Some things are just emblematic beyond the breaking point:
Cleve Jones, 67, who moved to San Francisco in 1973 and first conceived of the Aids Memorial Quilt, is reportedly moving out of his rent-controlled, one-bedroom apartment this week. The move comes after he was notified of a significant price increase from the property's new owner, who claims that the apartment is not Jones' primary residence...
The new owner, Lily Pao Kue, is a 30-year-old self-described stock market investor who, according to Zillow records reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, purchased the property in February for $1,585,000...
According to the Chronicle, Kue has installed security cameras around the property, begun construction work in the building and had a car that belonged to Jones' friend and roommate removed from the property.
In a letter Kue sent to Jones on 18 March, she stated that she assessed he had vacated the property and she would be increasing the current rent – $2,393 – to $5,200 as of 1 July...
It's just...
I mean, can you imagine a more explosive clashing of the two San Franciscos? On the one hand you have its aging gay activist base—the legends, the guys who did all the heavy lifting of tearing down the old, normal, healthy conventions of sexual morality and replacing them with the awful disasters we're currently dealing with today. Not exactly the types of neighbors you boast about.
On the other hand, you have its new money—the folks who somehow, inexplicably, are in possession of like $9 million in petty cash and who are doing their part to turn the city into about one square mile of upper-class luxury surrounded by 45 square miles of homeless encampments. Who wants to live in a city like that?
So any way you slice it in San Francisco these days you're gonna lose. Not a good look!
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