"The pair - both in the software industry - were with friends Thursday in Dolores Park, a vibrant green space with sweeping views of downtown, playing volleyball under a blue sky and shining autumn sun. All around them, people sat on benches with books, flew kites, played with dogs or otherwise lounged away the afternoon on blankets in the grass. Both Limlamai and Saetern said San Francisco of course has issues, and some rougher neighborhoods - but that's any city."
"Both said Trump's suggestion that he might send in troops was more alarming than reassuring - especially, Limlamai said, on top of his recent remark that American cities should serve as "training grounds" for U.S. military forces. "I don't think that's appropriate at all," he said. "The military is not trained to do what needs to be done in these cities.""
"Across San Francisco, residents, visitors and prominent local leaders expressed similar ideas - if not much sharper condemnation of any troop deployment. None shied away from the fact that San Francisco has problems, especially with homelessness. Several also mentioned a creeping urban decay, and that the city needs a bit of a polish. But federal troops? That was a hard no."
Daily life in Dolores Park includes volleyball, reading, kite flying and dog walking, reflecting active public use and a sense of normalcy. Residents acknowledge problems such as homelessness and areas of urban decay, but characterize these as issues common to many cities rather than evidence of a collapse. Many people report feeling safe across diverse neighborhoods. Proposals to deploy federal troops to restore order are widely opposed and described as inappropriate, alarming, and a misuse of military resources. Local sentiment favors municipal improvements and policing reforms over military intervention.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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