A recent study by WalletHub has revealed alarming findings regarding urban management across the United States, with San Francisco standing out as the worst-run city in the country, securing the last position out of 148 cities analyzed.
This comprehensive study evaluated various factors, including the quality of city services, budget allocations per capita, long-term debt, and high school graduation rates, placing San Francisco firmly at the bottom of the list.
In contrast, Provo, Utah was ranked as the best-managed city, followed closely by Nampa, Idaho, and Manchester, New Hampshire.
The study illustrated a concerning trend in city governance, highlighting the bottom five worst-run cities: San Francisco, Detroit, Oakland, New York, and Philadelphia.
Among Californian cities, Huntington Beach emerged as the top performer, landing at 34th place, primarily due to its exceptional ranking in city service quality.
Interestingly, many California cities demonstrated strong performances in certain areas, especially in city service quality. Huntington Beach, Fremont, and San Diego were noted to be among the top ten nationally for this metric.
Furthermore, California cities yielded impressive results with regard to high school graduation rates, with Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana making it to the top five. In stark contrast, San Francisco reported the lowest graduation rates.
Despite its dismal ranking, San Francisco did excel in one significant area: the city boasted the lowest infant mortality rate in the nation.
However, the overall picture for San Francisco is grim. The city continues to struggle with pervasive public safety issues, a staggering budget deficit nearing $900 million, a struggling downtown economy, a massive drug epidemic, a severe homelessness crisis, and a significant deficit in public education.
These challenges, while not explicitly covered in the study, undeniably influence the metrics that contributed to San Francisco’s poor ranking.
Experts pointed out the complexities contemporary cities face. Ronald Loveridge, a former mayor of Riverside and current professor at UC Riverside, articulated key issues that need to be addressed for effective city governance going forward.
He emphasized that when he first ran for mayor thirty years ago, the core objectives focused on safe streets, good jobs, and thriving neighborhoods. Today, however, homelessness has become the primary concern for residents and businesses alike, especially in downtown areas.
“Increased housing costs—both rent and purchasing prices—also pose significant challenges,” Loveridge noted.
He underlined the shifting landscape of information dissemination with the advent of social media, which has complicated public engagement and civic discourse.
As national issues increasingly encroach upon local agendas, cities find themselves grappling with a division reflecting broader national conflicts, particularly evident in local school board discussions.
Moreover, he stressed that the definitions of successful city governance have expanded beyond merely economic efficiency. Principles such as equity and citizen engagement are gaining prominence, necessitating new strategies for implementation.
Shared governance dynamics between city managers and elected officials are becoming more complex, with council members increasingly involved in policy-making decisions.
Loveridge concluded that addressing the overarching priorities of economic growth while fostering cooperation and partnerships with external agencies is essential for the future viability of cities.
In light of these findings, it is clear that urban management in the United States, particularly in cities like San Francisco, requires urgent attention and comprehensive strategies to tackle the multifaceted issues at hand sequentially.
image source from：californiaglobe
