Every commercial business could close down or go out of business and YET San Francisco voters will vote for the same laws, measures, and officials that are dooming their city. This is self inflicted. No one should feel sorry for them.
What is really concerning is that it takes decades to build a world-class city and tourist destination, and only five years to destroy it with poor policies. Same thing with Portland, Seattle, New York City.
@@filmbuff000 New York City is a piece of s*** now. As for all of the Cities he mentioned they were all ruined by liberal Democrats. And their policies. And they were also ruined by drugs coming across our Southern border by the idiot that's currently our president.
You can't put all the blame on city leadership. This is a great case study on changing economic phenomenon of urban flight into the suburbs. Corporate and landowner greed is no longer the dominating modus operandai in SF. Housing got too expensive, commercial rents got too expensive, and the pandemic showed us all that there are other priorities in life rather than buying "stuff" and paying sky high rent and mortgages. The pendulum will swing the other way SF will make a comeback.
@@DMills-un1tlDude, I live in Sacramento. Literally go to either Arden Fair Mall or Westfield Galleria and ask yourself why they look NOTHING like this? They were literally packed with people even yesterday (a Tuesday!) Wake up. This isn’t normal.
I was born in San Francisco. My grandparents owned 3 beautiful flats on Franklin St. My dad had a grocery/liquor store for 22 years. My uncle was a gripman on the cablecars for 37 years. This sickens me. People need to wake up to the lack of leadership and vote out destructive politics.
They needed to wake up 10 years ago. It's too late. They're completely fascist now. The gov't controls literally every aspect of their lives and cannot be voted out. It's over. The only thing that will bring that city back is the forceful removal of the dictators. Wait, the dictators disarmed everyone. Oh, well. F em. They deserve this.
Did they vote for democrats and their policies that directly attacked their way of life? If so then they are just paying the price for their own decisions. I have family in the bay area, spent many summers growing up in oakland, and these issues have been developing for over 30 years. Its just so sad to see how they improved in many ways in the late 90's and early 2000's then flushed it all back down the drain.
i got transferred to Sacramento in '95. we used to spend weekends in the City 3-4 times a year untill the new Millenium. Even then it was starting to turn to Shit.
It is solely the purpose and goal for liberal democrats to destroy our economy and every major city because they know once you destroy a culture, poor homeless people living in poverty are much easier to control than working people with self reliance. Look at what the democrats did to Detroit and Chicago and even Portland, Oregon where even Walmart and Nike have closed their stores in the entire city for all the violence and crime going on with liberal democrat prosecutors who ignore crime and assaults of people daring to venture into the once lively downtown areas.
@@johnalioto Yeah, I used to work a few blocks from the Embarcadero Center, and it was never a bustling place. It is sad to see so many closed shops, restaurants, and "For Lease" signs, though.
My great grandfather was born there in 1882 and founded the Chinese Times. There’s a street named after him below Grant Avenue (Walter U, Lum Place) What a waste, most of the family has moved away to Southern California, Arizona and Texas. My prayers go out to the law abiding citizens of SF they don’t deserve this and hope they can somehow turn this around. The Bay Area was so beautiful in the past.
And Chinese traditionally vote Democrat. And like others, move to other cities and vote the same way. Arizona has turned into a dump. Southern CA is a dump. CA is 35% whhyte and dropping. The state is finished.
Kaiser is to blame for bringing low IQ people from the South States to work for low wages at the shipyard of Richmond. Now they multiply like a fungi and spreaded likewise in some of what used to be beautiful towns of the Bay Area that took many, many years to build, to be overrun by people that are experts in destruction.
It will happen if and when the PEOPLE of the Bay Area FORCE their politicians to stop abiding by global/communist policies and restore the free market.
I was stationed in SF (USCG) on YBI in the late 90's. A crew mate of mine from San Pedro knew SF and took me to the Enbarcadero. Being from a small southern town, I was blown away by how alive it was. This footage is creepy and, even though I hear on the news about the problems there, I couldn't possibly have realized just how bad it is. Thanks for making it clear to me and to tens (hundreds?) of thousands, as I heard some of the audio on Glenn Beck's show - which led me here. Unbelievable. Keep it up. This cancer is spreading.
I was there in 94. I'm from Texas, native Texan, and I lived in Mission Viejo for a year and then came back to Texas. While in Cali I went to many cities with my girlfriend at the time. It was rather exciting to be in big cities and meeting the people. I was treated somewhat special because I was a Texan. I got asked so many interesting questions about Texas. Anyway I look at this vid and am just blown away. This doesn't look like California. I've seen many videos and I believe with certainty that this is going to get worse and worse there.
Oh, finally, a reason for this ... I lived and worked there (all over the City) and it used to be a marvelous experience. My dad worked on Embarcadero No. One and when that was done, he worked on others; this was back in the 70's when all this was changing the city and there was NOTHING but construction, the pounding of pile drivers, etc. It turned from the City by the Bay into this monstrous urban area until it was all built up but by then it had changed into something else. It USED to be great and now if the City Council has done what is alleged by jennifervalencia above, then it serves them right! But it must be hard on the workers in the area who would be able to get out and enjoy it. But, since the '70s, it isn't what it was. Thanks for the info on WHY!
You mean bill 553 New bill prevents employers from mandating workers to confront shoplifters. The California Senate has passed legislation that prevents employers from requiring workers to confront active shooters or shoplifters. Passed May 31, Senate Bill 553 contains provisions prohibiting employers from maintaining such policies.
My heart goes out to all the shoplifters, thieves, and robbers who now have to venture further out from the safety of their home cities in order to get their wares in hopes of supplementing all their government assistance program checks. Thank you.
I was stationed at Travis AFB in the late 80’s and interviewed for jobs in San Francisco and LA in the 90’s. I am so heartbroken by what those areas have become. What’s scary though is that the governor who is overseeing the decline of this once great state is being rumored for a White House run. Truly shocking.
Newsome won't make it to the White House his close association with Nancy Pelosi & Kamala Harris will be his downfall. However he's to egotistical to comprehend that.
@@sciagurrato1831 Belongs to Globalist Anti_American Staff.. Most happened at Dems States. They're successful. Make America Down Again since Bushes.Corruptions at everywhere.
It’s almost by design that these stores closed. I mean, why else would San Francisco decriminalize shoplifting? To better the community? Yeah because that makes sense. 🙄
Destroying Capitalism by proxy. They're allowing the thieves and criminals to do it. Pull back the police, lax the laws, open up the jail cells, open up the border, enforce no rules, punish nobody and there you have it. Businesses close and lives are ruined. It's done purposely.
Destroy the businesses, Destroy the rental income, Force owners to sell to Blackrock, etc at fire sale prices… Eventually new politicians will change policies to be pro business, real estate values will rise again… You HOPE.
They probably think that rich store owners can afford to hire their own merchandise guards! The city Policia have murders and fires to look after, or maybe they are now protecting Public Officials?
I was a summer intern downtown in 1984. I'd go the embarcadero square almost every lunch. Always bustling with people. Throngs, all happy. It was a healthy environment. Street musicians actually making a living. This video is surreal.
That's because CA had a real Republican governor at that time, unlike Arnie! and things were still good! Haven't had one since and you see the results of decades of Democratic control!
No need to work the streets when they can collect their govt check. They can now just sit around and get high on their drugs paid for by the tax payers
It's an urban wasteland. The "greed is good" crowd outpriced each other until nothing is left. No one can afford to live there, eat there, work there, so they don't. Every major city in the country is faced with this and all for the very same reasons. You can see the very same thing in Phoenix. The 3-R economy, (retail, restaurant, real estate) doesn't work. When you don't engineer, manufacture, produce anything, everyone just pushes paperwork, so to speak, and this is the result. We not only deserve this coast to coast, but we're getting there at record speed...
How many millions in tax revenue that goes to pay city services is lost now, daily, weekly and annually? How many on the "zombie" tours will return home and tell others not to waste their time going there? There will be plenty more closings. SF is in real trouble here.
True. I’m an Aussie and I would’ve put San Francisco on my list of places to visit in America but not anymore. It’s sad 😢 whatever happened to the beautiful people with flowers in their hair?
As a Californian i can say without a doubt SF is almost unlivable. Rent, homeless people, violence, theft, it's all too much for people and businesses to even attempt to live there.
@y.cschmidlin8172 it's pretty bad. I visit multiple times a year. One year, a druggie jumped on our car and told us to get out of the street because he was walking in it. It can take an hour just to get through downtown streets with traffic. That's scary because there is no way to escape those narrow streets if/when an emergency happens. I live about 4 hours away, and we have many people coming to live here instead in an effort to get away from the city.
This is called total Anarchy - i.e. Capitalism. Exactly what cuntservatives have said they wanted. No government helping anybody. This is TOTAL FREE MARKET CAPITALISM i.e. ANARCHY. Don't like it? Blame conservative extremists.
I live in Palo Alto -- just a few miles south from San Francisco on the peninsula. I've worked and visited the city countless times. Just before the pandemic, things began to change in regard to crime in the city. Without cops arresting perpetrators, would-be criminals were emboldened. My sister visited in 2019. Since it was her first visit to the city, I took her to all of the traditional tourist spots -- including Pier 39, Ghirardelli, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, a Giants game, etc. While we were at Fisherman's Wharf, a homeless man pulled down his fly and began urinating in front of both of us. My sister walked away. However, I went over and told the guy (while he was still urinating). He just responded, "What are you going to do -- arrest me?" When the pandemic hit a few months later, the entire city shut down. I visited several times. Given the number of rooftop terraces, some businesses were able to use them as a loophole for meetings (as they are considered "outdoor" areas in the city). I attended several meetings on those rooftop terraces. It was surprising to see the city so empty. However, with each trip to the city, I noticed more and more crime. On my way to one meeting in 2020, I was riding a scooter from Caltrain (4th and King) along the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building. I crossed Embarcadero and made my way to California Street. I had never seen so many homeless and, yes, human waste on the streets. I had to be careful so that I didn't roll over either the homeless or their waste. Then, on California Street, a young homeless man (who was across the street) began throwing baseballs at me. I stopped because I was surprised. However, he continued to throw them and yell obscenities at me. I continued on my scooter to the destination (a work meeting at the Newhall Nest atop 260 California Street), I told an off-duty cop working security at the entrance. He told me that there was no point in calling the police because "their hands are tied." By 2021, this was the "new normal." Between the high taxation, high crime rate (including non-reported or non-prosecuted crimes), unceasing odors and the growing homeless problem, San Francisco is now a shell of what it once was. Due to the pandemic, businesses discovered that it was cheaper and more cost-effective to do business outside of the city. So, white collar workers (especially tech workers) have left the downtown area. This has led to a loss of businesses that needed that business to afford the astronomical rent/lease payments. Criminals are so brazen now that shoplifting affected so many businesses. Moreover, non-criminals feel less safe. So, they don't frequent those businesses that are most affected by a perpetual criminal presence. The homeless have now shifted throughout the city -- panhandling at tourist areas along the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf (and areas just off of those locales). However, at night, they move a little further inside the city -- into the business areas -- because it is warmer at night and the buildings block the cold wind. At this point, I have no desire to visit the city. I have no desire to go to meetings in the city (which, I admit, used to be fun work excursions). Not only is it still expensive to go (by train or by parking), it's actually quite dangerous. It always feels that the city is on the cusp going from annoying crime to something worse (i.e., violence). Plus, and this is just a pet peeve, the entire downtown area between Caltrain to Ghirardelli Square is filled with the smells of human excrement mingled with strong skunk weed. Between the crime, odors, homelessness, human waste and occasional needles, I'd rather not walk or ride most places in San Francisco.
Agree with you man. I live in Richmond and I grew up here crime has been bad here but San Francisco and Oakland like wtf is going on. I just avoid at all cost to visit those two cities. San Francisco mostly I just ride my car in all the tourist spots I stop to eat then hit the road is a mess. My friends and I we believe San Francisco might end like Detroit 😢
I went to SF in 2019 & also witnessed 2 men urinating in full view it was disgusting, they allowed the homeless & bums take over, tax paying citizens need to unite & protest en masse, these bums have all the rights it’s frustrating the police can’t legally do anything grrrrr
@@juliobello4561 - Good points. The Detroit analogy is pretty interesting. The city went downhill as the automakers shifted production for vehicles and parts elsewhere. There was a reciprocal effect as other businesses left because of, well, less business. Fewer jobs results in less money. I wonder if this will continue in San Francisco. There have been a great number of jobs that have left the city. Even more jobs are only part-time on-site jobs -- allowing the workers to work-from-home most of the time. This results in less need for food, coffee and even shopping in the city. Many stores have shut down. Some have cited the costs associated with shoplifting and theft. Others have mentioned that their locations "aren't as safe as they used to be." I also wonder if the smaller number of shoppers might factor in too. Not only are there less people working downtown, but there are fewer visitors who feel safe enough to visit a Walgreens or other stores downtown. This lack of income probably hits those stores hard. It's not confined to the city either. I live in Palo Alto and plenty of stores and restaurants have closed over the last three years. Between the astronomical rent and the number of jobs that left Palo Alto, it's amazing that some stores can even stay open. Those that have stayed open have been forced to continually raise their prices to make ends meet. Those higher prices result in fewer customers willing to pay those higher prices. It's circular economics -- a real-life display of cost and demand. it doesn't help that prices are so much higher over the last few years too. I went to McDonald's yesterday for breakfast. The Sausage Egg McMuffin combo is now nearly $9.Three years ago, it was less than $5. This means that prices for that combo rose by 80% in just three years. It's resulting in fewer customers too. Now, the owner of this McDonald's -- the only McD's in Palo Alto (apart from the Stanford Shopping Center) -- wants to close so that the land can be redeveloped. Go figure.
@@ccchhhrrriiisss100 exactly my friend. And I don’t get why some people are happy those big corps are leaving that’s not good. We need those big paid jobs in order to have the small business around. But it seems people don’t learn from history it just history repeats itself.
wow, this is just unbelivable. I used to shop at Embarcadero just avoid big and packed shopping centers but look at this place now. I also love its architecture a lot.
Where did the thieves come from? They don't just pop out of no where over night. This was an issues 20 years in the making with horrible policy decisions. Get ready for most major cities to look like this over the next 10 years.
Rubbish. The internet has killed off many businesses. If it's all about thieves, why are the restaurants closing? Are chickens being stolen from the kitchen?
Yeah, but only the only places to spend their money in were that nail salon and two empty restaurants. --And Medical One if they happen to be injured. :(
Me and my husband went to San Fran some 4 years back and I couldn’t believe what had happened to it.People just shooting up on the streets not even in a tent.I told my husband how scared I was .I’m from L.A. originally and was there a couple of years ago.They have ruined such beautiful and fun cities,I never want to go back to L.A either.The homeless and crime is insane,so 😞
We don't call our city this disgusting 'san fran"! Stop butchering its name!!!. It's SAN FRANCISCO!!!! SAN FRANCISCO!!!! SAN FRANCISCO!!!! SAN FRANCISCO!!!!
The open air drug use was the beginning of the end. It attracts drug users from all over the country who come for the easy access to drugs & free money. You can even walk into stores & steal what you want.
@@MM-oq1lb Why not?..'San Fran' turned into a lawless overpriced toilet bowl. I think calling your city with an abreviated city name is the LEAST of it's and your problems.
This city deserted is eye opening but so are the comments of everyone’s incredible memories, from every decade possible, from people who lived, visited, and worked there in the height of everything is beautiful to read and hear about. Thank you for all your memories!! 💯🌟
So sad, I used to go to The Embarcadero all the time 5 years ago. Can’t believe what San Francisco residents have allowed to happen to this once great city. There used to be an amazing Indian restaurant in that plaza. How do you let junkies take over your city?
Are you here now? What do you expect us to do? The police don't do their jobs, the city government doesn't do their job, and the laws don't protect us from people stealing and using drugs, and living on the streets. Law-abiding citizens have no recourse unless we would just take the law into our own hands, and then what would we do with it? The local government is corrupt. It's out of control.
You let leftists, libs and dems make policies. Don't take my word for it, look at ALL the major towns and cities SF, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, etc, etc
I worked on San Francisco for a few months TDY back in the late 80s, back when California was still a part of the US and when San Francisco was a great city to work in or visit. I worked down the road from the Embarcadero for a couple of weeks: My wife would meet me there at lunch during the week and the pace was busy and thriving. San Francisco is slowlty getting what it voted for. The most frustrating part is how confused and amazed the residents seem to be trying to figure out what happened...
The worst part of it all, is that the state and local governments, along with their administrators could not possibly care less. I should know, I was married to a member of one for 12 years until 6 months ago. This is a collect a paycheck and don't make any waves situation. Ask anyone who is willing and not too scared to tell you the truth, and you'll hear the same exact thing. Guaranteed.
San Francisco, as a city, is like that friend with issues who doesn't know they have issues. And when you tell them something's wrong, they think you're the crazy one, so they just keep getting worse.
Humorously put. Herei n Melbourne Australia we are going the same way. Open drug taking tolerated, homeless everywhere. Still we not quite as insane as SF. People still get prosecuted for shoplifting but the rabid dog far left would love to change that if they could.
@wealthweb1 I imagine it will keep getting till the point where either 1. The citizens all band together to protest in these cities. 2. So many move out that those who stay can't support themselves and everyone that remained is considered homeless. 3. A President declares national emergency for these cities. And redirects the F.B.I, the military, the Red cross, and Government relief efforts to fix the cities. 4. Or the Police all strike, on the fact there not allowed to do anything to help their city.
@@mjslaCalifornia had several Republican governors and the state wasn’t better with them in office. Starting in the 70s, education in California became of no importance to the politicians. Regardless of the political party of the governor, every year the education budget was cut. Apparently keeping the people dumb so they’ll be more likely to commit crimes so they can be sent to one of the many for profit prisons. By the way, Florida is a red state. Book banning is very communistic and dictatorial.
You have to walk through the plaza and go up the escalators to enter the towers from the street. So even though the towers probably aren't as full as they were pre-Covid due to remote work, there are still offices in them that are open, so the plaza needs to stay open to allow access. It is sad seeing all of the stores and cafes closed. I worked at Embarcadero Center for many years - it used to be such a hub of activity with bars, restaurants, shops and people. I remember when U2 gave an impromptu free concert in Justin Herman Plaza (now Embarcadero Plaza) back in the 80s. It was the perfect spot because it was such a busy place. They had an audience of over 10K people by the end of the first song. ETA: I'm curious if this was shot during the week or on a weekend? EC was always pretty abandoned on the weekends, usually just a couple of restaurants and shops open. The shops/restaurants/cafes mostly served the workers from the towers, so it didn't make sense for most of them to pay staff on the weekends when there weren't many workers there. I remember having to work on the weekends and not being able to find anything close to grab a bite to eat other than Peet's.
Are you under the impression that these vacancies are due to COVID? If so then you would be mistaken. The problem lies with decisions made at City Hall from elected officials and the piss poor decisions they've made based on certain ideologies with pernicious consequences.
Sf could easily be one of the most beautiful cities in the world with the best weather and to think it is getting bad there with homeless and drugs dealers and addicts and robberies.
I used to stay at the Hyatt Regency on a monthly basis for years. It's hard to believe that a majority of people voted for this. They should have seen this coming. How stupid can they be!?
Chicago is another iconic US city. 'They're' destroying everything iconic about the USA ... cities, companies, movies, etc. Hard to believe it's all a coincidence.
@@jaysky2000 it's not coincidence. Did you know that China has no nightlife? That's how you control billions. Now, we are in line with their citizens. In 1991, Apartheid ended. South Africa had crime like this. They hired a new chef of police and he did what we should do. He said to his staff...." Shoot First and ask questions later". That definitely slowed the crime wave.
Your city has a history of crooked leaders..Why do you think your city would be better Obama did nothing for you.. City planner my ass.. you keep shooting each other the rest of the country just watches.. I Geneva Wi they will put you on a boat and tell you how the most honest judge in Chicago ripped you off more millions and got away with it.. YOU DESEVE THIS
@@Stevie-J Those stores have been closing at that mall since 2016 because they were more expensive and they mostly catered to business travelers, the mall is attached to a Hyatt hotel after all. I live in San Francisco I have seen large box stores close down since 2010 before any lockdown or ridiculous shoplifting laws.
@@Ellieempress Yeah, they probably have an early official opening time where most of the shops are just beginning to open for the day. Maybe this was a Sunday morning.
I lived in San Francisco in the 60's and early 70's. Just think, one of the main players who helped this happen is getting ready to run for president. This is America's future if that happens.
@@rnettles6241 There's a lot of hostility in Texas toward families, or single people, moving into upscale houses, with California plates. It is assumed they're going to vote for the same s hit that destroyed California: high taxation, Soros prosecutors, de-fund the police, let boys into girls locker rooms, all of that insanity.
Sadly, nothing will change for the better. Anyone who knows how to properly run a city does not want the job. What is as surprising is the residents of SF have not risen up and demanded the Mayor, the Board or Supervisors and the DA resign immediately.
You goofs don't understand. You can't "VOTE" them out. Once they get in and play ball that's it. Over and done. You don't count the votes. They do. It's NOT the citizens fault. It's the CORRUPTION that's to blame
that goes both ways, republicans do the same thing. the difference is that dems actually do accept mistakes and will attempt to fix them, maga will burn the house down!! Just because we are dems doesnt mean we dont want to see improvement. In SoCal, many laws are changing to help fix these type of problems. maga just wants chaos.
The other party doesn't know how to fix problems, they are too busy trying to destroy the Country. It's actually the result of capitalism driving the costs too high for the average person to afford. It's not the politicians, it's CAPITALISM that's in effect.. If the politicians could fix the problems capitalism does when it gets out of hand, then you would then say that the Government was enacting too restrictive of laws, like rent control. Rent Control has it's set of problems too. you want to blame someone for something that the wealthy did, they raised the costs of living for the rest of us. Plus, we had a Covid epidemic which flipped our world upside down for a few years that will have lasting effects. If you are going to blame the politicians, what laws, specifically, did they enact that caused this? Please be specific.. If you can't name the laws specifically, then simply stop blaming the politicians. Also, it's part of the management of the property and the fact that people aren't going out to the Embarcadero as much as they used to.
You know how in scary films they always use cemeteries that are unkempt or old looking to exude a creepy atmosphere? I just realized watching this that an abandoned mall is actually more creepy, because whereas a cemetery was always for those who passed on, a mall was supposed to be for the living, i.e. full of life. Families walking around together, packs of teenagers running wild but still well behaved, the children's court area with amusement rides for toddlers and up. What on earth happened to this mall?
@@mchammer3927 It's normal dude. Shopping malls decline in the US has been around for decades Multiple analysts have projected the shrinkage of U.S. shopping malls, which in their heyday totalled 2,500 in the 1980s. In the next ten years there may be just 150 malls left. Coresight Research in 2020 said 25 percent of American malls would close within five years, citing shoppers prefer to make quick trips to shops in close proximity. Oh noes' who would have thought rise of online shopping would along with the pandemic be the final nail in the coffin.
Thanks for posting this video. It is very sentimental to me. In high school, I worked in the Embarcadero as a tile setter. As you see, there are thousands of beautiful circular tiles all over the Embarcadero. Back then, it was bustling with beautiful retail shops, beautiful women, business people just going about their lives. Now, it's dead. The San Francisco that I loved no longer exists.
Agree... all we can do is spread the word to those who lean liberal. Socialism killed our most beautiful city, and it will kill our country if Newsom is EVER elected president.
I too noticed the tiles. The arched staircases. Imagine a tradesman working on all that construction, building it strong and beautiful, only to come back years later to see it abandoned. Sad.
My escape from the world was the theater in the Embarcadero. They offered the best films. I could get a Ritter Sports chocolate bar at the Walgreens around the corner for the movie. Afterwards I'd walk along the bay considering the movie and enjoying a light crowd. If it were really busy I'd take the short route instead. A few times I could watch the parrots of Telegraph Hill in the trees to the west in a small park. Looks like a ghost town 10 years later. It use to feel like a great city and a great part of the city, active and interesting, it felt alive then.
Thank you so much for posting this. I left the SF Bay area ten years ago and this is shocking. I've been to Embarcadero many times, it was always bustling. Great shops and restaurants, very pleasant vibe, lots of people. This is so sad.
This mall used to be a great destination during lunch or even on the weekends. When it opened in the late 80s and 90s, every floor was packed with shops and restaurants. Now there are barely a handful left.
Actually, the Embarcadero Ctr opened in the early 1970s & was designed by an architect based in Atlanta, who was known mainly for hotels featuring large interior lobbies, such as the SF Hyatt Regency. Online retail, Covid-era lockdowns & SF's business-unfriendly politics all together have done quite a number on places like the Embarcadero. I not being too sarcastic when I recommend the city buy the complex & put homeless people in all those vacant storefronts. Or at least turn them into moderate-priced housing for middle-class residents.
@@gridley John Portman was a great architect. He designed the Hyatt right next door and the PeachTree Center which is basically a lesser-known pint-sized clone of the Embarcadero center. The first part of the center was built in the 70s, but underwent renovations and expansions as they finished 4 Embarcadero Center. Embarcadero Center was built in phases, with the last and centerpiece completed in the early 90s when Boston Property (Current Owner) took over and renovated the mall and removed the observation deck.
@@MizukuMirai Correct! But I didn't know its last phase dates back just 30 yrs vs almost 50 yrs. Portman also designed the Bonaventure Hotel in LA, which similar to the Embarcadero has mainly vacant space in its retail lobby floors. That type of commercial has been iffy since even the 1970s, but way more so in the 2020s. The motto of "build it & they will come" doesn't necessarily pan out.
I used to work across the street from the Embarcadero in the '90s. It was a thriving, bustling area in a world-class city. It's current condition is beyond tragic.
@@CaptainSensibleIII Yes, weekends were quiet, But it didn't have all those empty store fronts with no businesses in them anymore......all the businesses have closed.
@@CaptainSensibleIII The point of the video is all the businesses that are no longer in the Embarcadero Center, not whether there is foot traffic around on a weekend, that is irrelevant. Me having to explain that to you, speaks volumes.
@@sanddabz5635 The fact that you are repeating the facts of the video, that were stated in the first two seconds, as if it was some revelation....or even a POINT.....speaks volumes.
This just makes me cry. I am a native San Franciscan, born and raised in the 60s. I miss the City as it was, so many nice and not-so-nice memories, but it is still my "home". My friend from junior high worked at Three Embarcadero and we would meet at lunch almost daily where it was so crowded and lots going on to see, to do, and to walk. We were in our 20s back then. To see this as a ghost town now makes no sense. I no longer live in the City, but still have two brothers that live there. They, too, say it has changed for the worse. Something has to be done to bring San Francisco back to life and clean up the city. :(
The city is filled with homeless people and smells like pee. Officers do nothing, businesses left because it's literally not profitable to operate here anymore. It's gone to sh--
I remember visiting this mall when it used to be full of people and businesses. What a shame to see it now! SF should thank their liberal city leaders for protecting the criminals instead of the law-abiding citizens and businesses. We don't visit SF anymore because of the feces, crime, drugs, and lawlessness. Thank you for the great video on exposing the truth in a once beautiful city.
Everyone goes to Walmart where it simple and do not have to fight traffic and has everything you need. Starbucks is on every corner and call pick up. People like delivery call and UPS or FedX is at your door. We have Walgreens easy pick up delivery. People don’t want that stuff anymore. I myself do not like malls anymore. To expensive and cost to run them is costly and charge you more. I’m glad we do not need it. There is other entertainment besides walking around mall or down town. I went to NYC, hated.
I am almost 60 and my father use to take our family to San Fancisco to see my aunt and Uncle. My Uncle would take my sister and I to the zoo and walk from his house as our parents visited. It was incredibly beautiful, My heart is broken for this place. All of California is a heartbreak, shadows of a beautiful yesterday.
The big cities are a mess- SF, LA...real heartbreaks there. But not all of California is a heartbreak. It's one big state (4th largest in the nation) Plenty of quality areas in the central and eastern part of the state.
@@CeeLiberty but you still can't get away from their liberal policies. It's pretty much the bluest state in the union. Policies that have brought CA to it's knees along with many other blue states and their blue major cities.
Well, THAT part of the city is still OK......LOTS of parts are still beautiful and alive....it's the downtown, Civic Center and shopping malls that are destroyed.........otherwise, lizard-man Gavin Newsom, our MAYOR and our other representatives should be PROUD! We can just do our shopping through the Sears Catalogue and wait forThe Wells Fargo Wagon to deliver the goods! Oh, wait.....there are more modern ways to do that....or we can drive to the shopping areas in San Rafael or The Stanford Shopping Center...Those are still nice.
Literally, Democrat policies caused all of this. Not only in San Francisco but Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle looks just like this. Democrat policies like being super soft on crime (Defund the Police), on accepting an unlimited amount of homeless people from all over the country to live in San Francisco, decriminalizing drugs, allowing people to shoplift anything under $950, telling police to stand down and not arrest anyone during the Black Lives Matter riots and looting, and last but not least: the Democrats were super pro-lockdown during Covid, they locked everything down and were prosecuting business for staying open. Then people just learned how to stay home and not go anywhere, ruining all retail spaces in Democrat-run states. San Francisco is now an example of the future of any Democrat-run area.
30 years ago I worked in the financial district and would walk to Embarcadero Center on my lunch hour. It was so busy it was hard to get a table in any of the restaurants. It hurts my heart to see what it has turned into.
All if not most of the older generation does not understand the “ work from home” concept. If you’re home, chances are you are making your own coffee , preparing your own sandwich and getting your dinner ready for later. These stores are dying because consumers aren’t out like before where they either brought their bagged lunch or ate a pricy basic lunch
Thanks for documenting this. I used to love wandering around there during lunch hour. John Portman was the architect of the Embarcadero’s modern/brutalist style, and it was so different from many of the other shopping/dining/office spaces in SF. Great shopping, dining and people watching, plus in the early spring, you could walk over to the nearby park and see all the parrots gathered in the flowering trees eating blossoms. I enjoy reading other’s recollections and experiences of the very unique Embarcadero. I hope it comes back to life one day…
I remember those days checking out the parrots was one of my favorite things to do in the evening ,thousands of Green parrots 🦜flying all over the place but now even the parrots 🦜 left ,I couldn’t believe it !
It's OK, Nancy has made her hundreds of millions being in Congress looking after...the 11th district, yeah, that it. She was looking after the district, and for the children.
He didn’t document anything other than a place in San Francisco that has been dying because malls aren’t needed due to everything being online . And it was a Sunday .
Well, to be fair people asked for this. The politicians just try to give the people what they want, but a lot of people are too ignorant to even see their own outcomes. The residents asked for this.
Not really. This is what happens when you have a communications technology revolution. The internet has replaced bricks and mortar. It's as simple as that. And it's global, it's not just in San Franscisco. San Francisco is just more effected because so many work in the tech sector, but now, from home, not "in the office".
I just looked it up, and the high end hotels like the Regency are STILL charging their high prices. What a lot of nerve that is. The last time my son stayed in one of their nicer downtown hotels, he saw a murder victim being wheeled out of the high end hotel across the street from his. Only a FOOL, knowing how bad it is, would pay those prices to stay in such an unsafe, deserted place. The last time I was there, the whole city looked like one big, bad neighborhood. What a shame, it used to be a beautiful city full of beautiful parks. Now, it's only full of criminals, trash and drugs.
I was a train operator with Bart for 25 years. Before covid the platforms would be packed, so much so we ran 4 extra trains, we called the baby commuters. My 10 car train would be filled to the gills. During covid I was lucky to have 10 people on a train, only the working poor and homeless road the trains. After covid maybe a quarter of the people came back.
@@chopperchopper1418 While operating a train through a dozen earthquakes, no big deal. The transbay tube moved three inches during the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Public Transportation in NJ is filled with third worlders. No one is dressed for a job or an interview. Reeks of Pot and body odor. No coming back from this 🤬
WHY? this is their goal.. Demorats call this progress. And when it fails say we need more money.. Lets vote Sleepy Joe in again.. 6 more years will put America under the table.. Game over.
They recalled their district attorney. He was immediately rewarded with a prestigious, cushy job and replaced with someone who has almost indistinguishable policies.
This almost happened in NYC, but people couldn’t move and tourists just kept coming no matter how unsafe it was. So many people in person denied and still deny the danger of past and current crime gaslighting truthful people, while protecting themselves by taking Ubers, staying in after dark, or moving and not stating safety as the reason why 💙🙏🏻💙
I think we need to watch Westfield Mall, rumor, it going to completely shut down in 6 month's. The city is collapsing around us. San Francisco's Board.of Supervisors will not do anything to stop this madness.😢
IDK why it's not already a stinking drug homeless den but I'm sure the oder of feces and urine permeates from the streets and soon they'll make it even worse in the name of virtue signaling. We have to forgive them for "meaning well".
I was a middle school-age child when I visited San Francisco in 1967. My companion visited in the mid-1970s after being out of high school. We both enjoyed our times visiting all those years ago when the city was indeed so different from today. We are so grateful for the memories of our families' respective visits. We have our reminisces of the parks, restaurants, cable cars, Chinatown and other venues, for ourselves to tell others of. At our ages we are now sadly we cannot afford to even return for a visit. Thank you for showcasing these areas for those of us whom live outside of California.
@@chopperchopper1418 Honestly; when I remember the way it was, and how wonderful it was, it makes me sad. The bookstores, new and used, I'd make a day out of walking around to all the bookstores. I bought so many books. The peep shows. I lived at Taylor and Eddy and we had 'adult' entertainment possibilities on every side of every block and the corners too. The area was lit up with neon and fancy bulbs and they were everywhere I wanted to go. North Beach, we had the live bump-and-grinders that eventually unionized, the first in the nation. By then I was to old for that stuff but I'd still go in there and drop a quarter or a dollar and the little window would come up and all I ever did was smile, wave and say hello loud enough that they could hear me and they always smiled and waved back and I'd leave. And we had the shit fetish place across the street. It was mostly German stuff. They had a guy in a bullet-proof glass enclosure as you entered the store. He would stare at you and say nothing so you walk past him into the place. Dark and dingy, with unpainted stone walls, and racks and racks of scat magazines and videos. And the magazines weren't all shrink-wrapped either so browsing was a possibility. And all the way at the back of the place they'd put their porn on these rusting revolving paperback book racks that was so pathetic they'd be Happy if you stole it. And beyond that was essentially a cave, stone floor, walls and ceiling and no lighting of any kind. Maybe it was a performance space.
I was there in 1966. My most memorable moment was a visit to the art studio of the Keanes. The big eyed children were very popular at the time. In later years it was proven that Mrs Keane had painted all the works, but had allowed her husband to get all the credit. My husband was in the Navy, those paintings were too much $$ for us at the time. I loved SF. Sorry to see it decay. The rest of the state will be next.
35 years ago I lived in the bay area and I recall that up until that point I used to love to go to the downtown areas and people watch at Christmas time. That ended abruptly when I moved to the bay area. It was like watching jackals at a kill. I was at Tanforan mall and people, actually mostly women, we’re grabbing things off the rack briefly looking at them and then throwing everything on the floor and then moving onto the next rack. To me it was disgusting human behavior. That behavior pales in comparison as to what is happening today.
@@rayc.8555 but I have to ask, whose way of life is that appropriate? Know what I mean? It was like if they disrespected others they felt more power or empowerment themselves and I don’t know anywhere where that’s appropriate. It’s just crazy stuff
@@tiredofallthis7716 No where else is that even tolerated except in the U.S. My job used to take me pretty much all over the world and i never saw this disrespect for the property of others anywhere else except here. People do it here because they can get a away with it. All of this can stopped over night by posting two armed guards at the exit. When people dont behave you throw them out.
Native San Franciscan here. I am angry. Devastated by what’s happened to a once energetic beautiful city. One of my first jobs was at the Embarcadero cashiering at The Limited. You could not have ever told me that the leaders we voted in would allow this garbage. It started with the tech takeover. Letting one industry dictate the the cost of housing and the vibe of the city was the beginning. People were forced out. Restaurants and businesses started to close. Bad decision making and no foresight from our government leaders. Here we are in 2023 and our city looks and feels looted.
Id ask why u didnt expect it? Every policy passed by them immediately failed with data to back it up. Now if you read the SF chronical for your news it would be understandable because it is horrific when it comes to anything political. Some say the washington post, ny times, etc are bad but they have nothing on the sf chronical. If you do read it for your news stop and if youd like i can give u the process to find out how bad it is so you can prove it to yourself
@@alexi2460 That’s a damn shame. Union Square during the holidays was always an event similar to NYC and Chicago. Vibrant and festive. I don’t live in SF anymore but whenever I visit I reject what I’m seeing. It’s unbelievable.
Have to agree that you vote for what you want and you’ll get this with lunatic Democrats. I don’t feel sorry for the people of SF after all the policies and regulations are in place by the Democrat party THEY VOTED FOR
The Embarcadero Center is private property, owned by Boston Properties, one of their largest property owners in the country. Most commenters don't understand the difference between the Embarcadero Center and the rest of SF. (Because they probably don't live here.) Embarcadero Center has not been directly impacted by the homeless and crime. It has a private security and maintenance force. It is both clean and safe. Embarcadero Center is empty because people have not come back to work. The building is at least 30% empty. That's what has killed the restaurants and retail.
@@canuck21 Most of the office workers who used to work in the downtown district now work remotely. Many have decided they did not want to go back to business as it was prior to the pandemic. Companies that have been able to get out of their leases have. Young, newer employees are refusing to take jobs that don't offer at least some hybrid work from home options. The world has changed and it will be awhile until we see the return of more workers to the financial district in SF, if ever. Until then these retail spaces in Embarcadero Center will remain empty. Outside of this particular complex, SF has those same issues PLUS the homeless, drug addicts and shoplifting thugs that have ruined what was once a bustling down town.
@@jpunx3133 Also, the homeless were less obvious because there were office workers, convention goers and tourists. Take those people away and the homeless become more visible. Making it worse is the increase in online shopping. I am guilty of that; it's easier to order from Amazon than look for something in a store. I get free delivery and most things arrive in a day or two.
I was about to be robbed at gunpoint but once I told the would be robber that he was violating the strict CA gun laws which prohibit carrying firearms in public the would be robber turned himself into the police.
But but; he came from a broken home and was not privileged. He was a nice boy and cared for his mother. That usually works with bleeding heart activists.
I was in San Fran a few months ago and it was shocking to see how much it has changed. It's true. All the shops on the Embarcadero are gone. It was like a ghost town. The few and far between ones had to buzz you in and took card only as payment. No one accepted cash. The Westfield mall is also going to be closing soon. A far cry from my visit in 2016. This is also happening in LA and Seattle too.
I went out yesterday and The Embarcadero was full of tourists. The Ferry building had lots of shoppers and Fisherman's Wharf was so crowded you could barely walk around. There was a cruise ship in the harbor.
I used to get my shoes shined by Famous Wayne outside the Hyatt Regency. I wonder if he's still around. He wanted me to buy a ticket for a lifetime of shoe shines, but I refused because of the uncertainty of the future. I left California because of the draconian restrictions imposed as the result of a disease that was manufactured in a lab, and then spread around the world. Most San Franciscans believed the hype, and I said, "I gotta get out of here!" Meanwhile, downtown SF emptied out. It used to be mobbed, but now it's getting to be more like a ghost town.
The owner of the Hyatt Regency has abandoned the property to the lender. I don't know it it's closed yet, but it will be soon. The only reason to do that is that there are no guests. Consequently, I don't expect Famous Wayne has many shoes to shine.
@@BrendonCarr This is one of the more heartbreaking aspect to the destruction, wealthy people will be fine, people like Famous Wayne don't have as many options.
@@jpp2377 - I've been to a number of conferences at that Hyatt Regency. The last time was in November 2019 (of course). Even then, the Civic Center area was menacing.
It's really difficult for me to watch this. In the 1980s, when I worked in the San Francisco Financial District, these stores in the Embarcadero were thriving. Financial District workers and visitors were always going into and out of the Embarcadero stores. There were restaurants and a nightclub in the Embarcadero that were packed with people who worked in the area and went to these restaurants and the nightclub after work.
That is not a tourist area. People started working from home during the pandemic and they just didn't;t return. That is not a residential area. Those businesses catered to people commuting downtown to work. To be honest, even when the stores were still there, on the weekend it was still a ghost town in that area.
The thing is, the people that are voting for these measures aren’t actually native San Francisco people for the most part. All the normal working class people were priced out or are now living on the street. I honestly blame the techies and the other rich people who still live in the city for ruining the city for everyone else. By filling the city with politicians who served their every wim they effectively screwed the average person. This is hardly a partisan issue. Its’ more like a perfect example of the rich literally eating the poor and having there way-that’s just how unfettered capitalism works, and it’s starting to occur everywhere in the U.S.
Yep. San Francisco is facing some bad legislative matters, but the crux of the problem rests with rent inflation occurring abruptly and rapidly with the Silicon Valley tech boom. It's been a pricy city to live in for decades, but there was massive rent hike which occurred practically overnight. Several people I know ended up homeless as a result, and I speak of grounded, working people with no addictions or mental illnesses who were born in the city, and had no prospects elsewhere. Greedy landlords are the main culprits in San Francisco's decline.
The formerly great City by the Bay turned into a Twilight Zone episode. Thank you to all responsible. You know who you are. Tony Bennett sheds many a tear.
That is not a tourist area. People started working from home during the pandemic and they just didn't;t return. That is not a residential area. Those businesses catered to people commuting downtown to work. To be honest, even when the stores were still there, on the weekend it was still a ghost town in that area.
What a shock! Many years ago, I worked at Embarcadero Center II. It was a vibrant, lovely building to work. Nice restaurants (my favorite was Scott’s Seafood Bar and Grill). A co-worker and I would also go to this Mexican restaurant for drinks and quesadillas after work. I loved Embarcadero Center. So sad to hear this. Last time I stayed at the Hyatt Regency and the ice rink was packed.
I worked in SF back in the early 1980s. My company was located a short walk from the Embarcadero and I would often spend my lunch hour in this part of the city and I never could have imagined this transformation. It's like a ghost town.
There should be a law that if you voted for those items, you are required to stay in the area for ten years. Those that didn't vote for them get permission to leave of they want.
First time I visited SF was in 2017. Now a few months ago - so about 6 years later - I came back for a short visit and it was both baffling and depressing how... dead... it seemed. So many businesses in formerly bustling areas just shut down and those that are open close already at around 6 or 7pm. That's insane for an American big city imo. Utterly shocking.
No wonder Pelosi bought a retirement home in Florida. She is like the Aliens in Independence Day.....they devour the resources of one planet.....then move on to another.
I was born and raised in San Francisco when it was safe, clean & beautiful. Not any more after 40 + years of Democratic rule. I now live far far away and will never go back.
Wow. The last time I visited was 2019 right before the pandemic. Things were already shifting but the city still bustling. What a difference 4 years makes.
What are the people going to do? They don’t have any money. They’ve been priced out of their own homes so the only people that would be shopping are the tourist and they’re run off the streets by all the poop in the needles in the homelessness if anything, you got a blame Gavin Newsom.
The elites probably planned this so they only get centres in Bev Hills, their security tells homeless to go downtown and not stay in their area . Such hypocrites.
I worked downtown San Francisco Financial District for at least 25 years. The late 70s/1980s/early 90s were great years of what I call the "Herb Caen" years, everyone read the SF Chronicle and the Examiner, and rushed to read Herb Caen's writings, where San Francisco was still a somewhat local city with local citizens and personalities - Herb Caen, Harry Denton, Pat McCormick (Kuletos), Willie Brown, Bob Lurie SF Giants, Riordan, Aliotos, the Opening of the Opera, remember those two old lady twins?, Gump's, Emporium Capwell, Macys, John's Grill and the old patrons, Sam's Grille, the French Quarter/Le Central on Grant right before the entrance of China Town, Lefty O'Douls, and Powell Street was open to vehicles; chess players, sightseers, and everyone wore suits, business dress downtown, the women were beautiful, then Cesar's Latin Palace, and everyone was either dancing salsa, or swing, Lombard Street, the old Restaurants along Sutter, the old North Beach and its restaurants, and all its characters, and everyone knew the policemen walking the beats. That's the San Francisco that I remember....
Yes, I remember that San Francisco well. I worked in Embarcadero One for many years back in the early '90s, just after the earthquake. The center lower levels were totally remodeled where they opened up the walkways, put in lots of new lighting and glass doors/windows everywhere. It was fun, great place to work, etc. The old 480 stacked freeway used to end at the end of E Four in the park area between the Hyatt and Ferry building - after they tore it down, everyone exclaimed - what is that building? And there is a huge fountain there too! Anyway, waxing nostalgic now ... people stayed away after the earthquake too, but many came back within a few months/years. I don't think that will happen again now after Covid. I visited SF for a wedding about 7 years ago, it was very bad then - dirty, crime, homeless, etc. Unless I need to attend a funeral or something, it's not worth the trip anymore for me.
I worked first in Embarcadeo One then our company moved to Embarcadero Two - this was from 1974-1979. You have described the area so well! How lucky we were to live in such a vibrant, clean, safe place.
Me too! Breaks my heart. 3rd generation born in SF here. Great grandfather came from Ireland during the famine ! He must be rolling over in his grave for this!
Finally, someone in the comments section that doesn't feel compelled to go "See, Democrats, you deserve everything you voted for". The irony shouldn't be lost on anyone that the very same industrial sector that San Franscisco welcomed with open arms will be the same one responsible for its demise. The tech sector. So many people can work from home, online, now. And they can shop at home, online. "Highrise" offices with street level retail outlets attached, located in the CBD are now redundant technology. A laptop performs the same job, for a fraction of the price. You can blame the Democrats, if you want. I don't care, I'm in Australia. Republicans, Democrats...who cares. I'm pretty sure that neither of them are responsible for the changes that have happened in Melbourne. And, while not as bad as San Franscisco, the demise of the Melbourne CBD is more than noticeable.
@davidbrayshaw3529 Thanks. But to be honest it was democrats who closed down the state of California keeping people from these offices that destroyed the small businesses that relied on the workers. All on the stop the spread belief. Other states kept businesses open with limitations. Now SF has to deal with no workers in the office buildings and empty store fronts.
Are the Commifornia Dems going to stop supporting him? I live here and suspect things need to get worse first, their policies haven't made sense in a long time yet they refuse to learn.
Just spent a week in SF and I'll never go back. It was cold (in August) and very, very, very, very, expensive for no reason. The "homeless" are also agressive on the street. One came near my family and the one reason i didn't stick a blade in his throat was because i thought of my kids. Never going back SF, i can watch reruns of Full House or Mrs. Doubtfire instead.
I worked in the City from 1986 to 1988. The Embarcadero was HOPPING way back then. I remember we all used to go to happy hour in a big bar in there somewhere. We went back to the city in Sept 2020. The Market Street/Fremont area - the Financial District - where I worked back then was nearly deserted. It felt surreal - as if we were walking around a giant movie set in which filming had been completed and everyone had left. We also walked around the Embarcadero, and it was totally deserted just like you show in your video. Just very WEIRD. This reminds me of what Captain Price said about Pripyat in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare: "Fifty thousand people used to live here. Now it's a ghost town." What has boggled my mind for decades now is WHY the citizens of San Francisco continue to elect INEPT Democratic leaders who have systematically driven the city into the ABOMINABLE shape it is in now. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. It's just tragically baffling.
It's shocking and sad to see how dead Embarcadero Center has become. Back in 1980, I met the man who eventually became my husband at the Holding Company, a lively after-work spot for young people in their 20s to meet each other. I often shopped at the stores in Embaradero Center -- Little Daisy, Talbott's, and Restoration Hardware. And I also ate at the restaurants and snack shops. San Francisco has clearly been run into the ground by the politicians. Here's to you, London Broil. So glad I left that city and the state of California twenty years ago.
Glad to see a similar SANE person, I was in the same timeline. Yes, the Embarcadero was a cool place. I left CA 2019, never looked back. Won't miss the Marxist Dems one bit. It will not be fixed in your lifetime.
I remember The Holding Company! I worked in EC1 then EC2 in the late seventies. It was across the street, I remember how we left our offices at 5 on the dot and The Holding Company was filled up pretty quickly. Of course, I then went to work in SV for tech and didn't come close to leaving at 5 ever again...
I was a student at City College in the early 1970s. My class in architecture took a field trip to this newly built urban wonderland. It really was the leading edge of city planning and as long as the office space was filled with workers the shops could survive, although I thought that the retail spaces felt dark and compressed with low ceilings. Now these office towers may actually be obsolete, hard to imagine them ever returning to full occupancy. Even the Hayat Regency which was a marvel in its day is looking tired and dated. It is going to take a lot of imagination and money to find a new purpose for all this empty space.
Very sad to see millions of dollars of beautiful infrastructure that cannot be used due to failed state and local policies. Our leaders are to blame!😥 What company in their right mind would decide to lease one of these empty business locations in San Francisco ?
No doubt stealing from stores became the last straw but overpriced rent and too many high paying jobs concentrated in a small area also played a role too. I wonder how many stores are closing in NYC, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Chicago In the main shopping district on N. Michigan Avenue you can see the changes. About a decade ago, the expensive boutique stores (Bang & Olufsen, etc.) started moving out of the area as the Uber-wealthy started leaving the area. I was shocked to see a guy lay a tarp on the street corner selling junk and the police did nothing. As the expensive stores left they were replaced with much cheaper stores you would find at an outlet mall. More pop-up food places have appeared and occupancy rates Sound Familiar Water Tower Place (8 floor vertical shopping mall). Brookfield Property Partners is handing over the keys to Water Tower Place, a Magnificent Mile mall, about a year after it lost Macy’s, its largest tenant.
@@chrispnw2547, yes. I'm in downtown Chicago. I've noticed that even when spaces don't become permanently vacant, there's a huge downgrade in quality and prestige. A nice restaurant would shutter and be replaced by a Taco Bell or Dunkin Donuts. A boutique or jewelry store would shutter and be replaced by a 7-Eleven or Circle K. A department store would close and be replaced by Target. And a number of spaces that used to have restaurants and stores have remained vacant. Heck, I even see vacant spaces where 7-Eleven used to be. It's not looking good.
@@DionysusAlS Amazing how fast Marxist values work wonders in the name of equity and virtue signaling. Universal poverty is their goal if they failed to say it explicitly.
My younger sister was just pick-pocketed in San Fransisco. Showed the police exactly where her new iPhone is located on the FindMy app. But they said it's not valued at more than $1,000, so it's not a crime. But they told her to NOT try to get it back herself. So basically she just moved to a city that allows her no way protect her belongings from the thieves. And I'm sure if I went and did the cops job for them I'd get charged for assault. Sister is highly educated and working in tech, but reconsidering which city she will live in.
Sister...is reconsidering which city she should live in...so she should. Government/law enfircement was created and exists to restrain evil. When it does nothing for the common good of all, beware.
Every commercial business could close down or go out of business and YET San Francisco voters will vote for the same laws, measures, and officials that are dooming their city. This is self inflicted. No one should feel sorry for them.
So true.
Self righteousness is a strong force.
Votes there vote from the ass down.
So true.
You are so WRONG ! our elections are rigged !!! Votes dont count !!!!!
This is the answer to shoplifting... just don't have anything to steal.
Answer to Marxist attitudes--don't participate, produce or offer services to those intent on your destruction.
It’s also the answer to racism as everything is racist.
The copper pipes in the building are worth thousands.
Then they come for your homes 😢
@@Sammy-il1qf PREPARATIONS
What is really concerning is that it takes decades to build a world-class city and tourist destination, and only five years to destroy it with poor policies. Same thing with Portland, Seattle, New York City.
Yes. They're called Democrat liberals. And they suck!
@@filmbuff000 New York City is a piece of s*** now. As for all of the Cities he mentioned they were all ruined by liberal Democrats. And their policies. And they were also ruined by drugs coming across our Southern border by the idiot that's currently our president.
@@filmbuff000 Yes, I’ve been there to see it.
You can't put all the blame on city leadership. This is a great case study on changing economic phenomenon of urban flight into the suburbs. Corporate and landowner greed is no longer the dominating modus operandai in SF. Housing got too expensive, commercial rents got too expensive, and the pandemic showed us all that there are other priorities in life rather than buying "stuff" and paying sky high rent and mortgages. The pendulum will swing the other way SF will make a comeback.
@@elstongunn4277 This will never happen to NYC
That is just unreal dude… thanks for doing this. People need to see what these policies are doing to our country. 😢
“Policies”? It’s called online shopping. The internet is doing this, stop being a political pigeon.
Liberal policies are destroying California.
@@DMills-un1tlDude, I live in Sacramento. Literally go to either Arden Fair Mall or Westfield Galleria and ask yourself why they look NOTHING like this? They were literally packed with people even yesterday (a Tuesday!) Wake up. This isn’t normal.
i bet it's a blackrock scam. just watch them prices and who will be buying.
Can you elaborate on what policies are you talking about? I am asking with genuine curiosity since I am not from The US.
I was born in San Francisco. My grandparents owned 3 beautiful flats on Franklin St. My dad had a grocery/liquor store for 22 years. My uncle was a gripman on the cablecars for 37 years. This sickens me. People need to wake up to the lack of leadership and vote out destructive politics.
They needed to wake up 10 years ago. It's too late. They're completely fascist now. The gov't controls literally every aspect of their lives and cannot be voted out. It's over. The only thing that will bring that city back is the forceful removal of the dictators. Wait, the dictators disarmed everyone. Oh, well. F em. They deserve this.
Did they vote for democrats and their policies that directly attacked their way of life? If so then they are just paying the price for their own decisions. I have family in the bay area, spent many summers growing up in oakland, and these issues have been developing for over 30 years. Its just so sad to see how they improved in many ways in the late 90's and early 2000's then flushed it all back down the drain.
The sad thing is you all we keep voting Demacrap over and over so now deal with this mess you all love so much.
i got transferred to Sacramento in '95. we used to spend weekends in the City 3-4 times a year untill the new Millenium. Even then it was starting to turn to Shit.
@@mikemaldonado5499 i've been here almost 30 years and not once voted for a democrat. the Votes here are rigged, always have been.
This is heartbreaking to see that some of our most thriving US Cities are being left abandoned due to bad leadership decisions.
Our "allies"
It is solely the purpose and goal for liberal democrats to destroy our economy and every major city because they know once you destroy a culture, poor homeless people living in poverty are much easier to control than working people with self reliance. Look at what the democrats did to Detroit and Chicago and even Portland, Oregon where even Walmart and Nike have closed their stores in the entire city for all the violence and crime going on with liberal democrat prosecutors who ignore crime and assaults of people daring to venture into the once lively downtown areas.
Don't forget the voters. They caused this as well.
Democrats
@@johnalioto Yeah, I used to work a few blocks from the Embarcadero Center, and it was never a bustling place. It is sad to see so many closed shops, restaurants, and "For Lease" signs, though.
My great grandfather was born there in 1882 and founded the Chinese Times. There’s a street named after him below Grant Avenue (Walter U, Lum Place) What a waste, most of the family has moved away to Southern California, Arizona and Texas. My prayers go out to the law abiding citizens of SF they don’t deserve this and hope they can somehow turn this around. The Bay Area was so beautiful in the past.
Nope, not going to happen.
Nope, not going to happen.
And Chinese traditionally vote Democrat. And like others, move to other cities and vote the same way. Arizona has turned into a dump. Southern CA is a dump. CA is 35% whhyte and dropping. The state is finished.
Kaiser is to blame for bringing low IQ people from the South States to work for low wages at the shipyard of Richmond. Now they multiply like a fungi and spreaded likewise in some of what used to be beautiful towns of the Bay Area that took many, many years to build, to be overrun by people that are experts in destruction.
It will happen if and when the PEOPLE of the Bay Area FORCE their politicians to stop abiding by global/communist policies and restore the free market.
I was stationed in SF (USCG) on YBI in the late 90's. A crew mate of mine from San Pedro knew SF and took me to the Enbarcadero. Being from a small southern town, I was blown away by how alive it was. This footage is creepy and, even though I hear on the news about the problems there, I couldn't possibly have realized just how bad it is. Thanks for making it clear to me and to tens (hundreds?) of thousands, as I heard some of the audio on Glenn Beck's show - which led me here. Unbelievable. Keep it up. This cancer is spreading.
All the stoes are glosed
I was there in 94. I'm from Texas, native Texan, and I lived in Mission Viejo for a year and then came back to Texas.
While in Cali I went to many cities with my girlfriend at the time. It was rather exciting to be in big cities and meeting the people. I was treated somewhat special because I was a Texan. I got asked so many interesting questions about Texas. Anyway I look at this vid and am just blown away. This doesn't look like California. I've seen many videos and I believe with certainty that this is going to get worse and worse there.
People are killing humanity. Why.
So sad. Thanks to the new law in California that prevents business owners from filing charges or not allowed to hurt the thieves. Congratulations 🎉
Vote them out! Vote republican as in no way it could hurt.
And yet people continue to vote for the same idiots who allow this…..
Oh, finally, a reason for this ... I lived and worked there (all over the City) and it used to be a marvelous experience. My dad worked on Embarcadero No. One and when that was done, he worked on others; this was back in the 70's when all this was changing the city and there was NOTHING but construction, the pounding of pile drivers, etc. It turned from the City by the Bay into this monstrous urban area until it was all built up but by then it had changed into something else. It USED to be great and now if the City Council has done what is alleged by jennifervalencia above, then it serves them right! But it must be hard on the workers in the area who would be able to get out and enjoy it. But, since the '70s, it isn't what it was. Thanks for the info on WHY!
Wtf?!?
You mean bill 553
New bill prevents employers from mandating workers to confront shoplifters. The California Senate has passed legislation that prevents employers from requiring workers to confront active shooters or shoplifters. Passed May 31, Senate Bill 553 contains provisions prohibiting employers from maintaining such policies.
This is what lawlessness does to an area. People need to feel safe to shop Downtown SF.
Courtesy of Defund the Police.
Progressives have gone full retard, how else could it end?? Sad but *just* and necessary apparently.
greed desperation homeless hopelessness hunger ...mental instability ...can't see humanity .do unto others as you would have them do unto you..
It's not remotely lawless. You are mind-controlled sheep who do and say what you're told by your propagandists.
This is what woke policies do to a city
My heart goes out to all the shoplifters, thieves, and robbers who now have to venture further out from the safety of their home cities in order to get their wares in hopes of supplementing all their government assistance program checks.
Thank you.
Pp like that will start stealing and robbing others soon.
😂 well put
L😂L
😊😊
Oh no, it's a shoplifting desert! They should call the democRat activists for subsidies and reparations.
People told me I was crazy when I sold my home & moved a few years ago. Totally different city now.😔
I was stationed at Travis AFB in the late 80’s and interviewed for jobs in San Francisco and LA in the 90’s. I am so heartbroken by what those areas have become. What’s scary though is that the governor who is overseeing the decline of this once great state is being rumored for a White House run. Truly shocking.
Thanks democrat leaders
Newsome won't make it to the White House his close association with Nancy Pelosi & Kamala Harris will be his downfall. However he's to egotistical to comprehend that.
From mayor of SF to governor of CA to president of the US - everything’s going exactly to plan.
@@sciagurrato1831 Belongs to Globalist Anti_American Staff.. Most happened at Dems States. They're successful. Make America Down Again since Bushes.Corruptions at everywhere.
Can you imagine if he wins?..the whole USA will be just like San Francisco...besides he is union baster and so the Middle class.
It’s almost by design that these stores closed. I mean, why else would San Francisco decriminalize shoplifting? To better the community? Yeah because that makes sense. 🙄
Destroying Capitalism by proxy. They're allowing the thieves and criminals to do it. Pull back the police, lax the laws, open up the jail cells, open up the border, enforce no rules, punish nobody and there you have it. Businesses close and lives are ruined. It's done purposely.
Notice the thefts skyrocketed shortly after talk of reparations was brought to the forefront.
Absolutely by design.
Destroy the businesses,
Destroy the rental income,
Force owners to sell to Blackrock, etc at fire sale prices…
Eventually new politicians will change policies to be pro business, real estate values will rise again…
You HOPE.
They probably think that rich store owners can afford to hire their own merchandise guards! The city Policia have murders and fires to look after, or maybe they are now protecting Public Officials?
I was a summer intern downtown in 1984. I'd go the embarcadero square almost every lunch. Always bustling with people. Throngs, all happy. It was a healthy environment. Street musicians actually making a living. This video is surreal.
'78-'79 intern. Was a daily lunch visit...
That's because CA had a real Republican governor at that time, unlike Arnie! and things were still good! Haven't had one since and you see the results of decades of Democratic control!
No need to work the streets when they can collect their govt check. They can now just sit around and get high on their drugs paid for by the tax payers
Yes! Agree it was packed in 2006
It's an urban wasteland. The "greed is good" crowd outpriced each other until nothing is left. No one can afford to live there, eat there, work there, so they don't. Every major city in the country is faced with this and all for the very same reasons. You can see the very same thing in Phoenix.
The 3-R economy, (retail, restaurant, real estate) doesn't work. When you don't engineer, manufacture, produce anything, everyone just pushes paperwork, so to speak, and this is the result.
We not only deserve this coast to coast, but we're getting there at record speed...
How many millions in tax revenue that goes to pay city services is lost now, daily, weekly and annually? How many on the "zombie" tours will return home and tell others not to waste their time going there? There will be plenty more closings. SF is in real trouble here.
@fredgarvin6097backfilling is a specialty of SanFran. Let them go at it
What surprises me is that it seems like no one cares
They don't DESERVE any tax revenue for city services. Dems running it, starve them.
True. I’m an Aussie and I would’ve put San Francisco on my list of places to visit in America but not anymore. It’s sad 😢 whatever happened to the beautiful people with flowers in their hair?
That's why they want to tax the rich elite because they are the only ones that have money.
As a Californian i can say without a doubt SF is almost unlivable. Rent, homeless people, violence, theft, it's all too much for people and businesses to even attempt to live there.
I think you exagerate, it could be worse, look at Mogadishu in Somalia
@y.cschmidlin8172 it's pretty bad. I visit multiple times a year. One year, a druggie jumped on our car and told us to get out of the street because he was walking in it. It can take an hour just to get through downtown streets with traffic. That's scary because there is no way to escape those narrow streets if/when an emergency happens. I live about 4 hours away, and we have many people coming to live here instead in an effort to get away from the city.
Almost unlivable? It is unlivable!😅
This is called total Anarchy - i.e. Capitalism. Exactly what cuntservatives have said they wanted. No government helping anybody. This is TOTAL FREE MARKET CAPITALISM i.e. ANARCHY. Don't like it? Blame conservative extremists.
I don’t think SF is unlivable it depends on your political views and bank account.
I live in Palo Alto -- just a few miles south from San Francisco on the peninsula. I've worked and visited the city countless times. Just before the pandemic, things began to change in regard to crime in the city. Without cops arresting perpetrators, would-be criminals were emboldened. My sister visited in 2019. Since it was her first visit to the city, I took her to all of the traditional tourist spots -- including Pier 39, Ghirardelli, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, a Giants game, etc. While we were at Fisherman's Wharf, a homeless man pulled down his fly and began urinating in front of both of us. My sister walked away. However, I went over and told the guy (while he was still urinating). He just responded, "What are you going to do -- arrest me?"
When the pandemic hit a few months later, the entire city shut down. I visited several times. Given the number of rooftop terraces, some businesses were able to use them as a loophole for meetings (as they are considered "outdoor" areas in the city). I attended several meetings on those rooftop terraces. It was surprising to see the city so empty. However, with each trip to the city, I noticed more and more crime.
On my way to one meeting in 2020, I was riding a scooter from Caltrain (4th and King) along the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building. I crossed Embarcadero and made my way to California Street. I had never seen so many homeless and, yes, human waste on the streets. I had to be careful so that I didn't roll over either the homeless or their waste. Then, on California Street, a young homeless man (who was across the street) began throwing baseballs at me. I stopped because I was surprised. However, he continued to throw them and yell obscenities at me. I continued on my scooter to the destination (a work meeting at the Newhall Nest atop 260 California Street), I told an off-duty cop working security at the entrance. He told me that there was no point in calling the police because "their hands are tied."
By 2021, this was the "new normal." Between the high taxation, high crime rate (including non-reported or non-prosecuted crimes), unceasing odors and the growing homeless problem, San Francisco is now a shell of what it once was. Due to the pandemic, businesses discovered that it was cheaper and more cost-effective to do business outside of the city. So, white collar workers (especially tech workers) have left the downtown area. This has led to a loss of businesses that needed that business to afford the astronomical rent/lease payments. Criminals are so brazen now that shoplifting affected so many businesses. Moreover, non-criminals feel less safe. So, they don't frequent those businesses that are most affected by a perpetual criminal presence. The homeless have now shifted throughout the city -- panhandling at tourist areas along the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf (and areas just off of those locales). However, at night, they move a little further inside the city -- into the business areas -- because it is warmer at night and the buildings block the cold wind.
At this point, I have no desire to visit the city. I have no desire to go to meetings in the city (which, I admit, used to be fun work excursions). Not only is it still expensive to go (by train or by parking), it's actually quite dangerous. It always feels that the city is on the cusp going from annoying crime to something worse (i.e., violence). Plus, and this is just a pet peeve, the entire downtown area between Caltrain to Ghirardelli Square is filled with the smells of human excrement mingled with strong skunk weed. Between the crime, odors, homelessness, human waste and occasional needles, I'd rather not walk or ride most places in San Francisco.
Thank you. All the people blaming on-line shopping for this, need to read this comment.
Agree with you man. I live in Richmond and I grew up here crime has been bad here but San Francisco and Oakland like wtf is going on. I just avoid at all cost to visit those two cities. San Francisco mostly I just ride my car in all the tourist spots I stop to eat then hit the road is a mess. My friends and I we believe San Francisco might end like Detroit 😢
I went to SF in 2019 & also witnessed 2 men urinating in full view it was disgusting, they allowed the homeless & bums take over, tax paying citizens need to unite & protest en masse, these bums have all the rights it’s frustrating the police can’t legally do anything grrrrr
@@juliobello4561 - Good points. The Detroit analogy is pretty interesting. The city went downhill as the automakers shifted production for vehicles and parts elsewhere. There was a reciprocal effect as other businesses left because of, well, less business. Fewer jobs results in less money.
I wonder if this will continue in San Francisco. There have been a great number of jobs that have left the city. Even more jobs are only part-time on-site jobs -- allowing the workers to work-from-home most of the time. This results in less need for food, coffee and even shopping in the city.
Many stores have shut down. Some have cited the costs associated with shoplifting and theft. Others have mentioned that their locations "aren't as safe as they used to be." I also wonder if the smaller number of shoppers might factor in too. Not only are there less people working downtown, but there are fewer visitors who feel safe enough to visit a Walgreens or other stores downtown. This lack of income probably hits those stores hard.
It's not confined to the city either. I live in Palo Alto and plenty of stores and restaurants have closed over the last three years. Between the astronomical rent and the number of jobs that left Palo Alto, it's amazing that some stores can even stay open. Those that have stayed open have been forced to continually raise their prices to make ends meet. Those higher prices result in fewer customers willing to pay those higher prices. It's circular economics -- a real-life display of cost and demand.
it doesn't help that prices are so much higher over the last few years too. I went to McDonald's yesterday for breakfast. The Sausage Egg McMuffin combo is now nearly $9.Three years ago, it was less than $5. This means that prices for that combo rose by 80% in just three years. It's resulting in fewer customers too. Now, the owner of this McDonald's -- the only McD's in Palo Alto (apart from the Stanford Shopping Center) -- wants to close so that the land can be redeveloped. Go figure.
@@ccchhhrrriiisss100 exactly my friend. And I don’t get why some people are happy those big corps are leaving that’s not good. We need those big paid jobs in order to have the small business around. But it seems people don’t learn from history it just history repeats itself.
wow, this is just unbelivable. I used to shop at Embarcadero just avoid big and packed shopping centers but look at this place now. I also love its architecture a lot.
When you value the well-being of thieves over the well-being of business owners, then what you get is many thieves and no businesses.
Where did the thieves come from? They don't just pop out of no where over night. This was an issues 20 years in the making with horrible policy decisions. Get ready for most major cities to look like this over the next 10 years.
Rubbish. The internet has killed off many businesses. If it's all about thieves, why are the restaurants closing? Are chickens being stolen from the kitchen?
I'm shocked there are actually still tourists. That's a minor miracle.
Yeah, but only the only places to spend their money in were that nail salon and two empty restaurants. --And Medical One if they happen to be injured. :(
Future blind democrats they see nothing WONG
The hospital is downtown
@@kevinbyrne4538 They could be in NYC, Detroit, Chicago or parts of DC and not notice a difference. All examples of Leftist utopia in real life.
Poor naïve children...or brave explorers of Leftist apocalypse.
Me and my husband went to San Fran some 4 years back and I couldn’t believe what had happened to it.People just shooting up on the streets not even in a tent.I told my husband how scared I was .I’m from L.A. originally and was there a couple of years ago.They have ruined such beautiful and fun cities,I never want to go back to L.A either.The homeless and crime is insane,so 😞
We don't call our city this disgusting 'san fran"! Stop butchering its name!!!. It's SAN FRANCISCO!!!! SAN FRANCISCO!!!! SAN FRANCISCO!!!! SAN FRANCISCO!!!!
We can all thank the Democrats
The open air drug use was the beginning of the end. It attracts drug users from all over the country who come for the easy access to drugs & free money. You can even walk into stores & steal what you want.
@@MM-oq1lb Why not?..'San Fran' turned into a lawless overpriced toilet bowl. I think calling your city with an abreviated city name is the LEAST of it's and your problems.
'Rice a Roni..the San Francisco treat!'...LOL!
This city deserted is eye opening but so are the comments of everyone’s incredible memories, from every decade possible, from people who lived, visited, and worked there in the height of everything is beautiful to read and hear about. Thank you for all your memories!! 💯🌟
So sad, I used to go to The Embarcadero all the time 5 years ago. Can’t believe what San Francisco residents have allowed to happen to this once great city. There used to be an amazing Indian restaurant in that plaza. How do you let junkies take over your city?
Are you here now? What do you expect us to do? The police don't do their jobs, the city government doesn't do their job, and the laws don't protect us from people stealing and using drugs, and living on the streets. Law-abiding citizens have no recourse unless we would just take the law into our own hands, and then what would we do with it? The local government is corrupt. It's out of control.
You let leftists, libs and dems make policies. Don't take my word for it, look at ALL the major towns and cities SF, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, etc, etc
It's a planned destruction
I don’t feel sorry for the people of San Francisco they voted for this
The junkies are possibly the children (and their friends) from the people in charge.
I worked on San Francisco for a few months TDY back in the late 80s, back when California was still a part of the US and when San Francisco was a great city to work in or visit. I worked down the road from the Embarcadero for a couple of weeks: My wife would meet me there at lunch during the week and the pace was busy and thriving. San Francisco is slowlty getting what it voted for. The most frustrating part is how confused and amazed the residents seem to be trying to figure out what happened...
They'll continue to be confused. It takes brain cells and common sense to connect voting habits to your downfall.
I call them "dumbacrats" for a reason hahahaha
They don't connect the dots. Dummies
California started in the direction of going downhill back in the 70s. It just took a long time to get to the point it’s at now.
The worst part of it all, is that the state and local governments, along with their administrators could not possibly care less. I should know, I was married to a member of one for 12 years until 6 months ago. This is a collect a paycheck and don't make any waves situation. Ask anyone who is willing and not too scared to tell you the truth, and you'll hear the same exact thing. Guaranteed.
Absolutely sickening what the lawmakers and politicians allowed to happened in our once beautiful top city in the USA
You voted for them. They delivered what you voted for.
San Francisco, as a city, is like that friend with issues who doesn't know they have issues. And when you tell them something's wrong, they think you're the crazy one, so they just keep getting worse.
Humorously put. Herei n Melbourne Australia we are going the same way. Open drug taking tolerated, homeless everywhere. Still we not quite as insane as SF. People still get prosecuted for shoplifting but the rabid dog far left would love to change that if they could.
Honestly, how bad does it have to get?
Typical narcissist behavior.
@@verns6302 Never thought of it like that before, but yeah that makes a lot of sense.
@wealthweb1 I imagine it will keep getting till the point where either
1. The citizens all band together to protest in these cities.
2. So many move out that those who stay can't support themselves and everyone that remained is considered homeless.
3. A President declares national emergency for these cities. And redirects the F.B.I, the military, the Red cross, and Government relief efforts to fix the cities.
4. Or the Police all strike, on the fact there not allowed to do anything to help their city.
This is what you get for not prosecuting criminals.
Gotta love the sanctuary cities. Vote RED!!!
@@mjslaCalifornia had several Republican governors and the state wasn’t better with them in office. Starting in the 70s, education in California became of no importance to the politicians. Regardless of the political party of the governor, every year the education budget was cut. Apparently keeping the people dumb so they’ll be more likely to commit crimes so they can be sent to one of the many for profit prisons.
By the way, Florida is a red state. Book banning is very communistic and dictatorial.
No representation without taxation. No voting rights for non taxpayers!! Make America Safe Again!!
I agree with you, the first thing the government has to do get rid of the drugs . (Close the Borders) And get rid of the homeless.
@@sylviathompson100the immigrants aren’t the problem.
Unfortunately, millions of “Americans” still support their favorite rapist Donnie.
@@scherzva I don’t think you read my comment, I didn’t say immigrants. I said, homeless and drugs nothing to do with immigrants. Capeesh?
You hit upon a very important question here.
If you do not pay taxes, how do you have the right to decide where and how tax dollars get spent?
You have to walk through the plaza and go up the escalators to enter the towers from the street. So even though the towers probably aren't as full as they were pre-Covid due to remote work, there are still offices in them that are open, so the plaza needs to stay open to allow access. It is sad seeing all of the stores and cafes closed. I worked at Embarcadero Center for many years - it used to be such a hub of activity with bars, restaurants, shops and people. I remember when U2 gave an impromptu free concert in Justin Herman Plaza (now Embarcadero Plaza) back in the 80s. It was the perfect spot because it was such a busy place. They had an audience of over 10K people by the end of the first song.
ETA: I'm curious if this was shot during the week or on a weekend? EC was always pretty abandoned on the weekends, usually just a couple of restaurants and shops open. The shops/restaurants/cafes mostly served the workers from the towers, so it didn't make sense for most of them to pay staff on the weekends when there weren't many workers there. I remember having to work on the weekends and not being able to find anything close to grab a bite to eat other than Peet's.
Justin Herman Plaza? Yet another canceled person. The City would be in much better shape with more Justin Hermans in charge.
Did you not see 90% of the leasing was non existent? Doesn't matter what day or time it was
Are you under the impression that these vacancies are due to COVID? If so then you would be mistaken. The problem lies with decisions made at City Hall from elected officials and the piss poor decisions they've made based on certain ideologies with pernicious consequences.
Sf could easily be one of the most beautiful cities in the world with the best weather and to think it is getting bad there with homeless and drugs dealers and addicts and robberies.
@@jdos5643 used to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world 🌎
I used to stay at the Hyatt Regency on a monthly basis for years. It's hard to believe that a majority of people voted for this. They should have seen this coming. How stupid can they be!?
They can be this stupid, and worse!
Super stupid vote
Stupidity is infinite. These people will continue to vote for the same Democrats year after year.😅😅😅
BIG Stupid !
They’re not stupid just woke! Gotta protect the criminals and drug addicts from all the mean people.
This happened also in the Chicago area decades ago. We had many malls go to this route as crime was out of control.
It's horrifying.
Chicago is another iconic US city. 'They're' destroying everything iconic about the USA ... cities, companies, movies, etc. Hard to believe it's all a coincidence.
@@jaysky2000 it's not coincidence. Did you know that China has no nightlife? That's how you control billions. Now, we are in line with their citizens. In 1991, Apartheid ended. South Africa had crime like this. They hired a new chef of police and he did what we should do. He said to his staff...." Shoot First and ask questions later". That definitely slowed the crime wave.
Chicago is going the same way as San Francisco.
Your city has a history of crooked leaders..Why do you think your city would be better Obama did nothing for you.. City planner my ass.. you keep shooting each other the rest of the country just watches.. I Geneva Wi they will put you on a boat and tell you how the most honest judge in Chicago ripped you off more millions and got away with it.. YOU DESEVE THIS
When the laws protect the criminals, you get an empty city.
Thanks Leo for letting people know what happens to a city when they cater to criminals.
Our country catered to the Trump Crime Family for four years....he looted the US Treasury and let Russians and Saudis get influence.
He’s a liar , that was on Sunday in a mall that has always been empty because malls are dying due to everything being put online .
And keep Democrats in power for 70 years....
@@Stevie-J Those stores have been closing at that mall since 2016 because they were more expensive and they mostly catered to business travelers, the mall is attached to a Hyatt hotel after all. I live in San Francisco I have seen large box stores close down since 2010 before any lockdown or ridiculous shoplifting laws.
@@Ellieempress
Yeah, they probably have an early official opening time where most of the shops are just beginning to open for the day. Maybe this was a Sunday morning.
I lived in San Francisco in the 60's and early 70's. Just think, one of the main players who helped this happen is getting ready to run for president. This is America's future if that happens.
California's new slogan should be "we got what we voted for".
Or California, we can only blame ourselves..
Or California, "Were moving to Texas and Florida; and we vote straight Democrat."
@@rnettles6241 unfortunately.
I did not vote for them!
@@rnettles6241 There's a lot of hostility in Texas toward families, or single people, moving into upscale houses, with California plates. It is assumed they're going to vote for the same s hit that destroyed California: high taxation, Soros prosecutors, de-fund the police, let boys into girls locker rooms, all of that insanity.
Brilliant jugeerivera!😊
That’s what happens when The People vote for measures to make shoplifting and various other crimes misdemeanors…You get what you vote for.
Shoplifting has always been a misdemeanor. You mean infraction?
Are you sure the elections are on the level?
Same people seem to get elected over and over again at times it seems! So not many changes!
Sadly, nothing will change for the better. Anyone who knows how to properly run a city does not want the job. What is as surprising is the residents of SF have not risen up and demanded the Mayor, the Board or Supervisors and the DA resign immediately.
Wouldn't matter, there is a long line of people waitng to fill anyone's job that resigns......and they are DEMS.
Anyone that would actually clean it up would be called MAGA and voter TDS would immediately kick in.
Vote Republican and clean up the beautiful city of San Francisco 👍
Voting over and over for the same party officials resulting in the same result over and over is the definition of insanity.
Well, close to the original,quote but no cigar!
You goofs don't understand. You can't "VOTE" them out. Once they get in and play ball that's it. Over and done. You don't count the votes. They do. It's NOT the citizens fault. It's the CORRUPTION that's to blame
The ZOMBIES are conditioned to "Vote Blue no matter who"
😂🤣
Totally Brain Dead.
that goes both ways, republicans do the same thing. the difference is that dems actually do accept mistakes and will attempt to fix them, maga will burn the house down!! Just because we are dems doesnt mean we dont want to see improvement. In SoCal, many laws are changing to help fix these type of problems. maga just wants chaos.
The other party doesn't know how to fix problems, they are too busy trying to destroy the Country.
It's actually the result of capitalism driving the costs too high for the average person to afford. It's not the politicians, it's CAPITALISM that's in effect.. If the politicians could fix the problems capitalism does when it gets out of hand, then you would then say that the Government was enacting too restrictive of laws, like rent control. Rent Control has it's set of problems too.
you want to blame someone for something that the wealthy did, they raised the costs of living for the rest of us. Plus, we had a Covid epidemic which flipped our world upside down for a few years that will have lasting effects.
If you are going to blame the politicians, what laws, specifically, did they enact that caused this? Please be specific.. If you can't name the laws specifically, then simply stop blaming the politicians.
Also, it's part of the management of the property and the fact that people aren't going out to the Embarcadero as much as they used to.
You know how in scary films they always use cemeteries that are unkempt or old looking to exude a creepy atmosphere? I just realized watching this that an abandoned mall is actually more creepy, because whereas a cemetery was always for those who passed on, a mall was supposed to be for the living, i.e. full of life. Families walking around together, packs of teenagers running wild but still well behaved, the children's court area with amusement rides for toddlers and up. What on earth happened to this mall?
God is cleaning up San Francisco
Sad part is Some people still think this is Normal.
You hung out with the bad crowds. As teenagers, we never ran wild in any malls.
it represents human life barely existing
@@mchammer3927 It's normal dude. Shopping malls decline in the US has been around for decades Multiple analysts have projected the shrinkage of U.S. shopping malls, which in their heyday totalled 2,500 in the 1980s. In the next ten years there may be just 150 malls left. Coresight Research in 2020 said 25 percent of American malls would close within five years, citing shoppers prefer to make quick trips to shops in close proximity. Oh noes' who would have thought rise of online shopping would along with the pandemic be the final nail in the coffin.
Thanks for posting this video. It is very sentimental to me. In high school, I worked in the Embarcadero as a tile setter. As you see, there are thousands of beautiful circular tiles all over the Embarcadero. Back then, it was bustling with beautiful retail shops, beautiful women, business people just going about their lives. Now, it's dead. The San Francisco that I loved no longer exists.
BE sure to that the ppl you elected.
Agree... all we can do is spread the word to those who lean liberal. Socialism killed our most beautiful city, and it will kill our country if Newsom is EVER elected president.
Nice work on that tile. It was the first thing I noticed in this video. I think this development still has nice design - just no people.
I too noticed the tiles. The arched staircases. Imagine a tradesman working on all that construction, building it strong and beautiful, only to come back years later to see it abandoned. Sad.
My escape from the world was the theater in the Embarcadero. They offered the best films. I could get a Ritter Sports chocolate bar at the Walgreens around the corner for the movie. Afterwards I'd walk along the bay considering the movie and enjoying a light crowd. If it were really busy I'd take the short route instead.
A few times I could watch the parrots of Telegraph Hill in the trees to the west in a small park. Looks like a ghost town 10 years later. It use to feel like a great city and a great part of the city, active and interesting, it felt alive then.
Thank you so much for posting this. I left the SF Bay area ten years ago and this is shocking. I've been to Embarcadero many times, it was always bustling. Great shops and restaurants, very pleasant vibe, lots of people. This is so sad.
I left 7 years ago and I had the same reaction. Don't think I could bear to go back and see it like it is now.
This mall used to be a great destination during lunch or even on the weekends. When it opened in the late 80s and 90s, every floor was packed with shops and restaurants. Now there are barely a handful left.
Wha happen, Mayne?
Imagine no one willingly sacrifices their lives for a city that *sacrifices them* without consideration.
Actually, the Embarcadero Ctr opened in the early 1970s & was designed by an architect based in Atlanta, who was known mainly for hotels featuring large interior lobbies, such as the SF Hyatt Regency. Online retail, Covid-era lockdowns & SF's business-unfriendly politics all together have done quite a number on places like the Embarcadero. I not being too sarcastic when I recommend the city buy the complex & put homeless people in all those vacant storefronts. Or at least turn them into moderate-priced housing for middle-class residents.
@@gridley John Portman was a great architect. He designed the Hyatt right next door and the PeachTree Center which is basically a lesser-known pint-sized clone of the Embarcadero center. The first part of the center was built in the 70s, but underwent renovations and expansions as they finished 4 Embarcadero Center. Embarcadero Center was built in phases, with the last and centerpiece completed in the early 90s when Boston Property (Current Owner) took over and renovated the mall and removed the observation deck.
@@MizukuMirai Correct! But I didn't know its last phase dates back just 30 yrs vs almost 50 yrs. Portman also designed the Bonaventure Hotel in LA, which similar to the Embarcadero has mainly vacant space in its retail lobby floors. That type of commercial has been iffy since even the 1970s, but way more so in the 2020s. The motto of "build it & they will come" doesn't necessarily pan out.
I used to work across the street from the Embarcadero in the '90s. It was a thriving, bustling area in a world-class city. It's current condition is beyond tragic.
It was always dead on the weekend
@@CaptainSensibleIII
Yes, weekends were quiet, But it didn't have all those empty store fronts with no businesses in them anymore......all the businesses have closed.
@@sanddabz5635 Thank you for the video synopsis of the thing we both obviously just fucking watched. Did you have some point in there somewhere?
@@CaptainSensibleIII
The point of the video is all the businesses that are no longer in the Embarcadero Center, not whether there is foot traffic around on a weekend, that is irrelevant.
Me having to explain that to you, speaks volumes.
@@sanddabz5635 The fact that you are repeating the facts of the video, that were stated in the first two seconds, as if it was some revelation....or even a POINT.....speaks volumes.
MOST ESPECIALLY MISSING, at the Embarcadero, are the homeless (?) and the shoplifters (nothing left to steal)
This just makes me cry. I am a native San Franciscan, born and raised in the 60s. I miss the City as it was, so many nice and not-so-nice memories, but it is still my "home". My friend from junior high worked at Three Embarcadero and we would meet at lunch almost daily where it was so crowded and lots going on to see, to do, and to walk. We were in our 20s back then. To see this as a ghost town now makes no sense. I no longer live in the City, but still have two brothers that live there. They, too, say it has changed for the worse. Something has to be done to bring San Francisco back to life and clean up the city. :(
Thank you for sharing!
Stop voting for week politicians that pander to criminals and drug addicts!
The city is filled with homeless people and smells like pee. Officers do nothing, businesses left because it's literally not profitable to operate here anymore. It's gone to sh--
IF you have ever voted Democrat in your life, this is YOUR fault.
Your family probably continued to vote blue no matter how bad things got
I remember visiting this mall when it used to be full of people and businesses. What a shame to see it now! SF should thank their liberal city leaders for protecting the criminals instead of the law-abiding citizens and businesses. We don't visit SF anymore because of the feces, crime, drugs, and lawlessness. Thank you for the great video on exposing the truth in a once beautiful city.
Sad part is Some people still think is okay.
Wrong! Califorians did this to themselves by blindly voting in the POS liberal city leaders.
Don't forget the ILLEGALS that are there....
Everyone goes to Walmart where it simple and do not have to fight traffic and has everything you need. Starbucks is on every corner and call pick up. People like delivery call and UPS or FedX is at your door. We have Walgreens easy pick up delivery. People don’t want that stuff anymore. I myself do not like malls anymore. To expensive and cost to run them is costly and charge you more. I’m glad we do not need it. There is other entertainment besides walking around mall or down town. I went to NYC, hated.
I am almost 60 and my father use to take our family to San Fancisco to see my aunt and Uncle. My Uncle would take my sister and I to the zoo and walk from his house as our parents visited. It was incredibly beautiful, My heart is broken for this place. All of California is a heartbreak, shadows of a beautiful yesterday.
The big cities are a mess- SF, LA...real heartbreaks there. But not all of California is a heartbreak. It's one big state (4th largest in the nation)
Plenty of quality areas
in the central and eastern part of the state.
@@CeeLiberty but you still can't get away from their liberal policies. It's pretty much the bluest state in the union. Policies that have brought CA to it's knees along with many other blue states and their blue major cities.
Well, THAT part of the city is still OK......LOTS of parts are still beautiful and alive....it's the downtown, Civic Center and shopping malls that are destroyed.........otherwise, lizard-man Gavin Newsom, our MAYOR and our other representatives should be PROUD! We can just do our shopping through the Sears Catalogue and wait forThe Wells Fargo Wagon to deliver the goods! Oh, wait.....there are more modern ways to do that....or we can drive to the shopping areas in San Rafael or The Stanford Shopping Center...Those are still nice.
This place is a Democrat dream come true
@@francismarion6400 Paradise on Earth. The model of the future of the entire country.
Literally, Democrat policies caused all of this. Not only in San Francisco but Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle looks just like this. Democrat policies like being super soft on crime (Defund the Police), on accepting an unlimited amount of homeless people from all over the country to live in San Francisco, decriminalizing drugs, allowing people to shoplift anything under $950, telling police to stand down and not arrest anyone during the Black Lives Matter riots and looting, and last but not least: the Democrats were super pro-lockdown during Covid, they locked everything down and were prosecuting business for staying open. Then people just learned how to stay home and not go anywhere, ruining all retail spaces in Democrat-run states. San Francisco is now an example of the future of any Democrat-run area.
30 years ago I worked in the financial district and would walk to Embarcadero Center on my lunch hour. It was so busy it was hard to get a table in any of the restaurants. It hurts my heart to see what it has turned into.
@@Nacalina007 Leftist lockdowns sure did help. The DemPanic!!
We can all thank the Democrats
All if not most of the older generation does not understand the “ work from home” concept. If you’re home, chances are you are making your own coffee , preparing your own sandwich and getting your dinner ready for later. These stores are dying because consumers aren’t out like before where they either brought their bagged lunch or ate a pricy basic lunch
@@Nacalina007work from home, accelerated by a misguided covid response and poor city management, and there you go.
I don’t even live in San Francisco and it hurts my heart to see this. This is terrible. It’s hard to believe that this is even America.
Thanks for documenting this. I used to love wandering around there during lunch hour. John Portman was the architect of the Embarcadero’s modern/brutalist style, and it was so different from many of the other shopping/dining/office spaces in SF. Great shopping, dining and people watching, plus in the early spring, you could walk over to the nearby park and see all the parrots gathered in the flowering trees eating blossoms. I enjoy reading other’s recollections and experiences of the very unique Embarcadero. I hope it comes back to life one day…
I remember those days checking out the parrots was one of my favorite things to do in the evening ,thousands of Green parrots 🦜flying all over the place but now even the parrots 🦜 left ,I couldn’t believe it !
It's OK, Nancy has made her hundreds of millions being in Congress looking after...the 11th district, yeah, that it. She was looking after the district, and for the children.
Republicans blame democrats for everything even there failed marriges😅....so let's blame them for this one !!
He didn’t document anything other than a place in San Francisco that has been dying because malls aren’t needed due to everything being online . And it was a Sunday .
Brutalist architecture is a crime against humanity.
This is what happens when you give power over to the politicians / government.
Well, to be fair people asked for this. The politicians just try to give the people what they want, but a lot of people are too ignorant to even see their own outcomes. The residents asked for this.
@@redphoenix0910 EXACTLY...No pity here!
Not really. This is what happens when you have a communications technology revolution. The internet has replaced bricks and mortar. It's as simple as that. And it's global, it's not just in San Franscisco. San Francisco is just more effected because so many work in the tech sector, but now, from home, not "in the office".
You mean democrats? Of course...something tells me that you don't mean democrats do you. Everywhere they hold power the same things happen.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 I guess the tourists are touring from home as well.
I just looked it up, and the high end hotels like the Regency are STILL charging their high prices. What a lot of nerve that is. The last time my son stayed in one of their nicer downtown hotels, he saw a murder victim being wheeled out of the high end hotel across the street from his. Only a FOOL, knowing how bad it is, would pay those prices to stay in such an unsafe, deserted place. The last time I was there, the whole city looked like one big, bad neighborhood. What a shame, it used to be a beautiful city full of beautiful parks. Now, it's only full of criminals, trash and drugs.
I was a train operator with Bart for 25 years. Before covid the platforms would be packed, so much so we ran 4 extra trains, we called the baby commuters. My 10 car train would be filled to the gills. During covid I was lucky to have 10 people on a train, only the working poor and homeless road the trains. After covid maybe a quarter of the people came back.
you must be a millionaire by now
@@FloridaMan69. Ha! Are you spying on me?🤣😂
B.A.R.T. went under water , never had the guts to take it. Ever hear of earthquakes ? . 😁
@@chopperchopper1418 While operating a train through a dozen earthquakes, no big deal. The transbay tube moved three inches during the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Public Transportation in NJ is filled with third worlders. No one is dressed for a job or an interview. Reeks of Pot and body odor. No coming back from this 🤬
Vote these corrupt politicians out.
WHY? this is their goal.. Demorats call this progress. And when it fails say we need more money.. Lets vote Sleepy Joe in again.. 6 more years will put America under the table.. Game over.
Won't matter, plenty of Dems waiting in the wings. Won't be fixed in your lifetime.
They recalled their district attorney. He was immediately rewarded with a prestigious, cushy job and replaced with someone who has almost indistinguishable policies.
Keep documenting. People need to see this! Horrible situation in SF. When bad goes to worse with no end in sight.
Next video is extremely revealing
One question...with the all the stores empty, what are the looters going to do after their peaceful protests?
This almost happened in NYC, but people couldn’t move and tourists just kept coming no matter how unsafe it was. So many people in person denied and still deny the danger of past and current crime gaslighting truthful people, while protecting themselves by taking Ubers, staying in after dark, or moving and not stating safety as the reason why 💙🙏🏻💙
How true.
Damn yankee's..uhh..
NYC looks the same.
@@mariaarroyos2925 it did it’s getting better now 💙🙏🏻💙
I lived in NYC during the crack wars, which was twice as bad as it is now. Tourists came then too. Dips in real estate in NYC are always temporary.
I think we need to watch Westfield Mall, rumor, it going to completely shut down in 6 month's. The city is collapsing around us. San Francisco's Board.of Supervisors will not do anything to stop this madness.😢
Anything that needs to be done is racist. So better to do nothing at all.
I can just imagine how vibrant this area was at one time, what a disaster. Looks so nice.
It’s very nice and modern. Too bad that everything is closed.
Thank Democrats
IDK why it's not already a stinking drug homeless den but I'm sure the oder of feces and urine permeates from the streets and soon they'll make it even worse in the name of virtue signaling.
We have to forgive them for "meaning well".
It was everything. Not anymore.
One of the nicest looking dissaster area's.
What day of the week is this and what time of the day is this? Thank you.😮
I was a middle school-age child when I visited San Francisco in 1967. My companion visited in the mid-1970s after being out of high school. We both enjoyed our times visiting all those years ago when the city was indeed so different from today. We are so grateful for the memories of our families' respective visits. We have our reminisces of the parks, restaurants, cable cars, Chinatown and other venues, for ourselves to tell others of. At our ages we are now sadly we cannot afford to even return for a visit. Thank you for showcasing these areas for those of us whom live outside of California.
Believe me , the good times can't be replaced. It a dam shame.
@@chopperchopper1418
Honestly; when I remember the way it was, and how wonderful it was, it makes me sad.
The bookstores, new and used, I'd make a day out of walking around to all the bookstores. I bought so many books.
The peep shows. I lived at Taylor and Eddy and we had 'adult' entertainment possibilities on every side of every block and the corners too. The area was lit up with neon and fancy bulbs and they were everywhere I wanted to go.
North Beach, we had the live bump-and-grinders that eventually unionized, the first in the nation. By then I was to old for that stuff but I'd still go in there and drop a quarter or a dollar and the little window would come up and all I ever did was smile, wave and say hello loud enough that they could hear me and they always smiled and waved back and I'd leave.
And we had the shit fetish place across the street. It was mostly German stuff. They had a guy in a bullet-proof glass enclosure as you entered the store. He would stare at you and say nothing so you walk past him into the place. Dark and dingy, with unpainted stone walls, and racks and racks of scat magazines and videos. And the magazines weren't all shrink-wrapped either so browsing was a possibility. And all the way at the back of the place they'd put their porn on these rusting revolving paperback book racks that was so pathetic they'd be Happy if you stole it.
And beyond that was essentially a cave, stone floor, walls and ceiling and no lighting of any kind. Maybe it was a performance space.
I was there in 1966. My most memorable moment was a visit to the art studio of the Keanes. The big eyed children were very popular at the time. In later years it was proven that Mrs Keane had painted all the works, but had allowed her husband to get all the credit. My husband was in the Navy, those paintings were too much $$ for us at the time. I loved SF. Sorry to see it decay. The rest of the state will be next.
@@johnogrady2418errr u r maybe making the case of where it all started to go wrong
@@7321janedou
No. I arrived at the beginning of the end of all of that. This was 1989/1990.
35 years ago I lived in the bay area and I recall that up until that point I used to love to go to the downtown areas and people watch at Christmas time. That ended abruptly when I moved to the bay area. It was like watching jackals at a kill. I was at Tanforan mall and people, actually mostly women, we’re grabbing things off the rack briefly looking at them and then throwing everything on the floor and then moving onto the next rack. To me it was disgusting human behavior. That behavior pales in comparison as to what is happening today.
Sickening what has happened to that city!
I used to shop at Ross in So Ca. and i would see both women and men usually hispanic do the same thing. No respect for our way of life.
When God left this garbbaage can called san fran. EVERYTHING DIED.
@@rayc.8555 but I have to ask, whose way of life is that appropriate? Know what I mean? It was like if they disrespected others they felt more power or empowerment themselves and I don’t know anywhere where that’s appropriate. It’s just crazy stuff
@@tiredofallthis7716 No where else is that even tolerated except in the U.S. My job used to take me pretty much all over the world and i never saw this disrespect for the property of others anywhere else except here. People do it here because they can get a away with it. All of this can stopped over night by posting two armed guards at the exit. When people dont behave you throw them out.
Native San Franciscan here. I am angry. Devastated by what’s happened to a once energetic beautiful city. One of my first jobs was at the Embarcadero cashiering at The Limited. You could not have ever told me that the leaders we voted in would allow this garbage. It started with the tech takeover. Letting one industry dictate the the cost of housing and the vibe of the city was the beginning. People were forced out. Restaurants and businesses started to close. Bad decision making and no foresight from our government leaders. Here we are in 2023 and our city looks and feels looted.
Id ask why u didnt expect it? Every policy passed by them immediately failed with data to back it up. Now if you read the SF chronical for your news it would be understandable because it is horrific when it comes to anything political. Some say the washington post, ny times, etc are bad but they have nothing on the sf chronical. If you do read it for your news stop and if youd like i can give u the process to find out how bad it is so you can prove it to yourself
So you voted Democrat?
I agree toally, worst, I actually afraid to go downtown even during the holidays
@@alexi2460 That’s a damn shame. Union Square during the holidays was always an event similar to NYC and Chicago. Vibrant and festive. I don’t live in SF anymore but whenever I visit I reject what I’m seeing. It’s unbelievable.
Have to agree that you vote for what you want and you’ll get this with lunatic Democrats. I don’t feel sorry for the people of SF after all the policies and regulations are in place by the Democrat party THEY VOTED FOR
trump 2024 its the only answer 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I was impressed by how clean the area was, apparently they are able to keep the area from being taken over.
The Embarcadero Center is private property, owned by Boston Properties, one of their largest property owners in the country. Most commenters don't understand the difference between the Embarcadero Center and the rest of SF. (Because they probably don't live here.) Embarcadero Center has not been directly impacted by the homeless and crime. It has a private security and maintenance force. It is both clean and safe. Embarcadero Center is empty because people have not come back to work. The building is at least 30% empty. That's what has killed the restaurants and retail.
@@jlasf So people are all unemployed now? Or do you mean they're working at home?
@@canuck21 Most of the office workers who used to work in the downtown district now work remotely. Many have decided they did not want to go back to business as it was prior to the pandemic. Companies that have been able to get out of their leases have. Young, newer employees are refusing to take jobs that don't offer at least some hybrid work from home options. The world has changed and it will be awhile until we see the return of more workers to the financial district in SF, if ever. Until then these retail spaces in Embarcadero Center will remain empty. Outside of this particular complex, SF has those same issues PLUS the homeless, drug addicts and shoplifting thugs that have ruined what was once a bustling down town.
@@canuck21 Tech employees prefer to work from home more than other professions.
@@jpunx3133 Also, the homeless were less obvious because there were office workers, convention goers and tourists. Take those people away and the homeless become more visible. Making it worse is the increase in online shopping. I am guilty of that; it's easier to order from Amazon than look for something in a store. I get free delivery and most things arrive in a day or two.
I was about to be robbed at gunpoint but once I told the would be robber that he was violating the strict CA gun laws which prohibit carrying firearms in public the would be robber turned himself into the police.
You should be a comedian
Hey! That's a B.S. story, the governor said there is no crime. Quit making stuff up. California is doing great according to him and his cronies. LOL
Lol. Never happened.
BS
But but; he came from a broken home and was not privileged. He was a nice boy and cared for his mother. That usually works with bleeding heart activists.
I was in San Fran a few months ago and it was shocking to see how much it has changed. It's true. All the shops on the Embarcadero are gone. It was like a ghost town. The few and far between ones had to buzz you in and took card only as payment. No one accepted cash. The Westfield mall is also going to be closing soon. A far cry from my visit in 2016. This is also happening in LA and Seattle too.
It's happening anywhere the 👈 is in control !!
I went out yesterday and The Embarcadero was full of tourists. The Ferry building had lots of shoppers and Fisherman's Wharf was so crowded you could barely walk around. There was a cruise ship in the harbor.
This is all Putins fault
@@SanFranciscoJim
And if you go out on the avenues you see very little homelessness etc.
Los Angeles are going the same,one was close to my house,was shut down or relocated.
“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind…” (Hosea 8:7)
I used to get my shoes shined by Famous Wayne outside the Hyatt Regency. I wonder if he's still around. He wanted me to buy a ticket for a lifetime of shoe shines, but I refused because of the uncertainty of the future.
I left California because of the draconian restrictions imposed as the result of a disease that was manufactured in a lab, and then spread around the world. Most San Franciscans believed the hype, and I said, "I gotta get out of here!"
Meanwhile, downtown SF emptied out. It used to be mobbed, but now it's getting to be more like a ghost town.
The owner of the Hyatt Regency has abandoned the property to the lender. I don't know it it's closed yet, but it will be soon. The only reason to do that is that there are no guests. Consequently, I don't expect Famous Wayne has many shoes to shine.
@@BrendonCarr This is one of the more heartbreaking aspect to the destruction, wealthy people will be fine, people like Famous Wayne don't have as many options.
@@jpp2377 - I've been to a number of conferences at that Hyatt Regency. The last time was in November 2019 (of course). Even then, the Civic Center area was menacing.
@@BrendonCarr Maybe Famous Wayne could switch to cleaning human feces off of shoes.
@@BrendonCarr Demorats at work.. Don't feel sorry for anyone but the poor
It's really difficult for me to watch this.
In the 1980s, when I worked in the San Francisco Financial District, these stores in the Embarcadero were thriving. Financial District workers and visitors were always going into and out of the Embarcadero stores. There were restaurants and a nightclub in the Embarcadero that were packed with people who worked in the area and went to these restaurants and the nightclub after work.
The hubris of the mayor and the city council on display. 😢
What a beautiful place, with no one enjoying it.
That is not a tourist area. People started working from home during the pandemic and they just didn't;t return. That is not a residential area. Those businesses catered to people commuting downtown to work. To be honest, even when the stores were still there, on the weekend it was still a ghost town in that area.
@CaptainSensibleIII I appreciate your honesty and first hand insight, but either way it's sad to see so many businesses closed.
The thing is, the people that are voting for these measures aren’t actually native San Francisco people for the most part.
All the normal working class people were priced out or are now living on the street. I honestly blame the techies and the other rich people who still live in the city for ruining the city for everyone else. By filling the city with politicians who served their every wim they effectively screwed the average person.
This is hardly a partisan issue. Its’ more like a perfect example of the rich literally eating the poor and having there way-that’s just how unfettered capitalism works, and it’s starting to occur everywhere in the U.S.
Yep. San Francisco is facing some bad legislative matters, but the crux of the problem rests with rent inflation occurring abruptly and rapidly with the Silicon Valley tech boom. It's been a pricy city to live in for decades, but there was massive rent hike which occurred practically overnight. Several people I know ended up homeless as a result, and I speak of grounded, working people with no addictions or mental illnesses who were born in the city, and had no prospects elsewhere. Greedy landlords are the main culprits in San Francisco's decline.
The formerly great City by the Bay turned into a Twilight Zone episode. Thank you to all responsible. You know who you are. Tony Bennett sheds many a tear.
No one leaves their hearts in San Francisco anymore, because no one goes there anymore. Don't forget to thank the highest paid mayor in the USA.
They rebounded from the whole Summer of Love that turned into drug addicts all over the street era, so I wouldn’t count them out.
That is not a tourist area. People started working from home during the pandemic and they just didn't;t return. That is not a residential area. Those businesses catered to people commuting downtown to work. To be honest, even when the stores were still there, on the weekend it was still a ghost town in that area.
@@marylivingstone9815The Summer of Love was in 1967.
@@christopherfanelli8821You know damn well she was referring to the race riots that caused billions in damages
What a shock! Many years ago, I worked at Embarcadero Center II. It was a vibrant, lovely building to work. Nice restaurants (my favorite was Scott’s Seafood Bar and Grill). A co-worker and I would also go to this Mexican restaurant for drinks and quesadillas after work. I loved Embarcadero Center. So sad to hear this. Last time I stayed at the Hyatt Regency and the ice rink was packed.
Thanks for sharing!
I worked in SF back in the early 1980s. My company was located a short walk from the Embarcadero
and I would often spend my lunch hour in this part of the city and I never could have imagined this
transformation. It's like a ghost town.
It was obvious from the 1970's onward. A spiral that never ends.
There should be a law that if you voted for those items, you are required to stay in the area for ten years. Those that didn't vote for them get permission to leave of they want.
First time I visited SF was in 2017. Now a few months ago - so about 6 years later - I came back for a short visit and it was both baffling and depressing how... dead... it seemed. So many businesses in formerly bustling areas just shut down and those that are open close already at around 6 or 7pm. That's insane for an American big city imo. Utterly shocking.
No wonder Pelosi bought a retirement home in Florida.
She is like the Aliens in Independence Day.....they devour the resources of one planet.....then move on to another.
i know, now even the Westfield mall is leaving
I had the exactly same experience.
You are so right the decline went into overdrive
You should have seen it in the 90s it was like NYC in the 80s.
Theater and Nordstrom gone, and filed for bankruptcy
I was born and raised in San Francisco when it was safe, clean & beautiful. Not any more after 40 + years of Democratic rule. I now live far far away and will never go back.
Same here
Wow. The last time I visited was 2019 right before the pandemic. Things were already shifting but the city still bustling. What a difference 4 years makes.
This breaks my heart. How can the people of San Francisco let this happen? This is inexcusable, California!
What are the people going to do? They don’t have any money. They’ve been priced out of their own homes so the only people that would be shopping are the tourist and they’re run off the streets by all the poop in the needles in the homelessness if anything, you got a blame Gavin Newsom.
@@jharknessxrp They might try voting different and stop listening the the lies the liberal media tells them.
The elites probably planned this so they only get centres in Bev Hills, their security tells homeless to go downtown and not stay in their area . Such hypocrites.
@@jharknessxrpIt is the people’s fault. The voted for the people and policies that allowed this to happen.
@@laikanbarth #bingo 🤯
I worked downtown San Francisco Financial District for at least 25 years. The late 70s/1980s/early 90s were great years of what I call the "Herb Caen" years, everyone read the SF Chronicle and the Examiner, and rushed to read Herb Caen's writings, where San Francisco was still a somewhat local city with local citizens and personalities - Herb Caen, Harry Denton, Pat McCormick (Kuletos), Willie Brown, Bob Lurie SF Giants, Riordan, Aliotos, the Opening of the Opera, remember those two old lady twins?, Gump's, Emporium Capwell, Macys, John's Grill and the old patrons, Sam's Grille, the French Quarter/Le Central on Grant right before the entrance of China Town, Lefty O'Douls, and Powell Street was open to vehicles; chess players, sightseers, and everyone wore suits, business dress downtown, the women were beautiful, then Cesar's Latin Palace, and everyone was either dancing salsa, or swing, Lombard Street, the old Restaurants along Sutter, the old North Beach and its restaurants, and all its characters, and everyone knew the policemen walking the beats. That's the San Francisco that I remember....
And let’s not forget Jim and Artie Mitchell. 😂
Yes, I remember that San Francisco well. I worked in Embarcadero One for many years back in the early '90s, just after the earthquake. The center lower levels were totally remodeled where they opened up the walkways, put in lots of new lighting and glass doors/windows everywhere. It was fun, great place to work, etc. The old 480 stacked freeway used to end at the end of E Four in the park area between the Hyatt and Ferry building - after they tore it down, everyone exclaimed - what is that building? And there is a huge fountain there too! Anyway, waxing nostalgic now ... people stayed away after the earthquake too, but many came back within a few months/years. I don't think that will happen again now after Covid. I visited SF for a wedding about 7 years ago, it was very bad then - dirty, crime, homeless, etc. Unless I need to attend a funeral or something, it's not worth the trip anymore for me.
I worked first in Embarcadeo One then our company moved to Embarcadero Two - this was from 1974-1979. You have described the area so well! How lucky we were to live in such a vibrant, clean, safe place.
Me too! Breaks my heart. 3rd generation born in SF here. Great grandfather came from Ireland during the famine ! He must be rolling over in his grave for this!
Mayor Willi Brown was a cancer. Left in '97.
WHY is no one talking about how this is Pelosi’s district?😡
Pelosi has nothing to do with running San Francisco, or local politics. literally nothing.
they aren't talking about it because it is not relevant to the problem ..or anything else for that matter.
Wow, I can’t believe this. This is unrecognizable to me. Where are all the tourists? That was the backbone of income for San Francisco.
Without the office workers in the huge offices attached to that mall the stores were doomed. Those stores relied on the office workers to shop.
exactly
Looks like a set up for one of those zombie apocalypse movies
Finally, someone in the comments section that doesn't feel compelled to go "See, Democrats, you deserve everything you voted for".
The irony shouldn't be lost on anyone that the very same industrial sector that San Franscisco welcomed with open arms will be the same one responsible for its demise.
The tech sector. So many people can work from home, online, now. And they can shop at home, online.
"Highrise" offices with street level retail outlets attached, located in the CBD are now redundant technology. A laptop performs the same job, for a fraction of the price.
You can blame the Democrats, if you want. I don't care, I'm in Australia. Republicans, Democrats...who cares. I'm pretty sure that neither of them are responsible
for the changes that have happened in Melbourne. And, while not as bad as San Franscisco, the demise of the Melbourne CBD is more than noticeable.
And not getting harassed,assaulted or car being broken into.
@davidbrayshaw3529 Thanks. But to be honest it was democrats who closed down the state of California keeping people from these offices that destroyed the small businesses that relied on the workers. All on the stop the spread belief. Other states kept businesses open with limitations. Now SF has to deal with no workers in the office buildings and empty store fronts.
This is just heartbreaking. F Gavin
Are the Commifornia Dems going to stop supporting him?
I live here and suspect things need to get worse first, their policies haven't made sense in a long time yet they refuse to learn.
Westfield Mall has already confirmed closing
yes the did!!!
Just spent a week in SF and I'll never go back. It was cold (in August) and very, very, very, very, expensive for no reason. The "homeless" are also agressive on the street. One came near my family and the one reason i didn't stick a blade in his throat was because i thought of my kids. Never going back SF, i can watch reruns of Full House or Mrs. Doubtfire instead.
I worked in the City from 1986 to 1988. The Embarcadero was HOPPING way back then. I remember we all used to go to happy hour in a big bar in there somewhere. We went back to the city in Sept 2020. The Market Street/Fremont area - the Financial District - where I worked back then was nearly deserted. It felt surreal - as if we were walking around a giant movie set in which filming had been completed and everyone had left. We also walked around the Embarcadero, and it was totally deserted just like you show in your video. Just very WEIRD.
This reminds me of what Captain Price said about Pripyat in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare: "Fifty thousand people used to live here. Now it's a ghost town."
What has boggled my mind for decades now is WHY the citizens of San Francisco continue to elect INEPT Democratic leaders who have systematically driven the city into the ABOMINABLE shape it is in now. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. It's just tragically baffling.
I remember going to this dancing place there in 1985. I think it was outside.
FREE, FREE, FREE, they have taken the carrot, now they will reap what was sown!
Ill bet you the Dem leader have lined their pockets to the point they Just don't give a crap
It's shocking and sad to see how dead Embarcadero Center has become. Back in 1980, I met the man who eventually became my husband at the Holding Company, a lively after-work spot for young people in their 20s to meet each other. I often shopped at the stores in Embaradero Center -- Little Daisy, Talbott's, and Restoration Hardware. And I also ate at the restaurants and snack shops. San Francisco has clearly been run into the ground by the politicians. Here's to you, London Broil. So glad I left that city and the state of California twenty years ago.
Glad to see a similar SANE person, I was in the same timeline. Yes, the Embarcadero was a cool place. I left CA 2019, never looked back. Won't miss the Marxist Dems one bit. It will not be fixed in your lifetime.
Same, worked up the street on California St., walked over for lunch, shopping and drinks after work. This is just sad!
Not by the politicians. By the voters
I remember The Holding Company! I worked in EC1 then EC2 in the late seventies. It was across the street, I remember how we left our offices at 5 on the dot and The Holding Company was filled up pretty quickly. Of course, I then went to work in SV for tech and didn't come close to leaving at 5 ever again...
I was a student at City College in the early 1970s. My class in architecture took a field trip to this newly built urban wonderland. It really was the leading edge of city planning and as long as the office space was filled with workers the shops could survive, although I thought that the retail spaces felt dark and compressed with low ceilings. Now these office towers may actually be obsolete, hard to imagine them ever returning to full occupancy. Even the Hayat Regency which was a marvel in its day is looking tired and dated. It is going to take a lot of imagination and money to find a new purpose for all this empty space.
Fill it up with the state's homeless people. They need air conditioning.
No worry-They will become slums , painted graffiti, no windows, and ground floors riddled with bullet holes.
The PURPOSE is for jobs, employment, commerce. Dems today, like you, don't really want to work or get ahead.
Housing for the homeless/addicted/mentally impaired.
Actually the interior the Hyatt is still pretty stunning
Very sad to see millions of dollars of beautiful infrastructure that cannot be used due to failed state and local policies. Our leaders are to blame!😥
What company in their right mind would decide to lease one of these empty business locations in San Francisco ?
This is so sad and frightening at the same time, thank you Leo for sharing your video coverage with us
The next video will be really over-the-top shocking but the world has to see it
No doubt stealing from stores became the last straw but overpriced rent and too many high paying jobs concentrated in a small area also played a role too.
I wonder how many stores are closing in NYC, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Chicago
In the main shopping district on N. Michigan Avenue you can see the changes. About a decade ago, the expensive boutique stores (Bang & Olufsen, etc.) started moving out of the area as the Uber-wealthy started leaving the area. I was shocked to see a guy lay a tarp on the street corner selling junk and the police did nothing.
As the expensive stores left they were replaced with much cheaper stores you would find at an outlet mall. More pop-up food places have appeared and occupancy rates
Sound Familiar
Water Tower Place (8 floor vertical shopping mall). Brookfield Property Partners is handing over the keys to Water Tower Place, a Magnificent Mile mall, about a year after it lost Macy’s, its largest tenant.
@@chrispnw2547, yes. I'm in downtown Chicago. I've noticed that even when spaces don't become permanently vacant, there's a huge downgrade in quality and prestige. A nice restaurant would shutter and be replaced by a Taco Bell or Dunkin Donuts. A boutique or jewelry store would shutter and be replaced by a 7-Eleven or Circle K. A department store would close and be replaced by Target. And a number of spaces that used to have restaurants and stores have remained vacant. Heck, I even see vacant spaces where 7-Eleven used to be. It's not looking good.
@@DionysusAlS Amazing how fast Marxist values work wonders in the name of equity and virtue signaling. Universal poverty is their goal if they failed to say it explicitly.
Bro there are ads everywhere they give 30% discount for leasing. Still not worth it with all the crimes happening, no customers want to go there.
@@limariooppa6169 We need to defund the city government that did this.
My younger sister was just pick-pocketed in San Fransisco.
Showed the police exactly where her new iPhone is located on the FindMy app. But they said it's not valued at more than $1,000, so it's not a crime.
But they told her to NOT try to get it back herself.
So basically she just moved to a city that allows her no way protect her belongings from the thieves.
And I'm sure if I went and did the cops job for them I'd get charged for assault.
Sister is highly educated and working in tech, but reconsidering which city she will live in.
Sister...is reconsidering which city she should live in...so she should.
Government/law enfircement was created and exists to restrain evil. When it does nothing for the common good of all, beware.
Citizenville at it's finest! Go Gavin...get you some!!