Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Child Population Dwindles in San Francisco
A.P. ^ | 5/24/05 | By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 05/25/2005 6:23:27 AM PDT by yooling

Anne Bakstad and Ed Cohen are starting to feel as if their family of four is an endangered species in San Francisco.

Since the couple bought a house five years ago, more than a dozen families in their social circle have left the city for cheaper housing, better schools or both.

The goodbyes are so frequent that Carina, age 4 1/2, wants to know when she is going to move, too. Eric, 2 1/2, misses Gus, his playmate from across the street.

"When we get to know people through our kids, we think to ourselves, `Are they renters or owners? Where do they work?' You have to figure out how much time to invest in people," Bakstad said. "It makes you feel like, `Where is everyone going? Stay with us!'"

A similar lament is being heard in San Francisco's half-empty classrooms, in parks where parents are losing ground to dog owners, and in the corridors of City Hall.

San Francisco has the smallest share of small-fry of any major U.S. city. Just 14.5 percent of the city's population is 18 and under.

It is no mystery why U.S. cities are losing children. The promise of safer streets, better schools and more space has drawn young families away from cities for as long as America has had suburbs.

But kids are even more scarce in San Francisco than in expensive New York (24 percent) or in retirement havens such as Palm Beach, Fla., (19 percent), according to Census estimates.

San Francisco's large gay population — estimated at 20 percent by the city Public Health Department — is thought to be one factor, though gays and lesbians in the city are increasingly raising families.

Another reason San Francisco's children are disappearing: Family housing in the city is especially scarce and expensive. A two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot starter home is considered a bargain at $760,000.

A recent survey by the city controller found 40 percent of parents said they were considering pulling up stakes within the next year.

Determined to change things, Mayor Gavin Newsom has put the kid crisis near the top of his agenda, appointing a 27-member policy council to develop plans for keeping families in the city.

"It goes to the heart and soul of what I think a city is about — it's about generations, it's about renewal and it's about aspirations," said Newsom, 37. "To me, that's what children represent and that's what families represent and we just can't sit back idly and let it go away."

Newsom has expanded health insurance for the poor to cover more people under 25, and created a tax credit for working families. And voters have approved measures to patch up San Francisco's public schools, which have seen enrollment drop from about 62,000 to 59,000 since 2000.

One voter initiative approved up to $60 million annually to restore public school arts, physical education and other extras that state spending no longer covers. Another expanded the city's Children's Fund, guaranteeing about $30 million a year for after-school activities, child care subsidies and other programs.

"We are at a crossroads here," said N'Tanya Lee, executive director of the nonprofit Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth. "We are moving toward a place where we could have an infrastructure of children's services and no children."

Other cities are trying similar strategies. Seattle has created a children's fund, like the one in San Francisco. Leaders in Portland, Ore., are pushing developers to build affordable housing for families, a move Newsom has also tried.

For families choosing to stay in San Francisco, life remains a series of trade-offs. They can enjoy world-class museums, natural beauty and an energy they say they cannot find in the suburbs.

But most families need two or more incomes to keep their homes, and their children spend most of their days being cared for by others.

"We have so many friends who are moving out and say how much easier life has been for them," Bakstad said. "If we can make it work in the city, we would love to stay. In a way, the jury is out."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: affordablehousing; bayarea; california; demagogicparty; liberalhypocrisy; sanfrancisco; urbanflight
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last
"San Francisco's large gay population, is thought to be one factor"

The hard learned lessons of biomechanics.

1 posted on 05/25/2005 6:23:28 AM PDT by yooling
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: yooling

Who would willingly raise a child inside San Francisco?


2 posted on 05/25/2005 6:24:51 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling

Who'd a thunk? Heard Most European countries are going the same way. Their population is on the decline. You reap what you sow!


3 posted on 05/25/2005 6:24:59 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling
Already posted.
4 posted on 05/25/2005 6:25:16 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("Violence never settles anything." Genghis Khan, 1162-1227)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling

The abortion culture has a bit to do with it as well.


5 posted on 05/25/2005 6:25:22 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling
"San Francisco's large gay population, is thought to be one factor"

LOL!! Ya think???
6 posted on 05/25/2005 6:25:50 AM PDT by LIConFem (Mein Luftkissenboot ist mit Aalen voll.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LIConFem

I guess it is impossible to get pregnant from spit.


7 posted on 05/25/2005 6:27:12 AM PDT by Piquaboy (22 year veteran of the Army, Air Force and Navy, Pray for all our military .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: yooling
"San Francisco's large gay population — estimated at 20 percent by the city Public Health Department — is thought to be one factor, though gays and lesbians in the city are increasingly raising families."


It ain't rocket science. Let me explain, gays can't reproduce.
8 posted on 05/25/2005 6:27:16 AM PDT by chapin2500 (Howard Deans eyes are to close together.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling
"We are moving toward a place where we could have an infastructure of children's services and no children."

That's because queers can't procreate.
Duh.

9 posted on 05/25/2005 6:27:30 AM PDT by grobdriver (Let the embeds check the bodies!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LIConFem


Ohhhh...they understand alright, why do you think they're in such a rush to change the law and be able to marry?

So adoption is easier...then they can bring in children from Thailand. (Okay, I shouldn't have gone there.)


10 posted on 05/25/2005 6:28:12 AM PDT by in hoc signo vinces ("Soylent green is people!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: yooling
Other cities are trying similar strategies. Seattle has created a children's fund, like the one in San Francisco. Leaders in Portland, Ore., are pushing developers to build affordable housing for families, a move Newsom has also tried.

Wonder who they're taxing to put money in that fund.

11 posted on 05/25/2005 6:28:17 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Andrew Heyward's got to go!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone

So much for the oxymoron, gay family. Another proof that gay marriage is a parody of the real thing.


12 posted on 05/25/2005 6:33:31 AM PDT by RobbyS (W)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: in hoc signo vinces

Many gays have,literally gone there, right?


13 posted on 05/25/2005 6:34:53 AM PDT by RobbyS (W)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: yooling

Maybe by age, but not by mentality!


14 posted on 05/25/2005 6:34:55 AM PDT by Niteranger68 ("Spare the rod, spoil the liberal.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar

Yes, the abortion culture is probably the major contributing factor, but the queer "culture" is likely part of it as well. People who may think of themselves as "tolerant" and/of "liberal" before they have kids often think a lot differently after the kids come along. Usually they're going to want to move their children away from "a celebration of sodomy", but they can blame housing costs, taxes, crime, etc. and still think of themselves as "tolerant liberals".


15 posted on 05/25/2005 6:35:11 AM PDT by Emmett McCarthy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: yooling

babies just don't exit from THAT hole


16 posted on 05/25/2005 6:35:44 AM PDT by Vaquero ('I'm a Red Stater, trapped in the body of a Blue State')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling
I see a future large jump in suicides coming in San Francisco as the sector of homo-pedephiles become severely depressed as the resulting shrinkage of their prey pool continues to dwindle.

No problem, be happy.... just marry someone of the same sex and all is well! Right?

17 posted on 05/25/2005 6:36:06 AM PDT by RSmithOpt (Liberalism: Highway to Hell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling
...San Francisco's half-empty classrooms...

While not directly stated in the article, I would be willing to bet that the teacher to student ratio in that city is pretty darn good. Which begs the question, why is education in San Francisco still abysmal?

18 posted on 05/25/2005 6:38:38 AM PDT by Conservative Infidel (Only thing harder to find in US Senate these days than a Dem w/ a conscience is a Rep w/ a spine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling
PLUS DOES NOT EQUAL
19 posted on 05/25/2005 6:40:13 AM PDT by Air Conditioned Gypsy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yooling

Sometimes the headlines just write themselves


20 posted on 05/25/2005 6:46:57 AM PDT by 12B
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson