Monday, October 29, 2012
Carey Perloff: How to Connect the Tribes?
huffingtonpost.com: In a recent article for San Francisco magazine (October 2012) entitled "How Much Tech Can One City Take?", writer Daniel Talbot wrestles with the pros and cons of the huge explosion of tech activity and tech wealth in San Francisco.
On the positive side of the ledger: increased tax receipts, vast improvements to blighted neighborhoods such as mid-Market and the Tenderloin, and bold, new, young energy in San Francisco.
On the negative side: spiking housing costs, a growing divide between haves and have nots, and a seeming lack of generosity on the part of young newly-minted millionaires who have not yet demonstrated a commitment to "giving back" to the city.
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2 comments:
This is an extremely important article that asks a question that we all need to think about daily: How do we make the work that we do relevant? That is the question that lets the organizations we work for survive. The tech companies that this article uses for examples ask that themselves- their answer is in creating cutting edge technology. Our answer should be harnessing the same creative energy those tech companies have, and then inspiring those people to continue their work. Figuring out what that actually means, however, is no small task. But it sounds like ACT is up for the challenge, and I wish them luck.
It is so unfortunate that San Francisco as a city is not getting back returns on it's development. Becoming a mecca for technology has certainly helped the city, but it seems only in the short run. Once the boom is over the tax funds will return to a less optimal level but the city will not be sustained because people are not giving back. However, as the article mentions, perhaps the new money in San Francisco is not feeling that the city is so welcoming as it could be. As a subscriber to a theatre, I appreciate that I am invited to special events and, as is common when there is a standing relationship, a facial recognition that leads to increased openness with staff. I like that I can go to the box office and be recognized as part of the DC family and have privileges to change tickets, etc. on my father's subscription because I am known. Some of these things are subscriber-exclusive, but not all of them should be, and I think that is a strong point the article makes about who feels welcome and gives back where.
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