San Francisco split by Silicon Valley's wealth

[peninsular]

mini_cute has a lot of good points. I would offer even a broader view than the US - the world is going through the same thing. Here's a quote about Britain:

A Spartan future awaits the 40% of working-age Britons who, like David, are falling behind. They are in the bottom half of the income scale but, unlike the poorest 10%, predominantly live off wages, not benefits. Their predicament dates to the early 2000s, when GDP and earnings peeled apart. Living costs have since left median wages far behind (see chart 1).

The plate tectonics of the labour market offer the best explanation for this. With a declining industrial base, the British economy needs fewer mid-level skilled workers. Most new posts are low- or high-paying ones (see chart 2). Many in the middle lack the skills to move up and are pushed towards the low-wage end of the economy. Machinists and tradesmen become cashiers and call-centre workers.

Is it the city's responsibility to maintain the jobs for said machinists and tradesmen against the economic forces in order to keep middle class within its limits? SF is lucky to have a significant upper half of the hourglass income distribution. Yes, it's annoying to run into entitled and unaware kids at times, but isn't it better than the alternative, where the young and the educated choose to go elsewhere and all you are left with is the squeeze to the bottom?

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by phoenixmike11

San Francisco split by Silicon Valley's wealth - latimes.com

It seems that lower and middle class people are being pushed out of a lot of big US cities due to rising costs of living.

The worst problem with these techies are their narcissism and the amount of self importance they give themselves. They really think they are changing the world by writing stupid games and social network non sense.

Also does anyone know what the law is about these comapnies running employee shuttles? They are running large buses on narrow SF streets by the hundreds, clogging traffic and inundating the city with too many people who wouldn't be here without the bus service. Why is this not regulated and why is not apartment occupancy limits not enforced?

[ilkhd2]

The worst problem with these techies are their narcissism and the amount of self importance they give themselves. They really think they are changing the world by writing stupid games and social network non sense.

Not everyone makes "stupid games". A lot of people do make change and do produce real stuff; but, however, it is true that most of SF City companies are hipsterish, compared to rest of the Bay.

Also does anyone know what the law is about these comapnies running employee shuttles? They are running large buses on narrow SF streets by the hundreds, clogging traffic and inundating the city with too many people who wouldn't be here without the bus service. Why is this not regulated and why is not apartment occupancy limits not enforced?

Those who ride these shuttles, they tend to live alone or have no more than 1 roomate. Good luck enforcing occupancy limits.

[ilkhd2]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ilkhd2
, but downtown is about as expensive as Silicon Valley (> 1200 for 1br).

If by "as expensive" you mean "half as expensive" then your point stands.

I said about as expensive as Silicon Valley, not city of San Francisco.

[kasuga888]

Originally Posted by ilkhd2

I said about as expensive as Silicon Valley, not city of San Francisco.

I think silicon valley is a bit more than 1200.

[ilkhd2]

A bit more. Not much more:
Cambell 1 br, $1400: 1 bd/bth 700 sq ft Condo on tree lined Union Ave.

[Tomlcsc]

Originally Posted by kasuga888

I think silicon valley is a bit more than 1200.

His point wasn't that Omaha has SV rents, it's that urban cores everywhere are becoming/have become more expensive than their suburban counterparts.

[funtimessf]

Originally Posted by ilkhd2

I said about as expensive as Silicon Valley, not city of San Francisco.

Comparing all of Silicon Valley, a huge area, to a small district in Omaha, is silly. Palo Alto, for example, is vastly more expensive than downtown Omaha, and is on par with downtown SF. Maybe you meant downtown Omaha rents are slightly less than the cheapest parts of Silicon Valley?

Rents are high near employment centers because people don't like commuting, not necessarily because everyone craves urban and dense (I sure don't).

[gone down south]

Originally Posted by ilkhd2

A bit more. Not much more:
Cambell 1 br, $1400: 1 bd/bth 700 sq ft Condo on tree lined Union Ave.

You might want to click on the apartment building's link in that craiglist ad, bro!


Either way, a 1-BR in Silicon Valley (which Campbell isn't really a part of of anyways) is much closer to $2000 that $1200 these days.