Pirate Wires Editor in Chief Mike Solana discusses the lessons of San Francisco's politics, his vision for the future, and his critiques of libertarianism.
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Text and links to sources available here: https://reason.com/podcast/2024/06/06/mike-solana-can-san-francisco-be-saved/
Can San Francisco be saved?
San Francisco, the beautiful city on the bay, has become a national punchline. During his debate with Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displayed a map of citywide poop sightings, which were apparently reported to 311 more than 35,000 times in 2023, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Works. The city's population slumped starting in 2018, but has slowly crawled back. And a 2022 San Francisco Chronicle poll found 65 percent of respondents say life is worse in the city now than when they moved there.
Today's guest, Mike Solana, wants to be part of the solution. He's the chief marketing officer at Founders Fund—the Peter Thiel–founded venture capital firm—and editor in chief of Pirate Wires, a new media company covering tech from the Silicon Valley perspective.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Just Asking Questions
01:04 Introducing Mike Solana: A Voice for San Francisco
03:36 San Francisco's Current State: A First-Person Perspective
09:37 Homelessness and Housing Crisis
18:56 Comparing San Francisco to Other Major Cities
23:01 Crime and Policing in San Francisco
38:27 Education and School System Challenges
49:37 Funding and School Choice in San Francisco
52:33 Homelessness and Nonprofit Funding
54:45 Drug Decriminalization and Harm Reduction
58:14 Origins of the Opioid Crisis
01:04:59 Libertarianism and Policy Wins
01:12:36 Immigration and Social Welfare
01:35:24 Who is Actually in Charge?