Is the recession over in San Francisco? There are still some 40,000 people without jobs, business is slow, and yes, food stamps are increasing.
But here's a ray of hope. In December, the value of construction projects in the city
increased 189 percent from the previous year, valued at $274 million, according to the City Controller's Office.
Those statistics show that San Francisco is better off than the rest of the country, which saw average construction spending in December fall to its lowest level in a decade.
While the construction news could be seen as a strong sign of recovery, not all city statistics are telling the same story.
In December, for example, more people were lining up for food stamps, with a 23 percent increase in food stamp usage compared to the previous year. And the number of locals who signed up for Healthy San
Francisco, the city's universal health care program, rose by 12 percent compared to the previous year.
The good news for patients: You no longer have to wait a month to receive medical care. The amount of time new patients waited to see a doctor for the first time shortened by 29 days compared to December 2009.
Tangerine Brigham, director of Healthy San Francisco, explains the reduced wait times.She says some clinics are making an effort to squeeze more patients in the same day that they call for an appointment.
"It used to be that when some people would call for an appointment, we'd say we can give it to them a week from now, or tomorrow, now we'll say 'Can you come today?'" Brigham said. "If they say yes, then we take them in that day. The idea is improving access to health care."
Some city clinics have also been told to keep several 15-minute appointments available throughout the day so that patients with minor health complaints can be treated swiftly, Brigham explained.
In other SF news:
The number of people enrolled in city-run public recreation programs in December ballooned five-fold from the previous year, with 5,447 people participating in the courses.
And here is a statistic that might surprise you: Complaints against Muni drivers who are rude, unsafe, negligent, or late declined by 37 percent in December compared to the previous year.
That's not to say people are entirely satisfied with Muni; the transit agency was still receiving 43 complaints daily in December 2010.
The Controller's Office didn't detail why Muni passengers seemed to be happier, but we'd guess it's because fewer children are being left behind after they fall off buses.
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