76. The New Financial District

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Another Peet's

As a change of pace, and because I needed to go to the P.O., I'm at a different location of Peet's today. I've only been in here a couple times, when I was in a rush, but had been thinking I should check it out again. We are in the heart of the old Financial District -- what was known as the Wall Street of the West. Though, technically, that was Montgomery street and we are half a block east. But this space is adjacent to the old Pacific Coast Stock Exchange (now an expensive gym.) 

The reason I'm writing about this is the change in the food available now in this area. Previously it was, from my perspective, pretty vile. You might be able to get lunch at a reasonable price, but for a vegetarian the options were limited and the quality sub-par. Not anymore.

It seems that almost every block has some sort of juice stand. The Plant - Cafe Organica, an upscale and high quality local chain of organic cafes, now has a location at the corner of Pine and Montgomery, a half block away from me at the moment. And this Peet's -- taking advantage of its location and the little space to the side that isn't an alley or a courtyard, exactly, but that does have seating -- shares it's space with a business called "Specialty" that allows you to walk up and order lunch off some computer displays while using those little radio-puck thingies to let you know when your order is ready. Or you can order online. The options for veggies, even vegans, are enticing. (He says without having tried any of them yet.)

Now the truth is that when I eat in this neighborhood I either eat at Caffe Bianco -- an old school place I love -- but the food is mediocre at best, or Bun Mee -- my favorite Vietnamese sandwich place. I may have to reconsider this with these new options in mind. 

So can we agree that not all the changes wrought by the current wave of young tech people are evil? Probably not. My guess is that locals incensed by Trump will take it out on the tech bros since they are the only target at hand. And here's a related conundrum: Because tech buses stopping in a neighborhood has the effect of raising local property values and rents, the anti-change forces are arguing for one central pickup location for all the buses. But it is estimated that that would reduce by as much as 50% the number of people riding those buses and put them back in cars clogging all the roads and freeways. 

Since "it will increase traffic" is the battle cry of the anti-change people fighting any new development, they find themselves caught with no good alternative. Either the people with good jobs outside SF get to continue to ride their fancy buses in peace, or everyone else gets to deal with more traffic. I predict the whining will be endless.

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