what SF could be
I spent a Saturday in a tech office at a hackathon, building my vision of the future. A very cringy way of admitting I've now lived in San Francisco long enough that my sense of locus of control is off the charts.
I found the event through a start-up that aggregates events across the internet and pitched me looking for funding. I didn't invest, but the concept of how to find out whats going on in your city is cool.
The day was centered around a key exercise: envision what the future could look like with technology. Optimist that I am,
Evolve or die. It's true for a start up, and its true for a city. And something US cities in particular have a tough time acting on.
That foggy place with a bunch of tech companies that has been grandfathered into city status based on its legacy. A beacon of opportunity, from the gold to the ai rush, and freedom to express who you are (thanks Queers).
Yes, there's transit.
Yes, there's some mixed-use housing.
No, you can't go to dinner after 10 pm.
And most importantly, you can't build or try to change anything without someone trying to stop you (seriously, anyone can block a project or create delays. Don't believe me? Check out this story in North Beach from a charred building that went down back in 2018, its emergency demolition order in March 2026 was appealed.)
The one thing it's always maintained is that people who see the world differently want to live here.
It's a city that's always seemingly in transition, but a bit hazy on what exactly it's building towards. There have been strokes of brilliance, like mass public transit infrastructure in an era dominated by automobiles. But failed in execution, resulting in six independent transit systems across the Bay Area.
It's inclusive, unless you work in tech and make a lot of money. In which case, the locals hate you.
It's equitable, but in the name of equity, the project will be delayed 10+ years and the beautification budget got consumed leaving a soulless building.
Some of its titles are naturally appointed, while others are forced on us. We lead the world in technology. From the creation of jeans to foundational models, SF sets the stage for what's to come.
And yet, we're continuously falling short when it comes to the basics. Food, shelter, and safety.
I'm spending the summer of 2026 to figure out what I can do to make this the place it could be.
