Live Dirt in Nob Hill

After my first venture into Nob and Russian hills, I was quite frustrated. As it turned out, everyone I spoke with and interviewed had lots of good things to say about their respective neighborhoods, and almost no one would speak ill of their homes. This makes sense in a way. Russian and Nob hills are extremely rich and clean. It is glaringly apparent that the hills' residents feel little or no safety concerns when traversing the tree-lined streets. Luxury hotels abound, and grand cathedrals ring out their bells that echo across the sidewalks and avenues until returning to their source as well-dressed patrons of various churches prepare themselves for worship. I was having no luck digging up dirt simply by approaching individuals in such good spirits as I had been finding.

I had to go higher up to get real information. The city statistics and demographics were useful, but only in so much that they illustrated what I had already gathered from various sources: the area is affluent, lots of white people live there, and there is very little crime out of the ordinary. To get beyond the obvious, I looked up the district supervisor, David Chiu, and called his office. I spoke with a legislative assistant to the supervisor about the issues facing Russian and Nob hills. Not surprisingly, she told me that the hills don't ask for much, and the only current issue between the two is the Live Nation expansion in the Masonic Center. The Masonic Center is a historic building in Nob Hill across from Grace Cathedral on California Street that features live music and entertainment events. Recently, the center selected Live Nation, a concert and events provider, to be the sole operator of all events in the venue. This has prompted neighborhood outrage. Neighbors are worried that Live Nation's expansion will bring more drunks to the area, as well as more traffic, and impede locals' abilities to catch cabs and buses. Also, neighbors are worried that the historical grandeur and prestige of the Masonic Center will be compromised and cheapened.

This issue is currently the biggest debate going on in the neighborhood. It doesn't surprise me that something of this nature is of such concern, as that Nob Hill is quite small and the residents are generally the well-to-do professional type and not exactly the rock concert crowd. Therefore, a company like Live Nation presents a threat to the complacent tranquility of the area and its inhabitants. However, the fact that this is the most pressing issue to the neighborhood reveals a lot about it.

The deeper I venture into Russian and Nob hills, the more I find that the area is quite charmed. A half-mile or so down Polk Street, the Tenderloin teems with prostitutes and crack dealers, while, in Nob Hill, angry neighbors are worried about catching a cab so they won't be late to the symphony. This is in no way saying that the concerns of the Nob Hill neighbors aren't legitimate, because any concern or issue that affects one's day-to-day life has merit. It just so happens that the day-to-day lives of people in these affluent hills are much different than most others, and their morning cereal may contain a few more silver spoons that the average San Franciscan.