If the rain and wind settles down enough for me to get out this afternoon, and I go to the local shoreline (which is very safe, even for the elderly), it always involves a slight detour of a few miles down the freeway and then a major street. I NEVER cross through the "bad side of the tracks" on secondary streets (the infamous "Iron Triangle" in our case). Besides, the safer route is faster due to far fewer stoplights. But as certain parts of the Iron Triangle itself get improved with bike trails, better infrastructure, and new investment, they've evolved from "never go there" to downright trendy. Certain other areas, if they're allowed to deteriorate, have done just that - deteriorated.
SF is very aware of how their post-pandemic economic restart is highly dependent upon their tourism safety reputation. But tourists should also do their part and actually obey parking lot signs stating, Don't leave valuables in your car! Bears won't keep coming once people stop leaving their picnic boxes out in the open. Otherwise, you're just training those bears to do more or the same.
In downtown SF, I've always got my camera with me, even during restaurant interludes, and never use a glitzy expensive-looking camera bag or shiny case. I've been chewed out a few times by local little old ladies for photographing storefronts they incorrectly thought I needed formal permission for first, but that's about the worst of it, so far. Over on beach trails, I've never worried even about having my head under a darkcloth using a view camera, except to be very conscious not to create any kind of tripod hazard to other hikers along the path doing so.
