“But overall, a sense of libertarian stinginess prevails among San Francisco’s digital elite.”

“Is San Francisco’s high-tech workforce too cocooned from the cultural life of the city?”

A really good article about concerns regarding the changing demographics and priorities in this city. While a bit of a puff piece for Ed Lee, I really appreciate many of the points laid out. My big problem I see these days in SF is the lack of cultural engagement of techies. My work world (PR agency working with tech startups) rarely mixes with the spirited and vital art and queer scenes that inspire me to live in SF. I’ve struggled to come up with the words to address these concerns, but a bunch of tech upstarters going to nice new restaurants or massive cultural events (i.e. Bay to Breakers, Outside Lands) doesn’t capture the counter cultural elements of the city that draw me in and feel at home. Each day I feel more and more removed and a couple Twitter employees volunteering at Glide just doesn’t do it for me.

As we head into Folsom weekend I can interpret the situation using the fair as an example; let’s just say I see a lot more gawkers at Folsom this year than participants. Not sure where its all headed but its a challenge to carry a sense of optimism… mew

How Much Tech Can One City Take?
by David Talbot
http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/how-much-tech-can-one-city-take

Last year, when Mayor Ed Lee heard that Twitter was planning to move its headquarters out of San Francisco and down to the peninsula, he quickly consulted with his digital experts—his two daughters, Brianna, 27, and Tania, 30. Was the company important enough to make a top priority? “Of course it’s important, Daddy!” they told him. “We tweet all the time. You have to keep them in town.”…….. READ MORE