customers are driven off and suppliers are less likely to deliver.
You are correct, America is not like Europe, as Europeans never developed the same kind of addiction to cars, and their development of cities and infrastructure has never been car centric, adopting public transit as the norm decades ago while America tore it up.
@@parsnip2699 That's what happens when you have city leaders who have no idea at all how to lead a city. Imagine if people like that worked in a manufacturing facility, or any job pertaining to infrastructure. Flunkies.
I remember when Californians made a big deal about crossing the street. Basically, regardless of how traffic was moving, Californians said pedestrians should just jump in front of traffic. When I saw the hateful attitude of pedestrians toward automobiles, I knew the idiots were in control.
Nah man, when you walk or bike in the street don't you know that magically every car going by is being driven by a sober and responsible adult who is definitely not distracted by their phone or screaming kids in the back seat?
Some of these closed regardless of location, Bed Bath & Beyond, Pier 1 Imports, Radio Shack. I'm sure the bike lane hurt the stores/restaurants. What hurts the most is the insane crime, homeless & addicts. You simply cannot function as a normal person in that situation. I'm glad I saw San Francisco in its better years. I'll never go back.
I have a lot of things to say about this video. I can’t believe that the most expensive city in the US for homes and rentals looks like what you showed on the mission and Valencia. The bike lane situation makes no sense! Filthy dirty and tagged but rents are 5000 a month it’s insanity!
@@dakotaslt232001 It's called induced demand. It's the same reason why adding more car lanes increases traffic in the long run. More people will eventually bike if there is the infrastructure to support it. Multiple studies show that creating bike lanes have little or no negative impact, while often having positive economic impact on businesses. The city wants more people to walk, bike, and use public transit, because it is much more scalable. The way they make the bike lane in Valencia, though.... is very interesting to say the least.
I used to shop at Bed and Bath on 9th Street. I worked at 10th:Howard for 22 years. My neighbor worked at Bed and Bath, told me they were closing because of theft.
It's not bikes at all. That bike lane is actually really good, the entire neighborhood has gone to shit, the tech has largely left along with the workers. The area is being block busted along with many other parts of the city. Land prices will depress then big players will move in buy up for pennies on the dollar, demolish and redevelop and sell to foreigners. SF is a very nice desirable city with an amazing climate.
Black Mayor, Black femail police chief, police not supported, and people allowed to live in tents on the sidewalk, now you are looking at the result. There are people who let this happen.
I did all of my professional school and residency in San Francisco in the mid teens and I can’t believe how empty the street are! It’s like a ghost town!
Thank you for documenting the end of retail shopping and dining out in the Bay Area. Your films should be edited together, shown on PBS, and archived for posterity. In this episode, the bike lane down the middle of Valencia street was empty! Why do they have a bike lane if no bicyclists are using it? As for the restaurants, bars, small shops, and big box stores of the Mission, they may open again, but "Good Luck With That!"
Did you look into the Sustainability Development Goals. And the Green Agenda? The cycle lanes are there to kill the businesses along with the draconian legislation in place. It's pure Socialism... The Green scam is essentially Neo Feudalism. You probably know all this.
That green lane is for cyclists, eh? No sir! Truth, the only bicycles you will see there are wrecks, stolen, with a stoned twit riding it. No way are those painted lanes safe for bicycles. Trust me, I rode over 22,000 km per year.@@LeoMetalTraveler
About 12 years ago I asked an SF liberal who was going to fix the city. Smuggly they said the elected officials would. ‘They know how to fix things and will’. 12 years later I bet that liberal doesn’t even live there anymore. Certainly nothing was fixed.
As a native of San Francisco, I cry for my city and its people. I moved away almost a decade ago, but I can still imagine the flora and fauna that exists in a city surrounded by the bay and Pacific Ocean. I miss the days when creativity flourished, and cultures melded together in peace. And now the wealth divide is clear and soon those below poverty and at low-income levels will seek balance. Desperate people do desperate things. We all know that any city is not a good place to be right now.
Can’t you see that it’s your multicultural utopian nonsense that killed SF? I lived there for 10 years and watched all that phony “togetherness,” with shock and awe. No one really talked about anything but victimology.
And I moved to Baltimore and got my own apartment for less than $1000 and it was in a great 👍 neighborhood. So good in fact that I could leave my door open all night and not be worried about anything. So I don't know what you're talking about "all cities".
As someone else pointed out, foreigners bought the buildings and raised the rents to out of affordability. Many are investors from China and Dubai, according to the poster. I know someone who used to be in real estate in SF. He made a killing, but now he's broke. Drives Uber.
Whats really a shame is it would be so easy to reverse and fix. Its like watching someone filling their gas tank with water because a conman sold them magical water. You tell them it will not run, they do it anyway, their car breaks down, and instead of listening to the person who warned them, they go back to the conman to solve it and he tells them they just need more water. And repeat.
I’m English,and I always thought of San Francisco as an exciting,vibrant city.The only positive thing I can think,now,is that tent city,full of homeless people,and addicts,hasn’t taken over the streets.I hope that never happens.
Keep reporting. People have got to get their heads out of their butts. We seldom notice what’s going on a few miles away and think all is fine so long as we don’t see it.
Leo, Enjoy your coverage of the Bay Area where I grew up. I believe the lights are left on so Law Enforcement can see what is going on inside easier. Makes it safer if they have to go into those large spaces to remove trespassers/ thieves.
In Denver , law enforcement might not even do That much.. Crime is RAMPANT here, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten THAT bad here yet. HOW TF COME does it keep getting MORE EXPENSIVE in SF and Denver when conditions keep getting worse???😮
Thank you so so much Gavin Newsome, for this wonderfully abject lesson in how to destroy a city, and it’s livelihoods and communities…♥ Masterful work Gavin, so impressive, so progressive ! ❤ 🤥
You guys think this is just because of ‘bad’ policy but you will be surprised to find out that this was their plan all along. Now their billionaire friends can buy up the city for pennies on the dollar.
To see such widespread closures is heart wrenching;it's a good way for the politicos to kill their tax base. Way to go blue voters. Thanks for the continued updates,Leo.
The control system knows how to manipulate low level thinkers by telling them that they're helping the environment by riding their bikes rather than driving. The same people buy electric cars that use batteries that do serious harm to the environment.
My wife and I grew up in California. Sixty years living in that once great state slowly watching it's slide into idiocracy. Anyone that thinks it's still wonderful there doesn't know what their talking about. Their standards have been by design lowered ever so slightly everyday till living with filth and corruption is tolerable. The dumbest constituency in America. We left that "utopia" six years ago and never looked back. Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. - H. L. Mencken
Massachusetts my home state it's the opposite more building more restaurants and shopping. The amount of foot traffic increases. Lots of development home building is way up. In my town. There is so many homes being built since the 1970s more commercial real estate. Many people from all over moving in.
@@johnmcgowanireland695 Left the Bay Area 20 years ago, and then completely out of Commiefornia 1.5 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Now living in my little piece of paradise in the mountains.
I noticed on Zillow, that you can rent studios in SF now in the 800.00 a month range. Which was un heard of in the past. Rents are actually higher in the east bay like Martinez than in SF.
All of these business owners should seriously sue the city, and state of California. Liberalism is a mental health crisis, these people are so delusional, they can’t see that they’re literally eating their own faces off!
WOW!!! We left 8 years ago and how it has changed! I'm so happy we left when we did and moved to Portugal! When we arrived in Tomar (central portugal) it was not doing so well, however, since we moved there, more and more people moved here and it is becoming vibrant, with restaurants opening and new shops! I'm so sad for the demise of the US and SF
I'm 79 and have only been to California once. In May 1977 my wife and decided to take a trip out west in our 1973 Gremlin. We spent the night at a Best Western in Sacramento and a Motel 6 in Monterey. We enjoyed driving around in San Francisco and it seemed like a nice beautiful city back then. Then we drove down the coast to San Diego and the scenery was terrific as advertised. It's a shame about the closed stores etc and I wondered if the owners filed lawsuits against the city.
Leo this is sad. What i enjoyed alot about San Francisco is variety of foods...excellent food. The most simple family ran restaurant in the city beat a lot of more expensive restaurants elsewhere. To see this decay is sad beyond sad. Leo, you be safe sir in a lot of these neighborhoods.
No way this is caused by bike lanes alone. It’s gotta be a multitude of things. Covid had to be involved as well. They keep the lights on so the homeless won’t set up camp there and destroy the place.
Thanks for doing this. San Francisco was once a city with such great neighborhoods, and businesses that all have been destroyed by the failed San Francisco leadership and their policies. I wonder if the stores are closed in the Mayor's neighborhood?
It’s not just the closed store fronts. It’s the thousands and thousands of people’s livelihoods destroyed. All their hopes and dreams….all gone. And all unnecessary.
And it was all destroyed deliberately.
So true. Every word.
Excellent point. And, if rooted, off you go somewhere else. And, it won’t be the Bay area.
It is called the decline and fall of western civilization into a third world shi*hole.
But if there are no businesses, cars, customers, isn`t that excellent for the climate? Greta Thunberg for Mayor!
My cousin bought a restaurant in SF. The health department there is aggressive. When you buy the business, they come in and say they don't like your tiles, they don't like your sink, all sorts of pointless things that cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix for a small, family-owned business. Its difficult to think the City of SF cares about small business, family owned, immigrant owned business, seems they want these places to fail.
But they love dirt in streets
@@klaraakop3091The devil loves suffering and filth.
That's easy. They are after the middle class and love to justify their existence by being a dick.
How is the health department ok with how these dirty streets look!
@@DebbiesWorld The poop on the streets is fine. Homeless don't have money, so can't pay government extortion.
It's not a bike lane that is destroying businesses, it's the city's refusal to arrest and convict criminals
It's many factors, covid, rising rent, people leaving the house less, bike lanes,crime, rising interest rates etc.
Bike lanes did a lot of damage to businesses.
@@jamesbrown4364 and many fleeing San Francisco going elsewhere for lower cost of living and lower rents. I have read about this in news articles over these last few years.
It's a deliberate and consistent process and agenda to destroy our civilisation, in every single way possible.
@@fleur257 Same in England, councils are too greedy to allow you to visit town, park for free and collect the money later, via 'business rates' (Huge taxes on all businesses) - so they put in huge parking costs and an army of traffic wardens.
It's evil and stupid - so they do it.
Born and raised in Chicago and in 50 years the utter destruction of that city is staggering, Watching you roam the neighborhoods there gives me a strange sense of deja vu comparing the two cities. I miss neighborhoods where everyone knew each other, there were little "Mom & Pop" shops all over, and businesses had been in the family for generations. Community pride is a thing of the past, nobody connects anymore like they used to with people barely talking to one another. Depressing as hell, and the rot is spreading.
My husband and I have lived in Chicago since 1984 -so about 40 yrs. The 77 neighborhoods seem to be alive and well. During the past several years, downtown has seen a slight decline. Not this drastic but concerning. Ironically one of our sons has been dating a girl from the Bay Area so he goes between Chgo & Midway on a regular basis. He seems to enjoy both areas. Yet his girl friend says San Fran has changed. Our son think Chicago is still the place to be.
“…between Midway and the Bay Area.”
He just told me she lives in a town called Pinole a suburb
Lol, you are a Joke. Cabrini Green is gone, almost all the projects are gone. The city has lost 800k in population most of them poorer African Americans. Every year 10 new condo buildings open downtown. The Lincoln Yards project is ongoing. The Morton Salt are is developing. Fulton Market has popped up. The fact you say this now shows me you never really never hear nor even visited here recently. Petty crime is up but all other metrics are down. Chicago isnt even in the top 10 in murders like the boogieman GOP likes to argue about. Chicago is nowhere as bad as San Francisco.
Then go to a small town old man… how do you plan on knowing millions of people on an economic hub?
As an Englishman, I visited San Francisco about 40yrs ago, and it embodied the "American dream" we were told about. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. So sad that it has since become the American nightmare.
True England is rapidly following suit with the same. The west is being destroyed from bad politics.
It only has become a nightmare when the city is run by Woke leftists. It can be undone with correct leadership.
San Fran is the leading indicator for a western civilization that is committing suicide. Economic, moral, demographics. Pitiful and preventable.
Every Democrat run city in America is in the same sad state as SF.
They pushed it far left ideologies
As a person who lives in a Midwest college town, I find the rapid decline of San Francisco to be morbidly fascinating. Restaurants, banks, retail shops, beauty shops---ALL CLOSED. I wonder if the voters are intelligent enough to figure out that this didn't happen by accident, that it is due to foolish and misguided government policies. Do the voters even care???
It is due to deliberate destruction of our world, noting misguided about it.
They have mail in ballots for people to fill out for a month.
They will vote blue again justifying that it is just this one person's fault.
nope
All elections are rigged. Pelosi in office 50 years. Newsome is her nephew.
Great documentation, Leo. The voters had a choice between Newsome and Larry Elder and they chose to continue this way of life by voting for Newsome.
It's greater than newsom. He's a puppet
Agree 100% with your comments. They got what they voted for, Newsome, whose liberal policies have made San Francisco a ghost town. Great job Newsome. Keep up the great job pretty soon California will be a ghost state!
They like to vote in black females to destroy their cities.
Well, I for one, will NEVER vote for a Democrat again.
Don't understand what Californians thinking if they are thinking @ all! SAD
San Francisco was arguably the most beautiful large city in the US. Homelessness, addiction, mental illness, crime and the impotence of local government has destroyed it.
incompetence rather.
Local government... hahahaha
You're living thru the biggest property grab in California history.
It's all planned to collapse, build back better/digital ID/CBDC/Centralisation of everything/small business destroyed🥳🤝
Yes. They did the same thing in Phoenix. Homeless drug addicts were concentrated in an old part of town. Mostly, small houses and apartments.
Now that the property has been sold for pennies. The drug addicts have been moved out and big expensive multi million dollar buildings are going up. The politicians and wealthy working together against the common people.
@@steverooke1717 EV battery plants are being built all over the country funded by China and Exxon Oil and others they want us all in 15 minute cities.
@@kengaroo5170 exactly right and it was so obvious to see. I've been saying the same thing for years.
@@Anonymous-vr9hp
About 25 years ago. We "had" property rights.
Then a nationwide law was passed stating that local community representatives/politicians could make you sell at market value for the betterment of the community. So "they" lower values, force you to sell cheap, and get rich off the peasants.
The local media is paid off or threatened.
These people in SF are insane. They keep voting in the same people and keep expecting different results.
No you're insane thinking these people voted for any of this..Its a Corporate takeover using Socialism (legislation and government over reach). They get their orders from NGOs/Foundations. Then they are bribed...
You actually believe it's the voters.
SF has been bought up by foreign investors @@lilcricket4379
@@lilcricket4379democrats run the city. It’s why it’s a shit hole
They vote these people in??? Please. The politicians are selected not elected.
I worked at Lucca from 2006 to 2010. It was the best job I ever had. It was the heartbeat of the mission and respected city wide. Valencia Street was a hub of activity, and flourishing businesses. It’s heartbreaking and disgusting what has happened to San Francisco, but having lived there for 15 years I can say first hand the residents of San Francisco don’t have a clue. Their lefty woke stance has decimated the city and they keep voting for more. Gavin and the pelosi family have used and abused that city, embezzled and became rich and the spineless Bay Area population drank the kool aid. I moved right before Covid after my 5th truck was stolen and now I watch SF crumble from afar. Thank god.
Hey montyagain...Me and a buddy got to drink a beer with Kojak at a bar right next to the St Francis Hotel..is that anywhere near where you were? We were US Navy stationed at Treasure Island 1976
What makes you think they were voted in?
@@vintagemxer9165 What are you? An election denier? Probably a climate denier, a virus denier and a holocaust denier as well. I'm sure you'll deny being a denier, but then you always do.
So true. Every word. After working in the city for almost 30 years, I came to the conclusion that most of the city’s citizens are hypnotized by woke ideology. It’s that dangerous groupthink that won’t allow San Francisco to improve.
I wonder, if the woke-voters expect different results, when they, once again, surely elect the worst candidates. God bless you, congrats for escaping.
I literally just got back from San Francisco. It's also true that a lot of places are also closed in Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf. Sadly, even the icons of old San Francisco restaurants have been attacked. namely the signs of the old Doggy Diners that used to be around San Francisco were displayed in Golden Gate Park until some human trash decided to burn and destroy them.
I visited San Francisco 10 years ago and to see it reduced to this is beyond depressing. Went from a vibrant place full of people and turned into a hollow shell.
81 million votes = my ass , it’s on You tube , listen people and then vote for the dementia Joe again
Higher wages for workers wont fix this but more tax cuts for the rich will work. They pinky promise this time.
at some point most of the world will be a hollow shell
@@odietamo9376 You didn't see a lot of streets or neighborhoods that looks deserted and closed shops and homelessness before in big cities of the US compare to now , so there is something obviously wrong with the system , they need to divert it back before it too late .
@@odietamo9376
High rents, bad Covid policies, surging crime rate, absurd bike lanes and out of control homelessness have all contributed to the downfall of a once great city. The contagion of what we see here will spread to other streets and neighborhoods if nothing is done.
it's hard to run a pawn shop when everything that comes in, is stolen.
U would think with all theft that going on in San Francisco a pawn shop business would be booming right …
It is their own faults. Pawn shops have become nothing more than gun and commercial tool stores.
I grew up in CA. My mom worked in the fashion industry and we used to go to SF on a pretty regular basis when I was a little kid. I remember that San Francisco very fondly. The last time I was there, for a conference in 2018, it was already way down the slippery slope. My hotel was only two blocks from Moscone Center and the walk was scary dangerous. Now the place looks like a rotting corpse.
Really love what they've done with the place. The leadership in that community have such a distinctive style.
That distinctive style has spread to other cities. I wonder how that happened.
@@kylekyle7386 I wonder if those cities have anything in common?
pure coincidence@@manning8
the old mayor now wants to be president of the whole country, newsom, help destroy san fran, then all of calif. then the entire country
At peast they have diversity!
Thank God I got to see this town just before the town went to "Hell." What a disgrace, a beautiful location a once vibrant city- looks like the town was taken over by the Clearance Department!
The rainbow mafia and blm didn’t help. Hmmm
thank demorats
It was, they are called Democrats.
I drove down Valencia Street the other day and it sucks.
Exactly!
How are areas like on Van Ness?
fun fact: cyclists hate the middle bike lane going down valencia as well, just terrible city planning at its worst
When I ride I want to see the sights and enjoy the vendors. No joy there!
"Terrible city planning" is redundant.
I'm all for safer bike lanes and cities that will redesign streets to make it happen. Down the center is new to me. I would have to ride my e-bike on that lane to know if it sucks or not. Are there well placed secured bike racks? In my opinion Metal Leo needs to do some research about how safer bike lanes can improve cities. There are far worst problems in San Francisco than safer bike lanes. I live in Florida, so I will never see that street firsthand. I have visited San Francisco a few times when it was a nice city.
@@lordfubar1 Bikes lanes were all just part of the crippling of San Francisco. The main thing that damaged the city is democRATS!
I was going to say..... that does not look very inviting to bicycles.
“How do you kill a business? Restrict access to it” never been to SF. Just LA several times. This is horrible.
I used to drive a delivery truck in SF back in the late 1980s. I hated it because it was so cramped, hectic and busy. The traffic was bumper to bumper on those streets all day. You could NEVER find a place to park. That's what I notice the most from these videos, not the shops but near zero traffic. You could film a movie without blocking the street now. It's unconscionable how they have allowed a handful of junkies to destroy a once great city.
By "a handful of junkies", do you mean the governor, SF city council, and everyone that votes for a Democrat?
Yep, right up there with Seattle.
I drive a rig in the Nashville area. I feel your pain. What's worse is that the whole world is moving there, so it gets more crowded every day.
@@psychosneighbor1509 lol. That was an understatement of the year. Nice response.
when you film a video on a rainy sunday morning yea there won't be that many people outside
I worked in San Francisco for 26 years until my retirement in 2020. I love the city and it breaks my heart to see what has happened to it in the last few years.
If you voted for Democrats like Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom, Ed Lee and London Breed, in San Francisco, than you have yourself to blame. And before you ask me where I’m from, know that I spent all my life warning voters about what was about to happen while living and working in SF. But nobody listened. So, I’m out. Enjoy the CCP, Black Rock and Vanguard, who will buy up all the properties and will have you living under the boot, 1984 style.
Did you vote for this ?
@@xxxxxxxxx3944 Of course not. This is the alt-right's fault! (
Are there still parties or are those gone too?
Did you move to a tax friendly state....?
Wow. It has changed so much since I visited in 2009. We walked through the Mission District and it was hopping with cafes and shops. My friend warned, at the time, that the homeless around there could be pretty aggressive and that it was getting bad. Who knew it would lead to this. Very sad.
Same here, i haven’t been in 20 years and dont want the updated version of was once a buzzing happening city replaced with this literal shithole.
I went to redondo beach CA in 2006. It was so beautiful, went to the beach each day. Saw the Santa Monica pier. Haven’t been back since. Glad I got to see it before all this shit happened.
There doesn't appear to be many people to mug. Now the muggers are out of work.
Same for me but 10 years earlier. It was so busy I can remember and difficult to find a restaurant with seating for two. Now look at it all. Crazy.
@@LouDeVere yeah all the restaurants and busy young tech people doing all kinds of groundbreaking work, now its nothing but a mess.
I saw this same thing in my city, Albuquerque. It's run by the same type of idiot politicians who ran SF into the ground. About 8 years ago, we got a bunch of federal dollars to reduce what has always been our longest stretch of motels, shops, businesses, Central Ave.
It was part of the original Route 66... and it was just jam packed with businesses of all kinds.... Theb, the "free money" came in... but there was a catch: We had to reduce the car lanes from two to one lane, and introduce a bus system no one wanted. The construction alone shuttered many businesses. The ones who stuck it out two years, were awarded with about a year of "normality" before Covid hit.
Now it's mostly just a scary stretch of road, with decrepit old motels from the Route 66 era, and no activity, but strangely, the traffic is still terrible-- worst of all worlds. It's so mind blowing to see just how badly leaders destroyed the livelihoods, the dreams, the success of so many people. It's criminal. ... and why?? So the biggest banks who have massive cash reserves, can come in, after real estate tanks, and buy it for next to nothing? Or, is it just to appease Greta?
Removal of parking is crazy! 70 spots removed?! Removal of parking and traffic for the storefront is detrimental for the "location location location" realtor mantra and owner revenue. Without positive cash flow, sales and employment go bye bye. Government loses out on tax revenue.
I stopped going to San Francisco 10 years ago when it became impossible to find a parking spot anywhere in town. Even if you did want to go “shop” they were charging ridiculous rates $20+ for a half day in a guarded lot. If people take chances and park on the streets there is a high likelihood they will come back to a vandalized car. 🥴
Yes, but cars are broken in to
By design.. . These people are paid to break into cars. It's an agenda and we are run by cartels. It also brings down the real estate... So they buy it up for pennies
You mean to tell me there's actually more FREE Parking in SF now?? I find that VERY hard to believe! Even with all those businesses closing people STILL JAM THE STREETS there and absolutely NO PLACE TO PARK FOR MILES anywhere near Fisherman's Wharf!
Lived in SF for 30 years, got out Fall 2019. I would never go back to a city where the people running it actually HATE every citizen living there.
It was a great city in the 90s and early 2000s. The wheels really started to come off the cart around 2013. At least that's when I really started to notice. I miss it dearly.
"I would never go back to a city where the people running it actually HATE every citizen living there."
You're probably hated because you're maga. Maga isn't something that's welcome in major cities
I've been wondering about that,,,I never equated socolism with hate, as you say..
But facts speak to that.
@@donTeo136
"I never equated socolism with hate, as you say..
But facts speak to that."
Nope, the people claiming that SF is falling apart are the ones who equate with hate. MAGA is about hate and is not welcome here. SF is not socialist, we are moderate liberal, and it's about caring about your fellow man and advancing human society.
@neutrino78x Hugo Chavez said the same, exactly that... now they live on 40usd a month. And either starve or flee across boarders..that's your 'caring'.. Your advancement.
Mind blowing! These scenes would’ve been unimaginable 10 years ago.
Everything was not locked down because of a flu in those days.
not really. most of the anti-business policy was already in place. it just needed a little shove over the tipping point.
Nor in nightmares!
San Francisco, the United States, most expensive ghost town.
Someone needs to send this to the mayors office. But I’m sure they wouldn’t give two cents about it.
I remember being downtown in 2011 and I was shocked how many homeless addicts were on the street. I can only imagine what nearly 15 years of urban decay has done to the overall vibe.
It’s 50 times worse now.
No jobs. Except online side hustles.
At least all the conservatives were removed. It was 99% worse then.
Are the people of SF, the other cites of the bay area, and california voting out the politicians responsible for this?
@@geoh7777 Why start now?
I live in Mexico and I have been to the US several times. This makes me feel sad and I almost can feel the frustration of residents, business owners and workers as well. They didn't deserve all of this.
What has all that to do with that you are from Mex???
They absolutely deserve all of this - *they voted for it.* Even as it was being done to them, they were given the opportunity - *MULTIPLE opportunities, really* - to change course *and they demanded MORE.*
Don't come !
I've travelled all throughout Mexico from San Luis Portosi to Queretaro, Leon, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, none of them look like most American cities, and I live in the Soviet States of America. Mexico just looks better and better every day. Plus, the Mexican people are VERY patriotic, more than most Americans that like to set Old Glory on fire for kicks.
I'm moving back to Puerto Vallarta in March 🙏God willing. USA is going down
Lights are kept on in these buildings for security. Even if they're empty you still don't want ppl breaking in and damaging things or squatting.
Exactly
Shoplifting in the stores is a big problem..there must no be a second opportunity. there are delinquent with several arrests free on the streets
Thank you for documenting this tragedy. I grew up in these areas in the 70s when it was full of successful local business owners. This is absolutely inexcusable as well as heartbreaking.
Its not a tragedy, the voters got exactly what they voted for.
@@smtbigelowit's funny that you think they count votes
@@Bennysol They count votes in commiefornia.... every vote is dem no matter what box is checked.
The business owners should do a class action lawsuit against the city of San Francisco and the politicians personally.
Good idea, the left wing fascist Democrat politicians are the cause of this and should be charged and made to pay out of their own money. They have got away with this destruction of our country far to long.
They voted for them
@@CephlonMayngrum so does that mean they cant do something about it? people dont make mistakes? get real these politicians lie themselves into office, the people are just gullible.
I think they are immune. And, personal liability requires intentional acts
lol they did vote for it and blame the Christian white man for the destruction and then move to a conservative white area because no crime them vote in the same cancerous democrats that destroyed San Fran….liberalism is a mental disorder.
Oh I just saw a lot of San Francisco TH-camrs telling me about how the right wing is making everything up about everything being closed. And the City is doing nothing to help the businesses. But they always seem to film their episodes from nice parks in Pacific Heights.... thanks Leo
Let them promote the 1 percenters neighborhood....
this is mostly in downtown SF
Same here. Some of my liberal friends who still live in The City are in complete denial, and when I was talking to them about this recently, they told me it was Fox News / right wing propaganda. I told them how I was just out there visiting a few months ago and saw it with my own eyes and they kept making excuses. Incredible.
Every television show and movie, pretty much, tells you that businessmen are evil. California is where most of these shows and films are planned. Californian voters apparently believe this, and vote accordingly.
They’re fleeing, at least a lot are, and soon will ruin Nevada, Texas, Florida and so on. They believe nonsense AND THEY VOTE.
They only show you nancy pelosi's gated mansion.
In 1966 We often spent a weekend in San Francisco! Market st was a very busy street with cars and buses, lots of shoppers enjoying everything!! So sad to see it as a Dirty Junkyard now!😢
This video was shot south of Market St. Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around.
It’s really quite unbelievable how a lot of the landlords more than doubled the leases. They made it unaffordable for businesses to stay. All of these businesses would still be open if they had reasonable lease prices. Some of these leases used to only be about $2000 a month. And now most of them are over $6000 a month. No one can afford to lease them.
Yupp...Many stores have shut down for that exact reason.
What are the taxes? Seriously a lot of raised rent is due to raised taxes. I know that the rents here are double but so are the taxes and the prices people are getting to fix things is high. If you don't make any money and I didn't last year due to the cost of doing business, you find a way to make more. I'm doing better in a $14,000.00 dividend portfolio that I'm making in two houses worth $550,000.00. As soon as people start buying, I'm unloading them despite having to give the government $1.000.00 a month extra to Medicare a month for a year. It's all-evil landlords - not evil tax collectors or evil plumbers and the like. @@waynefoote3781
Many of the landlords are foreign investors from China and Dubai.
BINGO!! Rents leases sales beyond abnormal.
Easier to blame US largest city failure on homeless shoplifting not the profits first, guaranteed usual+ ROI property caste.
CV lockdown etc was like a stroke or respiratory failure while maxing heart rate during a record long binge.
It's Democrat policies that did this and nothing else...
I lived in SF from 98 to 2002. It was a really vibrant place when I lived there. It's really gone to shit now. I am so glad I live in Los Angeles where businesses can actually operate and thrive. SF is doomed unless they get better leadership. It's sad because it's one of Americas most beautiful cities, but it's been run into the ground by it's politicians.
Well why did we vote for reagan in the first place?
Coming to Los Angeles soon 👍
@@gangoffour6690 I don't see it happening in LA unless all the Latinos decide to move elsewhere. They are a very conservative and hard working bunch, and they don't roll with the kooky type of ideas they have in San Fran.
leftism destroyed SF
LA is going the same way. We have several businesses in LA and soon all will be sold.
I used to live in Potrero Hill and liked visiting that Nordstrom Rack near Trader Joe's. What a big change and good thing I left in 2021 because I knew the city will go down the drain.
Great escape.
Sold my place in Potereo Hill and moved to Woodland near Davis and loved it here ever since..everything is thriving. Thank goodness. I felt so bad for those who are stuck and can't sell their homes.....
Every American should watch this video. It’s the future.
"Whatever was here, its way gone."
Living in a blue sanctuary city looks absolutely terrifying.
It's way worse.
You should try driving through small towns in New Mexico. Made me want to cry.
America, it's politics and it's cities are rotting at the seams. It's a country for " the wretched, the tired, the poor, the criminals, and the law breakers". 😢
This is "progressive." lol
If you give the people, “paper” and one day to “choose,” it wouldn’t be a blue, sanctuary city. Trust me!
I lived in SF for 5 years. When I went “to choose” in 2016, the lady checking names at the desk actually got mad at me for showing my “name card.”
This is really important work you are doing, LEO. Seeing this review from an eye witness, "just the facts" - is powerful and incontrovertible.
@@odietamo9376exactly! There are many neighborhoods in SF that doing just fine … despite the lousy SF politics … Leo has found a niche of showing the worst of SF and other parts of the Bay for the views/clicks. All of these out of towners that do not live here, buy into his ‘doom loop’ agenda 👀
@@SergioFernandez-cj4mt I understand your feelings here, and your not completely incorrect. However, one of the most beautiful and Iconic cities in all of America has been turned into a cesspool by thieving progressive politicians and putting on a pretty face isn't going to motivate anyone to change this back to what it should be. I was stationed at Tresure Island in the early 80's and would love to re-visit if not for the fact that it's completely unsafe, and filthy now.
This was my old neighborhood. I remember having so many good times at all those restaurants that are closed shopping at all the stores that are closed and enjoying my life in San Francisco. I live in Florida now since 2019 and nothing is closed here, but all of my friends and family ,still in San Francisco , deny that anything has changed or they say and believe that all of this destruction is better then what was there before and that it is necessary to make the world a better place. They are under a spell . That is the only way I can explain their behavior. It’s as if they have nothing else in life to hold onto except their ideology.
They must be brain dead liberals ...
I bet you still vote blue, no matter who.
Symptoms of living in a tribal echo chamber. Detachment from reality.
Spiritual blindness....it has to be.....lived and worked in the beautiful city of SF in the 80's.....this is when the decline started....I've been back and dont recognize some places....horrible conditions.....absolutely crazy letting the druggies and criminals rule the street
Also the LGBT...
@@Brentaaron300
Kills me when I see bicycle lanes with NO bicycles. See them in every big city yet rarely is there ever a bicycle using them. Meanwhile the businesses start closing just so the city council can virtue signal.
You should do a video interviewing small business owners, before they close, or after.
You saw that with the sign about the bike lanes.
While on active duty I visited San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was really great. I have spoken to people who have been there in the past few years and what has been allowed to happen is so sad. I will not go back now. I want to keep my wonderful memories intact.
Thanks for sharing!
A buddy I had while in the army talked all the time about SF and how great it was. As soon as his enlistment ran out, he was moving to SF. That was in the 1990's. I often wonder if he is still enjoying his home in SF, or did he move on by now.
San Francisco is getting what it voted for!!!
Honestly think at this point you can't vote your way out of the tyranny. We are ran by large corporations and ppl who can careless about individual ppl. It's all greed. We are coming into scary times.
What do u mean?
I live in the UK, so don't understand ur reference 🤔
I understand if it's cos rent gone up and the local council government restrictions on traffic.
I am South African in South Africa , what do you mean by they getting what voted for -?
Fuck 'em
And as a Fresno California resident don't forget about the train! They ripped our town apart for the train that never will be. The train that goes to SF a town that is gone! The bay area is the last place we want to go now.
I grew up frequenting many of the places you show here. That vegan place on Mission was awesome. Unbelievable footage. Thank you for pointing out the issue of those huge bike lanes. Notice there is NO ONE using them.
Exactly! not even used , The vegan restaurant was Gracias madre any recently closed, leaving a void for the community
The plan is elimination of private ownership of cars So eventually people will be forced to use them
If people don't live there, then they rely on visitors who can't access them. Very definition of insanity.
Just went to Berlin, Germany and Stockholm, Sweden and you know what their business districts were like? OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Pretty much EVERY store in every commercial district I drove through was open and occupied.
DO THEY HAVE BIKE LANES ??
Entire Europe is one big bike lane. Inside a roundabout
They have bike lanes and zero democrats
Most of the European countries r small,have less cars,more trains and, very crowded cities with small roads(best place for bikes) ..here it’s different story …the libs aka democrats brought bike lanes to have less corbon climate change bs …it doesn’t work like that & our country is massive without car ..it’s impossible to live..if u don’t have a car, u can’t even get p u s s y,.
+crimes( democrats refusing to enforce laws because they don’t want to put blks and Hispanics to prison) that’s racist..another one democrats anti business attitudes & high taxes r all contributing for the decline of California
@Alain.Robert Oh, they definitely do have their own problems... but their premiere big cities looking like World War Z happened isn't one of them.
Mad Max world just beginning
Making streets more pedestrian-centered normally increases foot-traffic to stores, especially in a city like San Francisco where most people don't travel by car...
When I lived in SF there was massive foot-traffic in the areas you're describing. I went to those restaurants and bars, and I didn't know a single person who got to them by car. That said, when everyone was getting kicked out of their affordable homes I saw the writing on the wall and left SF. I never thought it'd get this bad though.
"Everyone getting kicked out of their affordable homes"???? When was this? SF has been brutally expensive since the 1960s.
@@SOLDOZER Let's be lenient, and say 70'ies.
"Making streets more pedestrian-centered normally increases foot-traffic to stores, especially in a city like San Francisco where most people don't travel by car..." Like where? Where has this happened?
@@quabledistocficklepo3597 Congress Avenue in Austin, West Trinity Place in Decatur, Downtown Gainseville, Orange Avenue in Orlando, Flagler Street in Miami, and the list goes on and on. There are plenty more examples in the United States, and even more in Europe. Almost without exception, when a city makes a street more pedestrian-friendly, this leads to more foot-traffic and more money for businesses (usually around 30% more).
@@quabledistocficklepo3597 Detroit city
This is a lesson learned. We are not like Europeans. The addition of bike lanes was likely done without considering if any of the "new" customers on bikes live anywhere close to these shops or have any inclination to actually ride/walk to these shops. Also very likely that no veto option was give to the shop owners.
To be fair the people of SF had a choice. They elected these people that very clearly told them what they were going to do. The people in SF are getting exactly what they voted for. They wanted this.
They did this in Chicago: Eliminated much of on street parking for “bike lanes” to the detriment of small businesses.
Why? $$$
1) To force more drivers into paid-taxed and connected-parking lots and structures.
2) Boost parking -fine- fraud “revenue.”
Customers are driven off and suppliers are less likely to deliver.
You are correct, America is not like Europe, as Europeans never developed the same kind of addiction to cars, and their development of cities and infrastructure has never been car centric, adopting public transit as the norm decades ago while America tore it up.
All the bike lanes and not a bicycle in sight. Brilliant planning, SF, Per usual.
@@parsnip2699 That's what happens when you have city leaders who have no idea at all how to lead a city. Imagine if people like that worked in a manufacturing facility, or any job pertaining to infrastructure. Flunkies.
It's so disheartening seeing the various bay area cities crumbling daily 😢
It is....
Bring in some more "compassionate" liberals
I remember when Californians made a big deal about crossing the street. Basically, regardless of how traffic was moving, Californians said pedestrians should just jump in front of traffic. When I saw the hateful attitude of pedestrians toward automobiles, I knew the idiots were in control.
I hate to use the impotent, rioters slogan but Resist.
Not true there’s a small exception for j walking when safe
Democrats are own by the Globalist they promised years ago to destroy the city so the Globalist can move in and buy up all the property.
Nah man, when you walk or bike in the street don't you know that magically every car going by is being driven by a sober and responsible adult who is definitely not distracted by their phone or screaming kids in the back seat?
Cars are toxic unless they are electric. Get a bike.
Some of these closed regardless of location, Bed Bath & Beyond, Pier 1 Imports, Radio Shack. I'm sure the bike lane hurt the stores/restaurants. What hurts the most is the insane crime, homeless & addicts. You simply cannot function as a normal person in that situation. I'm glad I saw San Francisco in its better years. I'll never go back.
You just became the new San Francisco tourist information video. You did good job showing the people what’s happening
I have a lot of things to say about this video. I can’t believe that the most expensive city in the US for homes and rentals looks like what you showed on the mission and Valencia. The bike lane situation makes no sense! Filthy dirty and tagged but rents are 5000 a month it’s insanity!
guess at least they're trying to make bike infrastucture
@@dakotaslt232001 It's called induced demand. It's the same reason why adding more car lanes increases traffic in the long run. More people will eventually bike if there is the infrastructure to support it. Multiple studies show that creating bike lanes have little or no negative impact, while often having positive economic impact on businesses. The city wants more people to walk, bike, and use public transit, because it is much more scalable.
The way they make the bike lane in Valencia, though.... is very interesting to say the least.
In a city that looks looks like this, the last place I want to be is on a bicycle! LOL
thank democrats
@@theSleepyLamp lol. Idiot.
Sweden says hello and thanks you for a wonderfull job you are doing for informing many of us!
Stay safe bro!
Thank you very much for your support and hello to Sweden!
I used to shop at Bed and Bath on 9th Street. I worked at 10th:Howard for 22 years. My neighbor worked at Bed and Bath, told me they were closing because of theft.
Feel like Im watching a death. Grieving for SF.
Like grandpa on his deathbed!
I am NOT
Vote Dem and reek the benefits
Coming to a town near you shortly.
I'm going to vote for Biden this time, just for shits and giggles. More Cow bell ! Loserville
I think why they leave the lights on is because of mold issues. In light mold doesn’t grow as fast but with the lights off mold will grow rapidly.
Paying a light bill Just to slow down the inevitable decay !!!
It’s not just bikes it’s crime and the blatant refusal to prosecute criminals!!!
It's not bikes at all. That bike lane is actually really good, the entire neighborhood has gone to shit, the tech has largely left along with the workers. The area is being block busted along with many other parts of the city. Land prices will depress then big players will move in buy up for pennies on the dollar, demolish and redevelop and sell to foreigners. SF is a very nice desirable city with an amazing climate.
Black Mayor, Black femail police chief, police not supported, and people allowed to live in tents on the sidewalk, now you are looking at the result. There are people who let this happen.
I did all of my professional school and residency in San Francisco in the mid teens and I can’t believe how empty the street are! It’s like a ghost town!
Thank you for documenting the end of retail shopping and dining out in the Bay Area. Your films should be edited together, shown on PBS, and archived for posterity. In this episode, the bike lane down the middle of Valencia street was empty! Why do they have a bike lane if no bicyclists are using it? As for the restaurants, bars, small shops, and big box stores of the Mission, they may open again, but "Good Luck With That!"
It looks like the bike lane is there for something else, not bikes , is there to restrict traffic
Cities got federal money to install bike lanes in busy main streets
Did you look into the Sustainability Development Goals. And the Green Agenda? The cycle lanes are there to kill the businesses along with the draconian legislation in place. It's pure Socialism... The Green scam is essentially Neo Feudalism. You probably know all this.
They were bribed. This is happening everywhere in the "west".
That green lane is for cyclists, eh? No sir! Truth, the only bicycles you will see there are wrecks, stolen, with a stoned twit riding it. No way are those painted lanes safe for bicycles. Trust me, I rode over 22,000 km per year.@@LeoMetalTraveler
I love seeing Californians getting what they voted for!
Love seeing Americans destroying themselves after they had destroyed so many other countries. 😅😅😅
Hilarious that you think voting is real
About 12 years ago I asked an SF liberal who was going to fix the city. Smuggly they said the elected officials would. ‘They know how to fix things and will’. 12 years later I bet that liberal doesn’t even live there anymore. Certainly nothing was fixed.
Gee its almost like legalizing crime was....stupid as hell.
Maybe they leave the lights on inside the buildings so that, at night, people can see that there's nothing inside to steal.
As a native of San Francisco, I cry for my city and its people. I moved away almost a decade ago, but I can still imagine the flora and fauna that exists in a city surrounded by the bay and Pacific Ocean. I miss the days when creativity flourished, and cultures melded together in peace. And now the wealth divide is clear and soon those below poverty and at low-income levels will seek balance. Desperate people do desperate things. We all know that any city is not a good place to be right now.
Everyone making under 80k a year in SF is at the poverty line unfortunately.
Can’t you see that it’s your multicultural utopian nonsense that killed SF? I lived there for 10 years and watched all that phony “togetherness,” with shock and awe. No one really talked about anything but victimology.
you're blaming the city's problems on the wealth divide? Please look at govt policies.
Of course all you people do is cry. You cry and then vote for the same people. 😂😂😂 This is directly your fault.
And I moved to Baltimore and got my own apartment for less than $1000 and it was in a great 👍 neighborhood. So good in fact that I could leave my door open all night and not be worried about anything. So I don't know what you're talking about "all cities".
As someone else pointed out, foreigners bought the buildings and raised the rents to out of affordability. Many are investors from China and Dubai, according to the poster. I know someone who used to be in real estate in SF. He made a killing, but now he's broke. Drives Uber.
Karma
"foreigners bought the buildings and raised the rents"....prop 13 at work.
That's the goal, to collapse the US.
Starts to look like Philadelphia!
I remember when traveling to San Francisco was something to look forward to, what it has become is beyond a shame.
Whats really a shame is it would be so easy to reverse and fix.
Its like watching someone filling their gas tank with water because a conman sold them magical water. You tell them it will not run, they do it anyway, their car breaks down, and instead of listening to the person who warned them, they go back to the conman to solve it and he tells them they just need more water. And repeat.
Very poetic. @@Aireck174
Living in the UK, I have always wanted to pay San Francisco a visit. But, this all looks so destroyed. Very sad indeed.
I’m English,and I always thought of San Francisco as an exciting,vibrant city.The only positive thing I can think,now,is that tent city,full of homeless people,and addicts,hasn’t taken over the streets.I hope that never happens.
It's not sad if that's what people wanted and they all voted for it.
Keep reporting. People have got to get their heads out of their butts. We seldom notice what’s going on a few miles away and think all is fine so long as we don’t see it.
The bike lane is killing the restaurants. It's weird but, I didn't see 1 bicycle riding in the bike lane.
This is what happens when career politicians run things. Few have probably ever had any business experience.
No real life experience that equates to the average person
When bars are closing, you know it can't get much worse.
Leo,
Enjoy your coverage of the Bay Area where I grew up. I believe the lights are left on so Law Enforcement can see what is going on inside easier. Makes it safer if they have to go into those large spaces to remove trespassers/ thieves.
Thanks for sharing
In Denver , law enforcement might not even do That much.. Crime is RAMPANT here, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten THAT bad here yet. HOW TF COME does it keep getting MORE EXPENSIVE in SF and Denver when conditions keep getting worse???😮
Metal Leo, I love your videos. People need to see this shit. Won't see it anywhere else. Thanks.
Thank you so so much Gavin Newsome, for this wonderfully abject lesson in how to destroy a city, and it’s livelihoods and communities…♥ Masterful work Gavin, so impressive, so progressive ! ❤ 🤥
Gavin is a puppet.
The Governor is in on the take. You guys get what you vote for . How virtuous .
You guys think this is just because of ‘bad’ policy but you will be surprised to find out that this was their plan all along. Now their billionaire friends can buy up the city for pennies on the dollar.
who voted him in office? same simpleton liberals
@@iKumalabasically
To see such widespread closures is heart wrenching;it's a good way for the politicos to kill their tax base. Way to go blue voters.
Thanks for the continued updates,Leo.
The control system knows how to manipulate low level thinkers by telling them that they're helping the environment by riding their bikes rather than driving. The same people buy electric cars that use batteries that do serious harm to the environment.
The agenda is more important than any tax base nonsense. They can always tax more or in the case of the Federal Government, print more.
no its actually heartwarming
My wife and I grew up in California. Sixty years living in that once great state slowly watching it's slide into idiocracy. Anyone that thinks it's still wonderful there doesn't know what their talking about. Their standards have been by design lowered ever so slightly everyday till living with filth and corruption is tolerable. The dumbest constituency in America. We left that "utopia" six years ago and never looked back.
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. - H. L. Mencken
satanism
Massachusetts my home state it's the opposite more building more restaurants and shopping. The amount of foot traffic increases. Lots of development home building is way up. In my town. There is so many homes being built since the 1970s more commercial real estate. Many people from all over moving in.
Same here, were moving next month, both have lived here 60 years and have had enough as well.
@@johnmcgowanireland695 Left the Bay Area 20 years ago, and then completely out of Commiefornia 1.5 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Now living in my little piece of paradise in the mountains.
They should defund City Hall. Looks like they are not doing anything.
Usually liquor stores and pawn shops do well during these times. The crime rate is why many are retiring, closing or moving out of the area.
Many people with assets worth pawning have left. Few left to buy
I noticed on Zillow, that you can rent studios in SF now in the 800.00 a month range. Which was un heard of in the past. Rents are actually higher in the east bay like Martinez than in SF.
probably only in the worst part of the tenderloin.
these people in power and mayors have to be held accountable! stop rewarding these people for failing!
All of these business owners should seriously sue the city, and state of California. Liberalism is a mental health crisis, these people are so delusional, they can’t see that they’re literally eating their own faces off!
You can't 'vote them out' now in that horrible place.. they have voter fraud rooted in so deep it's no use voting.
Who in God's name do you think put these people in power 😅
When things go bad, the first to go are the restaurant, but when even the pawn shops close too get out of the state fast.
WOW!!! We left 8 years ago and how it has changed! I'm so happy we left when we did and moved to Portugal! When we arrived in Tomar (central portugal) it was not doing so well, however, since we moved there, more and more people moved here and it is becoming vibrant, with restaurants opening and new shops! I'm so sad for the demise of the US and SF
San Fran is looking great! Awesome job Californians!
It's so sad, especially when you see how vibrant and alive the places were just 20 odd years ago.
love the unused bike lanes! Very very very smart use of public monies!
The virtue signaling credit makes it worth it though!
Thank you to our host for the walking tour and for taking us along
I would like to know who will buy up all these properties and how are they connected to the city planners and officials.
There’s no way this is not intentional.
See who owns most of the property, bet it has a Chinese owner.
It started when they intentionally became a sanctuary city.
I'm 79 and have only been to California once. In May 1977 my wife and decided to take a trip out west in our 1973 Gremlin. We spent the night at a Best Western in Sacramento and a Motel 6 in Monterey. We enjoyed driving around in San Francisco and it seemed like a nice beautiful city back then. Then we drove down the coast to San Diego and the scenery was terrific as advertised. It's a shame about the closed stores etc and I wondered if the owners filed lawsuits against the city.
Leo this is sad. What i enjoyed alot about San Francisco is variety of foods...excellent food. The most simple family ran restaurant in the city beat a lot of more expensive restaurants elsewhere. To see this decay is sad beyond sad. Leo, you be safe sir in a lot of these neighborhoods.
Thank you
No way this is caused by bike lanes alone. It’s gotta be a multitude of things. Covid had to be involved as well. They keep the lights on so the homeless won’t set up camp there and destroy the place.
Maybe not just the bike lanes, but removing parking spaces for bike lanes on lots that don't have parking can't help.
The bike lanes required the removal of street parking which chased away shoppers who drive to stores.
Covid appears the same time of year that flu appears. It has the same symptoms as the flu has.
Chinese ownership, no private company in China, do as you're told. Raise the rent and let it sit empty.
Thanks for doing this. San Francisco was once a city with such great neighborhoods, and businesses that all have been destroyed by the failed San Francisco leadership and their policies. I wonder if the stores are closed in the Mayor's neighborhood?
hope so
Nope.
Not in pelois either
It's especially sad to see all those old legacy shops all boarded up