This was a great article in general but I'd disagree with the advice to avoid the Tenderloin or the deep Mission. These areas can be actually affordable for people living on an intern's salary, with rents that are significantly cheaper than a comparable apartment in other districts. They also have some of the best food and dive bars you can find in the city at amazing prices. Go get Mexican anywhere south of 24th, Pakistani on Post, or breakfast at Dottie's on Jones and tell me I'm wrong. The neighborhoods are also close to public transit, the more interesting parts of the city (the TL is right next to Union Square for instance), and the offices of a lot of startups.
I lived in the middle of the Tenderloin (Hyde and Ellis) for 14 months and my startup's office is currently a block from "the most dangerous corner in the city" (Mission and 6th). My girlfriend lived in the deep Mission from age 6-10. I find I'm accosted for change significantly less often in the TL compared to the "richer" areas of the city. The way it seems to me, the homeless and drug addicted that frequent the TL are "at home" when there, when they "go to work" they head to the touristy areas where people have money to ask for.
The time I've spent in the TL has also been a great learning experience with regards to understanding less fortunate people. I've had a lot of really interesting (and quite a few rather weird) interactions with drug addicts, prostitutes, and homeless. They really aren't a group that needs to be feared. They're just people trying to figure out a way to live with the cards they were dealt and a lot really appreciate the chance to talk to someone and tell their story. Its how I learned heroin dealers don't accept coins.
These more gritty areas of the city aren't nearly as dangerous as people make them out to be. Yes, if you walk down a back alley without assessing beforehand you might run into a bad situation, but this is true anywhere in the city. Being street-smart is a necessary skill no matter where you live in SF. The illegal activity that occurs in these areas (drugs/prostitution) doesn't and won't involve you if you don't get involved with it.
I know I'm rambling and waxing philosophical, but I find myself regularly defending these neighborhoods cause people just don't give them a chance. Go get lunch in a "bad area" sometime, you'll be surprised.
Otherwise, great post. Forwarded to a friend who's about to move out after college.
I lived in the middle of the Tenderloin (Hyde and Ellis) for 14 months and my startup's office is currently a block from "the most dangerous corner in the city" (Mission and 6th). My girlfriend lived in the deep Mission from age 6-10. I find I'm accosted for change significantly less often in the TL compared to the "richer" areas of the city. The way it seems to me, the homeless and drug addicted that frequent the TL are "at home" when there, when they "go to work" they head to the touristy areas where people have money to ask for.
The time I've spent in the TL has also been a great learning experience with regards to understanding less fortunate people. I've had a lot of really interesting (and quite a few rather weird) interactions with drug addicts, prostitutes, and homeless. They really aren't a group that needs to be feared. They're just people trying to figure out a way to live with the cards they were dealt and a lot really appreciate the chance to talk to someone and tell their story. Its how I learned heroin dealers don't accept coins.
These more gritty areas of the city aren't nearly as dangerous as people make them out to be. Yes, if you walk down a back alley without assessing beforehand you might run into a bad situation, but this is true anywhere in the city. Being street-smart is a necessary skill no matter where you live in SF. The illegal activity that occurs in these areas (drugs/prostitution) doesn't and won't involve you if you don't get involved with it.
I know I'm rambling and waxing philosophical, but I find myself regularly defending these neighborhoods cause people just don't give them a chance. Go get lunch in a "bad area" sometime, you'll be surprised.
Otherwise, great post. Forwarded to a friend who's about to move out after college.