In 1977 the original iteration of New York City’s Abercrombie & Fitch, a nearly-century old outfitter of high end outdoors clothing and goods, finally succumbed to the pressure of low-cost competition and closed up shop.

Just months later, across the country in the idyllic Northern California town of Mill Valley, another store promising suitable—and stylish—adventure wares flung open its doors. Banana Republic was born.

When I first came across Banana Republic as a kid in the ‘90s, I thought it had a funny name. When I learned that ‘Banana Republic’ was a derisive term for unstable, natural resource-dependent nations, I was puzzled. But over the years I picked up that the name was inspired by a vague sense of global adventure.

I assumed—and held this assumption until recently—that this identity was conjured up at some point in the ‘80s by marketing execs at the San Francisco headquarters of its parent company, Gap. But it turns out I was totally wrong.

Out of the Newsroom

Banana Republic was started (this was before businesses were founded) by Mel and Patricia Ziegler, two San Francisco Chronicle journalists who, tired of the stifling nature of the union shop, spontaneously quit their jobs to strike out on their own.

This was the late ‘70s, when risky moves required tough decisions—they were forced to trade in their two-floor apartment in Russian Hill for the humble environs of a Mill Valley cottage. If only we could all sacrifice so.

So how did they end up opening a clothing store? Well, clothing seems kind of like booze—everyone has experience with it, most people really like it, and very few people should try to sell it. But many do. Luckily for Mel and Patricia, they had inspiration.

Into the Outback

While chasing down freelance gigs to make ends meet, Mel took a magazine assignment in Australia. He returned with a jacket. But not just any jacket. As Patricia describes in their book Wild Company: The Untold Story of Banana Republic, she was entranced: “how perfect the color, the raised lines of twill, the slightly worn collar and cuffs. This four pocket jacket streamed ‘authentic’ and ‘adventure’.”

She altered the army fatigues for a more civilian vibe and it immediately became Mel’s favorite jacket. More importantly, they decided to go into the clothing business.

Step one: stock up. Mel and Patricia tracked down a middleman in Oakland who resold military goods he purchased by the pallet from Andrews Air Force Base. On their first visit to his packed warehouse, they stumbled across Spanish paratrooper shirts and snagged them all for $1.50 a pop.

Beyond the aura of adventure that drew them to military surplus clothing, Mel and Patricia noticed the pieces were very well made. The paratrooper shirts were constructed in the midcentury, designed to be tough and durable, and sewn with natural fibers. Just as cheaply-made fast fashion was on the rise, they found refuge in a world where things were still real.

But quality aside, how would they sell hundreds of shirts?

Go-To-Market

Enter the Marin City Flea Market. In the ‘70s, San Franciscans didn’t need to schlep over the Bay Bridge and through the tunnel to Alameda for vintage goods—they glided across the Golden Gate to Marin City.

Opened in 1971, the Marin City Flea Market was the place in the area for antiquers, vintage resellers, apartment decorators, and weekend wanderers. Not only was it flush with unique items, but you could spend the day eating snacks from food stalls and swaying in front of live musicians.

For much of its history, the flea market was actually Marin City’s sole source of sales tax income. That all changed when it was swept away to make room for the Gateway Shopping Center, the centerpiece of a $72 million “Marin City USA” project.

But in the late ‘70s the market was very much thriving, and Mel and Patricia found success there. Of course, not without some clever marketing. At first, the shirts didn’t budge—people were curious, but what would they actually do with a paratrooper shirt? So Patricia gave them ideas—she wore the shirt herself, belted at the waist and paired with tight jeans and heels, and listed it for twice the price. They flew off the crate.

After selling over one hundred shirts in a single day, they decided they needed a real store.

Setting Up Shop

Mill Valley was once the Bay Area’s favored refuge for artists, musicians, and general free spirits. So when Mel and Patricia found an empty store at 76 East Blithedale Avenue, just blocks from downtown, it seemed like the perfect place to open their quirky shop.

Like anything charming, beautiful, and within commuting distance to SF’s financial district, the rich have since taken over; this address is now an outpost of Engel and Völkers—from exotically-sourced clothing to exotically-priced real estate.

After a successful run in Mill Valley, the company expanded to Polk Street in San Francisco, the retail district where Russian Hill rushes into the gulch below. Wrapping the building in bold zebra stripes, Mel and Patricia planted their flag in the city that would become the new home of their flourishing brand.

Sadly, this location is no longer around either, though it is now the home of the lovely William Cross Wine Merchants.

The Beginning of the End

As happens with successful small businesses that grow quickly, they attracted the attention of a buyer. After five years of the relentless demands of scaling a business, Don Fisher of Gap convinced them to sell, with Mel and Patricia staying on to run Banana Republic.

The story at this point is as predictable as any musician’s biopic: A meteoric rise, an era of success, stagnation, and finally a transition to something hardly recognizable.

First, the safari focus was replaced by “travel”, probably a reasonable choice, as it retained the brand’s sense of adventure while appealing to more people. But eventually, that too was traded in—first, for “casual Friday”, then, where it remains today, “accessible luxury”, a higher-end counterpart to its sister store, Gap.

Sign of the Times

One of the more interesting things to me about Banana Republic is what it represented at the time, and why it likely couldn’t succeed today.

The company was launched shortly after an era of major decolonization in Africa and Asia, but well before even San Francisco progressives were attempting to “decolonize” their minds. Tropical colonies were still romanticized in the popular imagination, something hard to picture in 2025.

But clothing still served the same purposes it does today, including social signaling. And in a post-Peace Corps world, Banana Republic was the perfect brand to signify a sort of worldly, coastal liberal. We eat “ethnic” food. We appreciate culture. We travel. And not to Disney World.

But today? Just imagine how a post-Tumblr progressive consciousness would react to the designs incorporated into their clothing: Malian mud cloth, batik, kente cloth, Aboriginal dream paintings, Navajo blankets, Burmese lungis, Aboriginal graffiti, and a Johannesburg witch doctor’s talisman. They were even guided, by a missionary, to remote villages in Ecuador in search of “rarely seen indigenous designs.”

In Wild Company, Patricia recounts how, in a sign of things to come, one of their writers informed her that “banana republic” was a “disparaging, imperialist term.” Her response? “There isn’t much I can do about it anymore except take Banana Republic off your paycheck.” They had a good laugh.

Today? They’d be out on their ass.

New Life?

In the fall of 2021, it seemed the old Banana Republic was returning.

The company launched “Imagined Worlds”, a new look that “reflects Banana Republic as it was originally conceived—a fictitious territory—a far-away and unknown place that is part of explorers’ folklore and adventurer’s lore.”

It was of course updated for the current era, with multi-ethnic models and no explicit reference to European colonies. But the same aura of intrigue, mystery, and discovery was there.

This campaign caused me to return to a Banana Republic store for the first time in years. I was greeted by vintage leather couches, large ferns, and oversized safari photo books. The clothing had expanded beyond business casual, with unique and rugged pieces. I was impressed. But apparently, I might have been the only one.

Sales were poor. Sandra Stangl, the CEO behind this change, has since been removed, and Banana Republic is back to “go-to wardrobe pieces and BR classics like sweaters, oxfords, suit separates, and khakis.”

The Banana Republic of dusty roads and distant vistas is likely gone for good.

San Francisco Mayor Lurie has announced an initiative to speed up the city’s molasses-like permitting process.

Claiming that a Kamala Harris run for governor of California would be such a disaster that a Republican might have a shot, a Trump special envoy has suggested that if she runs, so will he.

An injunction in a San Francisco case has halted the Trump administration’s executive order that would eliminate birthright citizenship, a right once assumed to be protected by the US Constitution.

The San Francisco Standard reports that three men claiming to be DOGE officials attempted to access records at City Hall, and then fled before sheriff’s deputies arrived.

The city’s new head of public health got his start at McKinsey marketing tramadol, an opioid.

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The chunk of Powell Street between Market and Union Square was transformed into “NBA All-Star Alley” over the weekend, featuring pop-up shops from American Express, Bleacher Report, Foot Locker, and Puma in front of vacant storefronts.

As a part of the All-Star Weekend festivities, 1,200 drones took to the San Francisco skies on Friday to create large, glowing images from Michael Jordan’s brand.

Former NBA all-star and current basketball analyst Charles Barkley was booed by a crowd at Pier 48 after telling people San Francisco needs to “help the homeless.”

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Hoodline claims that San Francisco’s office market is reviving, citing the $500 million refinancing of Uber’s Mission Bay headquarters and highlighting “the attractive liquidity surge for both debt and equity in the sector.”

The residents and owners of ‘Susie’s Building’—an upscale Pacific Heights co-op famous for being a Democratic Party piggy bank (Bill Clinton once got stuck in the elevator for several hours)—have rejected an ownership bid by a Trump-supporting crypto investor.

The housing boom of late 2010s Oakland has turned into a bust, with multiple shiny, new downtown apartment towers being foreclosed, seized, or purchased at severely reduced prices.

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San Francisco-based car rental company Getaround, part of the 2010s era “share your stuff” economy, is shutting down its US operations.

The massive China Live restaurant and retail complex in Chinatown is expanding to Santa Clara, Paris, and London. It may be evicted from its San Francisco location due to unpaid rent.

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Save the Redwoods League, a conservation group, has purchased a large “ancient magical forest” in Sonoma County, and are opening it up for public recreation. You’ll now be able to hike direct from the Sonoma coast to the borders of the Bohemian Grove.

SFGATE notes that Yosemite National Park is in “chaos” due to Trump administration changes.

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San Francisco Public Press reports that Chinese American residents of the Outer Sunset, who largely voted against Proposition K which will close the Great Highway and create a new park, feel “dismissed and sidelined”, arguing that the road acted as a lifeblood to the local community. According to election data, the voters who helped pass Prop K live nowhere near the Great Highway.

Northeastern University Oakland, formerly Mills College, is planning a police department that, in addition to the campus, would patrol much of East Oakland. The force would be fully funded by the University, but the City of Oakland would be liable for police misconduct.

The Point Reyes Light reports that the town of Bolinas, inundated by tourists they barely tolerate, is hoping to create West Marin’s first residential parking permit system, including a ban on overnight parking for out-of-towners.

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The ‘SF VDay Pillow Fight’, with the tagline “thats (sic) the power of love”, returned to the Ferry Building on Valentine’s Day.

The only Joann Fabric and Crafts store in Marin County has been slated to close.

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A social media user who pays $8/month to access X’s premium features claims he has “been to San Francisco once, vowed to never go back.”

Another X user made alarming allegations: “Demonrats” would be “1st in line to try to legalize p3dophi11i@- (sic) which they have basically done in San Francisco and other parts of California thx (sic) to deviant Scott Weiner, Marc Elias, Podesta bro, Eisen & NewSCUM (sic).”

In a follow up to their previous chin-stroker “Can San Francisco's New Mayor Make the City Shine Again?”, The New York Times now ponders: “San Francisco’s New Mayor is Rich. Is That a Good Thing?”

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a new “hospitality zone” which he claims “will make downtown safe and kick-start our economy.”

The largest donor to the new mayor’s inauguration weekend was the San Francisco 49ers, which are based in Santa Clara.

San Francisco and Santa Clara counties are suing the Trump administration for its threats to withhold federal funds due to their “sanctuary city” policies.

A San Francisco GOP leader and web developer was spotted in a Mission District taqueria wearing a “Trump Won” hat and a jacket with the acronym “ICE”.

As reported by the San Francisco Business Times, the third-largest SF Bay Area nonprofit by revenue is the San Ramon-based Pac-12 sports conference, which currently consists of only two teams, neither of which is in California.

"Former mayor. You said mayor. She's not." countered a federal judge to the lawyer for recalled and indicted Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, during her first federal court appearance.

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The Oakland Roots Soccer Club, which hosts an average of 4,000 fans per game, have proposed a 25,000 seat stadium at Howard Terminal.

The San Francisco Examiner reports that a downtown cable-car stop will be revamped to be “Instagrammable” by employing “a suite of ‘tactical urbanism’ strategies.”

A 300-page nomination has been prepared to secure a national historic district designation for much of North Beach.

The iconic midcentury Birkenstock building in Novato has been listed for sale with SFGATE noting that locals have suggested it become an “indoor cannabis grow or an Amazon warehouse.”

In response to thousands of Californians losing their homes in the Los Angeles fires, Marin County homeowners are escalating their opposition to new housing with a call to “advocate for reflecting high fire risk in our state mandated (sic) building codes.”

A public parking permit plan in San Rafael has been denounced as “crazy”.

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In a response to its newfound profitability, San Francisco tech company Okta—which “gives you a neutral, powerful and extensible platform that puts identity at the heart of your stack”—has announced employee layoffs.

Following last week’s headcount reduction, the remaining City of Oakland employees will now be required to return to the office.

Bernard Arnault, CEO of French airport duty-free goods behemoth LVMH, reacted to Mark Zuckerberg’s dismissal of underperforming Meta employees as a chance to be “promoted outwards, so to speak”.

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Legendary KTVU anchorman Dennis Richmond, recognized by his smart suits and thick mustache, and once called “bigger than Oprah” by the San Francisco Chronicle, has died at 81.

As uncovered by SFGATE and Open Vallejo, there is apparently an SF Bay Area death cult called the Zizians, who promote “a radical form of Rationalism, which discusses the ethics of veganism, artificial intelligence destroying humanity and using scientific techniques to enhance human decision-making.”

“I can’t believe I’m gonna die on Ninth Street. Holy s–t, I’m dying on Ninth Street,” were the first thoughts of a local cannabis store owner when he was randomly shot seven times in SoMa, and who somehow—and miraculously—is able to speak to the press only days later.

Ayesha Curry allegedly blamed Oakland for the closing of her store Sweet July, which sold $130 hoodies and $73.50 soy candle trios on a quiet downtown block with minimal foot traffic.

Oakland has “rich history at the waterfront” declared Watsonville’s The Pajaronian, adding that its visiting reporter traveled to Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, where they enjoyed a Coke.

Locals on a weekend ski trip to the Sierras may experience a phenomenon known as “thundersnow,” when thunder, lightning, and snowfall occur simultaneously

An Oakland man has been found guilty of “pimping and pandering,” reports The Mercury Times.

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A social media user noticed that the entire front-of-house staff at Lower Haight coffee shop Reveille “seems to have disappeared at once”. Another user added, without evidence, that the owners are “rich Range Rover frat boys”.

The Marina Times issued its assessment of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first fourteen days in office: “he doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing and he wants to run the city like his nonprofit—lots of underlings, lots of parties, throw money at problems. (sic)”

Meanwhile, Mission Local reports that that the mayor’s citywide hiring freeze is neither citywide nor a hiring freeze.

The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee spent much of the week drafting, introducing, discussing, and passing a resolution to “call out” big money supporting pro-Trump causes.

In what will certainly be a calm and dignified process, the town of San Anselmo is reviewing park rules on dogs.

In a blow to martini-swilling sailers, iconic Tiburon waterfront restaurant Sam’s has been ordered to close their docks to all boats until renovations have ensured “the dock [is] level side to side, within 2% cross slope”.

FEZ, a boutique clothing store in Mill Valley, has removed its beloved neon sign after city code enforcers declared: “City’s (sic) do not want the towns (sic), specifically their downtown areas looking something like Las Vegas or Hong Kong.”

An Oakland man, who failed to properly file paperwork when he sold his 2008 BMW X3 to an acquaintance, now owes $38,350 in traffic fines to the city of San Francisco. The San Francisco Chronicle notes that he “loved the car’s rosy brown-orange dash and leather seats” but had to offload it when it developed electrical problems.

Oaklandside reports that Oakland’s City Administrator did not “sugarcoat” the news that the city will be terminating nearly 100 employees as part of a larger budget balancing plan.

After SFGATE reported that the owner of George’s Donuts & Merriment donated to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, locals began organizing online to determine whether other local businesses have made illicit political contributions.

Alnico restaurant, which KRON4 reports was dubbed “the Asian fusion brunch spot you need to try” by an Instagram food influencer, is closing after its third break-in within six weeks. Previously, break-ins would occur every six months or so.

A man was caught on video hurling eggs at a sleeping homeless person at the corner of Cole and Haight. He was well-supplied by a 48-egg carton in the trunk of his Toyota Prius, and according to his LinkedIn page is currently looking for work.

Community News Lab, a nonprofit, has installed a vertical TV screen with a cardboard Golden Gate Bridge wearing googly eyes at the 24th Street BART plaza. No decisions have been made as to what will be displayed on the screen.

After flooding the region with Detroit-style pizza, SF Bay Area restaurants are ready to appropriate another midwest staple. This time it’s tavern-style pizza, Chicago’s beloved thin crust pies with its distinct crackerlike dough.

The Valencia Street bike lane, which previously moved to the center of the street to much controversy, is returning to its former curbside location, but with “promised impovements”.

The Golden State Warriors thrilled fans with a two-game winning streak against the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma Thunder, before succumbing to the Phoenix Suns.

In an apparent bid to promote the NFL in Mexico, fans can now visit a San Francisco 49ers-themed KFC in Mexico City, which also has a robot that delivers food.

Union Square is adding new amenities in order to draw back shoppers including giant Scrabble, pop-a-shot basketball, and book carts.

Complaints about the meager $500 first-place prize offered by multimillionaire personal injury attorney Anh Phoong for a billboard design contest prompted her to apologize: “We never meant to offend anyone as we truly do appreciate the creatives of the world.” The winner will now receive $5,000.

In a boon for the region’s strained housing supply, a duplex addition has been proposed for 8015 Ney Avenue in Oakland.

Robin Williams’ old digs in Sea Cliff have finally sold, for $7 million less than the listed $25 million price tag.

For those who wish they lived in Manhattan save its dreadful weather, a doorman-equipped co-op is now available in the prestigious, salmon-colored building at 2006 Washington St. in Pacific Heights.

A social media user noted they will never mock San Francisco because they’re “incredibly grateful that there is a population of young men who have decided to go to bed early and take methamphetamine and forego sexual relations entirely to prop up my 401k.”

(FYI: it’s very much inspired by A.S. Hamrah’s wonderfully sardonic Last Week in End Times Cinema. If you like movies at all, I definitely recommend subscribing).

Famed Lower Haight beer bar Toronado is being sold. More accurately, the 2,900 sq. ft. building is being sold for 1.75 million and the bar is thrown in for free. The listing describes a “seasoned patina that can’t be designed”.

The Rose Pak Democratic Club, named after Chinatown’s late iconic leader, has left the Democratic Party, citing that “monolingual seniors express immediate distrust when we introduce ourselves under the Democratic Party banner”. It is now named the Rose Pak Asian American Club (RPAAC).

A user on the /oakland subreddit shared a viral image of $1 egg cartons available at the Fruitvale FoodMaxx. Another user recommended stocking up and freezing them for use throughout the year.

Vigilantes have been painting large strips of curbs in SF red indicating parking is not allowed, even adding a realistic SFMTA logo. Fortunately, parking is a non-issue in the city so absolutely no one freaked out.

A Fresno-based man is collecting signatures for a ballot initiative that would secede California from the United States. Conveniently, this would allow former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to become President without earning a single vote outside of California.

Multiple local chefs and restaurants received James Beard nominations this week, including Emily Lim of Dabao Singapore, nominated for Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Mineral Water, and Lazy Bear, tipped for Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines.

San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie sat down with Jim Cramer on CNBC’s “Mad Money with Jim Cramer” during which JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was referred to no less than five times.

Allbirds has closed its original retail shop in Jackson Square. A declining tech presence in San Francisco has devastated the market for New Zealand-sourced, all-wool shoes that pair perfectly (and possibly only) with gray Patagonia fleece vests.

In a blow to Nancy Pelosi’s backyard, The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Republicans plan to rescind $200 million earmarked for the Presidio Trust.

Zendaya, film star and perfecter of the “you disappoint me” look, was spotted at Berkeley-based Yogurt Park where she ordered a $5.35 mini cup of chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt topped with rainbow sprinkles. It was not confirmed if the dessert lived up to her expectations.

Residents of apartment complex The Gateway in downtown SF are organizing to save the local Starbucks, one of the only businesses remaining in the immediate area.

San Francisco-born white rapper Professa Gabel reportedly filmed his music video “Wine Tasting” in North Beach restaurant Original Joe’s while dinner service was in full swing. “I’m a city guy, but I really like the finer things in life,” he told SFGATE.

The San Francisco Unified School District caused mass panic when it sent an email to parents notifying them that ICE agents had approached students on the 29 Muni bus. This turned out to be inaccurate.

The sound of “loud fireworks” or “maybe gunshots” was reported on social media.

Growing up far from California, I never thought much about San Francisco. I was a big NBA fan, but couldn’t have told you exactly where the “Golden State” Warriors were from. When my family packed up the minivan and took a road trip through the state, I was far more compelled by the sunny beaches, wildlife parks, and movie backlots of Southern California.

But one thing I did know—San Francisco was liberal. Very, very liberal.

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And I wasn’t wrong. In 2020, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the city with 85% of the vote, with no precinct dropping below 64% support. It’s also long been (in)famous for a certain left coast flavor of progressivism—think hippies taking over city parks in the 60’s and city hall-approved gay marriage ceremonies back when that kind of thing was still a political career killer.

More recently, though, the chattering classes have been considering the unimaginable. Is San Francisco *gasp* even still liberal!?

Now, I don’t really have interest in addressing that question. I think it’s clear that San Francisco is much more liberal than the median American city, with a relatively narrow political spectrum that ranges from moderate liberals to progressives.

But now that I live here, I’ve come to realize there’s a lot more nuance to the city’s liberal politics.

One way to investigate those shades of blue is by looking at the city’s political neighborhoods—areas with relatively cohesive socio-economic, ethnic, and political characteristics. Sound familiar? If you read the great piece on Chicago that inspired this one, that would make sense.

Let’s get into it.

The Northern Establishment

Key areas: The Marina, Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff, Saint Francis Wood

The Northern Establishment is predominately located above California Street, cozying up to the Presido and its foggy views of the Golden Gate Bridge. For those who prioritize adjacency to the city’s private golf clubs, however, there is a diaspora community in the southwest hills.

Composed of the managerial elite of finance, real estate, and tech, and the post-college crowd who work for them, they’re high-income, college-educated, white, and politically moderate—the kind of moderate who’s eyes brighten at the mention of Mitt Romney’s name.

In the 2020 Democratic primaries, this was Biden country. But perhaps more revealing, this was the sole area in the city where billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg hoovered up a significant number of votes. The former NYC mayor even managed to tie Biden in precinct 9221, home to Pacific Height’s “billionaire’s row”.

This political neighborhood is perhaps best exemplified by this San Francisco Chronicle map of the results of a November 2020 ballot proposition which imposed an additional tax on executive pay. The Northern Establishment stood tall and roared “no!”

It also has its own society magazine. You get the picture.      

Locally, the neighborhood supports law and order measures like police staffing and drug screening, while opposing tax increases. On the question of housing development, there is a bit of a split — with the northern section strongly supportive and the southwest lukewarm.

Outerlands

Key areas: The Richmond, the Sunset District, Excelsior, Crocker Amazon, Bayview

Forming an “L” shape on the western and southern edges of the city, this political neighborhood is made up of quieter, residential areas. If you’ve been a Tourist® to San Francisco, you likely have no idea where I’m talking about, so here’s a map.

If, however, you live in city, this is probably where you go for Dim Sum, beachside bonfires, or to get your car repaired. It’s generally pleasant and feels middle class. “Real” San Francisco.

This neighborhood is unified by a few characteristics: it’s heavily Asian, of average income, and politically moderate. There’s some divergence—the west side holds more college degrees while the southern end is primarily high school educated.

The southeastern areas of Bayview and Hunters Point also contain San Francisco’s largest black community, though its politics aren’t distinct enough from the rest of the neighborhood to separate them.

Like The Northern Establishment, Outerlands leans heavily moderate in local politics, but nationally the neighborhood is more populist, uniformly voting for working class enthusiast Bernie Sanders in 2020 (Bloomberg came in a a distant fourth).

Exuding a bit of a suburban vibe, Outerlands also tends to oppose housing development, public transportation initiatives, and funding for homeless services—issues more relevant to densely populated areas .

Dynamic Downtown

Key areas: North Beach, Soma, Chinatown, Tenderloin, Western Addition

This neighborhood is densely packed and ethnically diverse, with small pockets of overlapping culture. If you’ve visited San Francisco, you almost certainly rode cable cars, slept at hotels, shopped for trinkets, or got drunk at dive bars in this area. It’s a lot of fun.

While diverse, there is cultural and political cohesion. Dynamic Downtown has low levels of educational attainment, low household incomes, and a high proportion of immigrant households. You’d probably call it working class. (Though maybe not the image of “working class” gleaned from national media visits to heartland diners).

The neighborhood is neither particularly progressive nor distinctly moderate, but mostly voted for Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primary, reflecting its working class character.

In mayoral elections, you see fractures along ethnic lines. In June 2018, Asian-American candidate Jane Kim won in Chinatown and the heavily Vietnamese Tenderloin, while London Breed, African-American, trounced the competition in the black areas of the Western Addition.

Bougie Bayside

Key areas: Telegraph Hill, Mission Bay, Rincon Hill

Located on the Embarcadero, and wrapping around downtown, these waterfront areas form a neighborhood of historic hillside villas, mid-rise blocks, and soaring luxury towers.

The entire neighborhood is well-off and well-educated, but the southeast is younger (nouveau riche?) while Telegraph Hill has an older population with a matching old San Francisco vibe. Ethnically, Bougie Bayside is equal parts white and Asian.

Politically? It’s moderately moderate. Not as stridently anti-progressive as Outerlands or The Northern Establishment, it still leans that direction in local politics. In Democratic primaries, it’s a bit of a mix—Biden won a plurality, but Sanders, Bloomberg, and Warren made strong showings in various areas.

NPRville

Key areas: NoPa, the Haight, the Castro, Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch

Let’s face it—if you’re reading this Substack, there’s a decent chance you live in NPRville. It’s a prosperous blend of buzzy cocktail bars, stores selling tiny, expensive household goods, and sleepy hillsides nurturing young families before they decamp to Marin County.

Another way to think about it? This is the neighborhood for people who went to high school with The Northern Establishment, but skipped the frat and got a humanities PhD instead.

Am I just caricaturing here? Sure, but it’s not *that* far off.

Mostly white and deeply progressive on social issues, NPRville is notable for its unusually high number of graduate degrees.

Few starving students here though—it has a high average income and prefers an orderly city, showing some support for welfare recipient drug screening and increased police powers (March 2024 Props E and F).

Probably the simplest political shorthand for the neighborhood is its strong support for former Harvard professor, one-time Native American, and progressive firebrand Elizabeth Warren. You know, Bernie, but with a plan.

The Mission

Key areas: The Mission

If I was lazier, I might just lob this in with NPRville and call it a day. It’s in the same geographic area and has progressive politics. Or maybe you could argue it’s an extension of Dynamic Downtown—with a large population of working class immigrants.

But, even though it’s by far the smallest of the political neighborhoods, I think it’s distinct enough to deserve its own identity.

The center of San Francisco’s Latino culture with a healthy dose of baristas, artists, and tech workers, The Mission is a mix of family-run taquerias, quiet residential streets, and popular nightlife strips.

It’s also a hotbed of progressive activism. On every vote I reviewed—Democratic primaries, statewide elections, and local propositions—The Mission came down on the progressive side.

There’s a more working class flavor than neighboring NPRville though—The Mission overwhelmingly supported Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primary and rejected quality of life propositions perceived to support the police or harm vulnerable populations.

From a distance, San Francisco seems united in its liberal politics. But look a bit closer and deep tensions between sparring factions come into view. Frankly, it’s a bit of knife fight.

But that intensity lends itself to developing successful politicians. These 49 square miles are a perfect, if brutal, training ground for politicians with bigger ambitions—whether heading to the Governor’s house (Newsom), U.S. Senate seats (Harris, Feinstein), or office of the Speaker of the House (Pelosi).

The city’s political neighborhoods are distinct because its citizens *really* care about the issues and gravitate toward like-minded neighbors.

So if someone asks me if San Francisco is still liberal, I’d probably respond “sure, but which kind?”

Photo by Mary Hammel on Unsplash

I’m not from San Francisco, haven’t lived here that long (about 5 years in the city proper, 12 years in the Bay Area), and definitely know less about it than many other people.

But I’m fascinated by the city’s culture, love reading about it, and enjoy writing. So I’m going to give this a shot!

I’m regularly inspired by great sources like FoundSF, OpenSFHistory, and unique pieces like this fascinating 2012 Daily Kos rundown of local politics.

I also hope to consult books and documents at the San Francisco History Center in the SF Public Library’s main branch.

What will this be about?

Could be anything about the culture of San Francisco and the Bay Area!

There won’t be a narrative tying the posts together, they’ll simply consist of whatever I’m interested in the moment. But I’m intending to focus on lesser-known topics or unique angles. Think “nuances of 49ers fandom” or “why was Victorian-era spiritualism so popular here”?

Will there be politics? Sure, in fact, the next post just might be. But I hope to keep it to a reasonable amount.

This most definitely won’t be about what is good or bad about the city. I prefer to be descriptive, not prescriptive.

The details

I work full time and have other hobbies, so I plan on starting with one post per month, and seeing where it goes from there. Everything will be free and don’t expect to charge subscriptions, but who knows?

I respect your time so will try to write concisely. Some topics may be longer, but only if I think the content justifies it.

Hope you enjoy!