u/BebelSilva

Anyone got tickets for college of art and science dm me

i moved from SF to Pleasanton for work, mostly because I got tired of SF’s political climber culture, the cold, and the hills just not being for me. For those who live in or know Pleasanton well – what’s the political vibe like now? And how’s the general city life (restaurants, things to do, people, pace)?

Working behind the scenes on multiple major campaigns in San Francisco — past and current — completely changed how I see this city politically.

People love branding SF as some ultra-progressive paradise, but once you actually see how campaigns operate internally, a lot of the lines between “liberals” and conservatives start looking very thin. I’m not naming candidates because of NDAs and professionalism, but I’ve watched people who publicly preach compassion and equity turn around privately and say stuff like “he’s not from here,” obsess over optics more than policy, and back obviously bought politicians because they look progressive enough for voters.

A lot of SF politics feels less about helping working people and more about maintaining social status, insider circles, donor networks, and aesthetic activism. Expensive buzzwords, Pride flags, and curated messaging don’t automatically make someone progressive.

The same people who mock conservatives for gatekeeping will gatekeep who is “acceptable” in SF based on wealth, background, neighborhoods, connections, or whether someone fits the image they want representing the city.

After seeing it up close, I honestly think a huge chunk of SF liberals and conservatives operate from the exact same instincts — just with different branding and fonts.