San Francisco
Coastal cities have a hidden vulnerability to storm-surge and tidal flooding—entirely caused by humans
COMMENTARY | Dredging to deepen shipping channels has made coastlines more vulnerable to extreme storms and sea-level rise.
Mayoral candidate pledges ‘digital by default’ city services
In his bid to become the next mayor of San Francisco, Mark Farrell promised to digitize government services within two years.
San Francisco tries tough love by tying welfare to drug rehab
Starting in January 2025, public assistance recipients who screen positive for addiction on a 10-question drug abuse test will be referred to treatment. Those who refuse or fail to show up for treatment will lose their benefits.
Skateboarding’s latest trick: Reviving cities
New skate plazas are proving that making spaces skateable makes them safer and more dynamic, too.
How one city is streamlining housing construction
San Francisco is required by state law to build 82,000 housing units by 2031, but it won’t even come close if the city maintains its current pace. Mayor London Breed hopes that reducing fees and red tape will spur more development.
Transit agencies scramble to piece together funding as ‘fiscal cliff’ looms
Ridership in San Francisco and New York remains below pre-pandemic levels. As the end of federal aid nears, these agencies are racing to shore up funding.
The US Cities With the Highest Rents
An East Coast metro scooted by San Francisco to become the second-most expensive for a one-bedroom apartment this month. As nationally, growth in rent prices showed signs of slowing.
The Most Livable Cities in the US
AARP published an index that measures how “livable” communities nationwide are, and ranks the top ones that meet residents' needs as they grow older.
San Francisco Rations Housing by Scoring Homeless People’s Trauma. By Design, Most Fail to Qualify.
A process called coordinated entry, used by cities across the country, is meant to match homeless people with housing. In San Francisco’s version, the system could be making it harder for some populations to get indoors.
Top Cities for Gen Z Renters
Young adults moved more than any other age group of renters during the pandemic, and they chose places with a lot of jobs opportunities, a lively social scene, diversity and reliable connectivity, according to a new report.
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In San Francisco, Hundreds of Homes for the Homeless Sit Vacant
In spite of a growing Department of Homelessness with an annual budget of $598 million, eligible people still wait months or even years after being approved for assisted housing. Meanwhile, hundreds of units remain unused.
Cities With the Least and Most Energy Use
San Francisco ranks No. 1 on the City Clean Energy Scorecard while Baton Rouge, Louisiana came in last.
The Cities With the Heftiest Parking Fines
A new report looks at how violations like blocking traffic, loading zones or pedestrian ramps can put a dent in drivers' wallets.
In One City, 3 Days a Week in the Office May be a New Norm
That's according to a survey of about 200 companies in the San Francisco region. City leaders in other parts of the country are waiting to see how similar trends play out.
Rental Prices are Booming in Mid-Sized Cities
New estimates show how places like Boise, Idaho and Spokane, Washington have seen housing rents rise sharply during the pandemic. And the trend isn’t easing up.
Unearthing an Origin Story for Gentrification
COMMENTARY | The growth of the medieval city of Angkor involved wealthy elites pushing people off the land they had made valuable.
CEQA Is an Abomination
COMMENTARY | How California’s signature environmental law got out of control, and how to fix it.
Another Big Company Plans for Remote Work Beyond the Pandemic
Salesforce, one of San Francisco's top employers, says it expects the majority of its workers will be going into the office fewer than five days a week.
San Francisco and D.C. Transit Agencies Consider Big Layoffs, Service Cuts
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Grocery stores with pharmacies buying medical-grade freezers for vaccines … Virginia looking for citizen members of its new redistricting commission … California governor denies parole for Manson follower.
Ahead of Thanksgiving, Cities See Surge in Demand for Covid Tests
Leaders in San Francisco warned the city’s testing capacity is being overrun by people looking to travel, and urged people to just stay home.
