72 Percent of San Franciscans Say City Is on the Wrong Track, Poll Finds

A San Francisco Police Department officer asks two homeless people on the sidewalk to move off the street during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, in San Francisco on Nov. 14, 2023. (Jason Henry/AFP via Getty Images)

In its annual Citybeat poll, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce found 72 percent of voters think the city is on the “wrong track.”

While the results, released Feb. 14, showed many residents were unhappy with the city’s direction—with public safety a primary issue for most—they also revealed residents are ready for change, according to a press release the same day by the chamber.

“Our Citybeat poll shows that San Franciscans are frustrated but ready to take real action on solving our most challenging issues by supporting policies that make it easier to do business and increase public safety,” said Rodney Fong, the chamber’s president and chief executive. “From reducing burdensome taxes to supporting common-sense public safety reforms, San Franciscans spoke loudly that they want real policy solutions from City Hall.”

Noteworthy changes that received over 70 percent support included boosting downtown by offering financial incentives to businesses that stay or move there, and to businesses that move into empty floor spaces in the area.

San Franciscans also wouldn’t mind new housing downtown, even if it means converting existing buildings, with 78 percent of voters agreeing downtown should have more housing and 85 percent saying vacant office spaces should be converted for other uses.

On the March 2024 ballot, Proposition C will ask voters if the city should waive the transfer tax for office to residential conversions, a move that 53 percent supported and 42 percent opposed.

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While more than half of voters surveyed feel safe during the day downtown, only 34 percent feel safe at night, according to the poll.

When asked what major issues the city faces, more than half said crime, but more people said crime is lower than in the previous year, according to the poll. More than a third of voters still think crime has gotten worse.

In the previous year’s Citybeat, 23 percent of voters said they think of drugs and crime when they visit downtown, which dropped in the more recent poll to only 15 percent agreeing.

Public safety proposals on the March ballot include propositions E and F, according to the press release.

Proposition E, backed by 61 percent of those polled, would expand police use of technology to pursue and track suspects. Proposition F, also backed by 61 percent, would require substance abuse treatment for those who fail drug tests and are receiving cash assistance from the city.

The poll was sponsored by United Airlines and surveyed 500 voters from Jan. 17 through Jan. 24, according to the press release.