I never suggested a conspiracy. But it is clear that California is tops for click bait via hyperbole, including deceptive photography and filming. I often visit some of the places that are photographed and it is clear what "they" are doing.pseudo3d wrote: ↑June 23rd, 2023, 8:13 pmI don't think criticism toward San Francisco is leveled unfairly. A bunch of retailers packing up and leaving in a relatively short timespan is not part of some grand conspiracy.veteran+ wrote: ↑June 23rd, 2023, 9:50 amRespectfully, you do not know Miami and it shows in the way you have cherry picked certain things (and even those are not totally accurate).storewanderer wrote: ↑June 22nd, 2023, 9:05 pm I am also going to take further issue with the "Miami" has issues comment because Miami makes it easier for everyone to do things and does not have the various junk fees and bloated costs that everyday people are subject to in San Francisco:
1. Miami does not have a junk "health care fee" that is added to restaurant bills
2. Miami does not have a junk 25 cent bag fee added at all retail stores, fast food restaurants, to go orders at normal restaurants (but the fee is mysteriously waived per their city regulation if you are dining in and have extra food from your dine in order to take home)
3. Public transit in Miami is nowhere near as good but they have the basics covered. You can do the 10 mile train connection from Miami Airport to Brickell (their quasi financial district in Miami) for $2.25. In San Francisco, a BART train from SFO Airport to Union Square is also about 10 miles and runs $10.50 (there is now a 50 cent paper ticket surcharge if you don't have a "Clipper" card which of course is impossible to get for some reason, some excuse about supply chain, never heard any other supply chain having issues getting plastic cards besides this BART outfit).
4. Miami does not hit you with a 1 cent per ounce "sugary beverage tax" if you order a beverage that has sugar in it.
Sure you can say you avoid these fees but it is all a hassle. It is a hassle for the business to collect and remit whatever has to be remitted, a hassle for the user, etc.
I also wonder if the skyrocketing cost of BART causes fewer people to go into San Francisco. This BART system is the bumpiest, dirtiest, most uncrowded, most expensive train system I've experienced anywhere. Sure the subways in NYC and Chicago may be subjectively dirtier but they have more extreme weather and are also elbow to elbow people so of course they'll be dirtier. They may want to look into that and why this BART system is so much more expensive than public transportation systems elsewhere. I bet if they got BART fares into/out of San Francisco down to $3 they'd suddenly have more foot traffic than ever despite the various issues.
Sorry if I am being too direct.
It seems to be the zeitgeist in this venue to constantly eviscerate San Francisco (ad nauseum) and much of it is hyperbolized, but to paint Miami and by defacto Florida as "something better"?
No way Jose! I'm not even including political in this.
It is complicated but one thing stands out: Businesses refusing to take any responsibility for their part.