I understand there’s a lot of sighing and crying over this guy getting hitched:

Yeah, I know…mayor McDreamy, and all that.

But honestly, what has he done for San Francisco?  Aside from trying, and failing, to force the issue on gay marriage?

Sure, there are some beautiful parks where some nasty thoroughfares used to be.  And one could argue that it’s become a safer place to live.

Perhaps, a little too safe.

For folks smile and say hi even in the scariest of neighborhoods.  Entire blocks close up shop at 11:00 PM.  Noone sideswiped me (or unintentionally came close to doing so), the last time I drove up South Van Ness.

My little white middle class butt got cased when I went into a high end (HIGH END?!?!?) lingerie store in Hayes Valley.  HAYES VALLEY!?!?!?!?  As if I could get away with making off with a $400 corset with an elderly gay couple working as accomplices (Sorry Ed, I enjoyed going in there with you and Richard, but that sales clerk had WAY too much time on her hands).

In many ways, I miss the grittier San Francisco.  I miss the squatting punks out in old SOMA and in Hunters Point.  I miss the Mabuhay Gardens and Wolfgangs.  I miss the homeless mixed in with the prostitutes in the Tenderloin.  I miss the long lines and tripped out parties at the Paradise Lounge, the Oasis, Club DV8, Das Club (now that was MY hangout), Firehouse 7 (my OTHER hangout). 

That’s all gone, now.  Everyone walks their dog and leaves their cell dangling out of their pocket.  Women dress up to hang out at coffee shops.   A blaring stereo may get you a night in jail.   Cars that block pedestrian walks waiting for the light to turn green get fined (well, personally, I think that’s a good thing).

Heck, you pop some casinos into the mix, it may as well be Reno! :O

For this, we have Gavin Newsom to thank?

I understand he doesn’t do all that much in his position, and that the city runs on it’s own engines despite his interference (or lack thereof).

Discuss…