I made the mistake of staying in a hotel in the Tenderloin district the first time I visited SF.
As a European who has visited many different countries on multiple continents (including time spent living in NY and London), I was truly shocked. It wasn't just the filth though - rather the shocking part is the contrast of such filth/destitution juxtaposed on a background of prosperity, and the way SFers almost nonchalantly accept it as 'normal'.
SF is as bad as I have seen, but many other US cities have scary homeless scenes. No other country in the world that I've been to have I seen this phenomenon. It's similar to no-go zones in American cities. Everyone just pretends it doesn't exist.
It sounds like you're trying to argue for some weird conspiracy theory. There are dangerous areas in US cities, but that's not the same as the (generally mythical) idea of "no-go zones".
It's no conspiracy, it's a racket called "gentrification". The hoods get cleaned up, some naive, young professionals buy in @ inflated prices & then the sun goes down & everything not bolted down is stolen/destroyed. Then there's the break-ins, muggings & murders, but we don't like to talk too much about those aspects.
Conspiracy? What? First day of work I can remember three different people told me "dont ever on go the other side of the highway; dont even drive through it."
First month of uni I unknowingly drove into the wrong neighborhood and stopped at a park. As soon as I turned off the engine and got out a group of people that were playing basketball started pointing at me and running at me. I dont think they wanted to introduce themselves in a friendly way. Later that semester, my friend wondered drunk into that neighborhood and was sucker punched and robbed of his wallet and cell phone.
Funny you call this some conspiracy? I know it's not PC, but conspiracy? Really?
Not just normal, essential to the character of the city, and the freedom and human dignity of the people living in it. The Tenderloin’s status quo is vigorously protected by a large and passionate activist community.
> essential to the character of the city, and the freedom and human dignity of the people living in it.
I find that difficult to believe.
There is a central district in Copenhagen, Denmark, for example which also 'allows' the use of drugs, homelessness etc. As fair as I'm aware, police don't even enter this neighbourhood unless a serious crime (eg murder) takes place.
Yet it's clean, friendly, welcoming and often visited by tourists. Definitely no needles or faeces visible anywhere.
I don't see why the Tenderloin should necessarily be any worse than this.
There is no "human dignity" in the Tenderloin. If rampant homelessness and poverty is "essential to the character of the city", then that only goes to show that the character of this city is a shithole.
I've only been living here for two months (a few blocks north of Tenderloin). I already want out at the earliest opportunity. Why anyone voluntarily lives here is beyond me.
Parts of San Jose are equally bad now. But the homeless camps there are mostly along the Guadalupe River where tourists and residents don't typically visit. Out of sight, out of mind.
I'm going to be blunt; there is no reason for there to be so much HUMAN SHIT on the ground.
Just straight up HUMAN SHIT.
I have gone to countries all over the world, and even in the most desolate and rural areas there was an unspoken rule of not shitting in the streets. Urination is one thing but having to keep a lookout for human shit is just...I felt like i was taking crazy pills!
As a European who has visited many different countries on multiple continents (including time spent living in NY and London), I was truly shocked. It wasn't just the filth though - rather the shocking part is the contrast of such filth/destitution juxtaposed on a background of prosperity, and the way SFers almost nonchalantly accept it as 'normal'.