One huge problem is that there is almost no way to build more housing.
Can’t fill in the bay. Can’t go high at a reasonable cost due to earthquakes and, in particular liquefaction.
For all the carping about and crapping on SF, more people want to live there than can afford to. Thus prices will continue to climb. Rent control only exacerbates this.
No one is *forced* to, or has the inherent *right* to live anywhere.
I was born in Palo Alto and have lived in California for 48 of my 67 years - mostly in San Diego. My wife and I love this place, but even San Diego is changing and not for the better. Although we still have a Republican mayor, Democrats have a super majority on the City Council and are pretty much controlled by the public employee unions. Taxes are high. Gasoline is expensive. The infrastructure is not being properly maintained. Labor and environmental laws are insane. Parts of the beautiful park one block from my from house have been rendered unusable by the homeless. And, of course, housing is expensive. However, it’s still California. It’s still beautiful. Four of five children are here, and our youngest may we’ll return. Grandchildren are being born. So, we will probably stay after we retire, but even we are considering our options.