I moved to The Mission in 1996 So I'm likely included in the internet crowd that ruined the city. I loved living there, but I when I visit now its not the lack of artists that I notice, its the (relative) lack of crack addicts. Lets not let the glasses get too rose colored. It might be more difficult for people just starting out or on limited income to make it there, but if they do there is a base line improvement to their quality of life that comes with living in a safer and cleaner environment. I took my son to play at the newly renovated park at Valencia and 19th the other month and I couldn't believe that there was an outdoor water park in SF, much less The Mission, that I felt OK with him playing in. The locals looked pretty excited about it too.

Besides the young and hip are doing what they always do, find new areas to make hip. I've been living in the East Bay for a decade now and I can't believe that Oakland is the new hip spot in the Bay Area. Hope it does something for my property values.