After living in Europe for 16 months, one thing is for sure: SF's reputation is in the gutter. Europeans are confused by my pride for SF, they feel pity for me. And it's not because they've only been persuaded by media. Those with the strongest opinions have visited and seen for themselves. Unfortunately SF maintains a strict hotel zone centered around Market Street and Union Square where they have also penned in open-air drug dealing, people suffering from mental illnesses and addiction, as well as the homeless. This is what tourists see when they step out of their lobby. Like a lot of Americans, it completely confounds the European mind that such a rich, powerful and liberal city could contain so many scenes of misery and inhumanity. Obviously those of us who have spent significant time in SF know the city is much more than this. And most of us are trained to offer reasons for each of these seemingly intractable issues. But I haven't been able to convince anyone here... Cities are cyclical. I'm only 42 and old enough to remember that people were commonly were afraid to visit NYC, and if you had to, you were warned to carry a wad cash with you to make the mugging efficient. NYC has shed that reputation. What do you think will be the plot points in the narrative of SF regaining a reputation that is commensurate with its natural beauty, unique architecture, diverse and welcoming culture, and optimism? A lot of boosters are excited about AI. I don’t see it that way. That may bring workers back to downtown, but from the outside, I think it further binds SF to elitist, anti-social tech. I don’t see a good path that doesn’t start with affordability, for both tourists and locals.