A couple of observations from a San Francisco resident and native who voted for the school board recall: first, SF is among the most diverse counties in the nation. It's also a city of transients in an economy centered on rent-seeking services - finance, property and tourism - that contribute to serious wealth inequality and breed deep r…
A couple of observations from a San Francisco resident and native who voted for the school board recall: first, SF is among the most diverse counties in the nation. It's also a city of transients in an economy centered on rent-seeking services - finance, property and tourism - that contribute to serious wealth inequality and breed deep resentments. The electorate is divided principally among voters who live here but have little other investment in the city and a political class of activists, civil servants and hacks who rise to elective office with little exposure to the outside world.
The recent election should be a wake-up call to everyone. As voters we don't pay enough attention to down-ballot local elections or understand the implications when dumb, evil people fill the public spaces vacated by the rest of us because we're too busy or we assume "they're all crooks.".
Full disclosure: I don't tend to vote progressive, and I read the ballot statements closely before elections, but I honestly can't remember who I voted for in the last school board election. I say this for the benefit of voters in book-banning localities. Curb your schadenfreude about the left coast and pay attention in your own communities. Our problems are the same.
As another native San Franciscan but one that has migrated away I appreciate your response. I still have friends and some family that still live there and they pretty much have the same views as yours.
A couple of observations from a San Francisco resident and native who voted for the school board recall: first, SF is among the most diverse counties in the nation. It's also a city of transients in an economy centered on rent-seeking services - finance, property and tourism - that contribute to serious wealth inequality and breed deep resentments. The electorate is divided principally among voters who live here but have little other investment in the city and a political class of activists, civil servants and hacks who rise to elective office with little exposure to the outside world.
The recent election should be a wake-up call to everyone. As voters we don't pay enough attention to down-ballot local elections or understand the implications when dumb, evil people fill the public spaces vacated by the rest of us because we're too busy or we assume "they're all crooks.".
Full disclosure: I don't tend to vote progressive, and I read the ballot statements closely before elections, but I honestly can't remember who I voted for in the last school board election. I say this for the benefit of voters in book-banning localities. Curb your schadenfreude about the left coast and pay attention in your own communities. Our problems are the same.
As another native San Franciscan but one that has migrated away I appreciate your response. I still have friends and some family that still live there and they pretty much have the same views as yours.
Your last paragraph is probably the most important take. This isn't just a SF problem. It can be any school board anywhere.