San Francisco has been under a COVID-19 shelter-in-place order since March 17. The affects on San Francisco’s economy are profound. Tourism is San Francisco’s biggest industry, and despite its reputation for dirty, troubled streets, in 2019 there were an estimated 26.5 million visitors to the city, a 10th consecutive year-over-year increase. Spending $10.3 billion and generating $738 million in taxes, visitors were responsible for generating more than 71,000 jobs.
This year is much, much different. Not only has tourism been adversely affected, other key sectors are also getting hammered. The medical industry is on downward spiral. Commercial and film production spiked in the beginning of 2020 (in February of this year Hollywood film crews were shooting ‘Matrix 4’ and ‘Venom 2’ in SF simultaneously), but now it is at a complete standstill. The already suffering retail industry is simply devastated. Although some Financial, IT, Software and Social/Digital media companies remain strong, everyone is working from home, meaning most of the 250,000 commuters who brave their way into the city every day are not spending hard earned dollars here.
I fear that with this new normal, San Francisco will never be the same. And yet, I also know in my heart that it will bounce back. Again and again the city and people of San Francisco have undergone hardships, injustices, tragedies and disasters. The flag of San Francisco features a phoenix rising, as if from the 1906 earthquake and fire. Just over 100 years ago, the city endured the 1918-1919 flu pandemic. Since then it has experienced the Great Depression, the White Night riots in 1979 and the Rodney King riots in 1992, the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. And as I wander the empty streets with my camera, the light and clouds and buildings and hills sparkle and shine with a beauty and brilliance that is truly stunning.
The 30-foot Welcome Tower along The Embarcadero near Pier 14 is reinterpretation of San Francisco’s iconic Coit Tower. There are plenty of locals along the The Embarcadero nowadays because it is one of the most popular spots to get some exercise, but there no tourists for this Welcome Tower to welcome.
This is a walkway between the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero and the Embarcadero Center. This Financial District location is usually bustling with people, but now of course, it is empty.
Someone stenciled these “sheeple” icons on the sidewalk at the social distance line markers outside of Trader Joe’s on 4th Street. Other stencils said “Open California”.
This lovely street art is on the boarded up restaurant, Scala’s Bistro.
The 45-story Four Seasons Private Residences at 706 Mission is nearing completion. There are a handful of high-rise projects in progress in San Francisco. I wonder if there will be many more in the near future.
This street art is on the boarded up Mosser Hotel. I like the tag line based on the quote from MLK “only in the darkness can you see the stars”.
More street art. This is on The Gap flagship store.
I’m not sure, but I think this is supposed to the San Francisco 49ers mascot Sourdough Sam.
The bougainvilleas in Nob Hill are blooming like crazy this spring.
This is reflection of a broken mirror someone left at the bottom of Market Street. For me this also was a reflection on the current state of affairs in San Francisco.
This sign on a construction site says “Bubbles. We pray for you!”
A bright, blue sky contrast with red lanterns in Ross Alley in Chinatown.
A gated in front of a closed business makes some interesting shadows.