Chronicle Live at Manny’s presents SFNext: Can Downtown Avoid a ‘Doom Loop’

Downtown San Francisco is in crisis. Large numbers of offices sit empty. Many stores and restaurants remain shuttered. Happy hours are a lot less, well, happy.

If things don’t improve, the neighborhood could slip into a so-called “doom loop,” in which high vacancy rates lead to budgetary shortfalls for the city, scaled back transit and public services, and more chaotic streets that then deter people from traveling downtown, further intensifying the downward cycle. Yikes.

So, how do we reinvigorate downtown San Francisco and avoid falling into a “doom loop”? What bold ideas could bring new energy to the neighborhood? What opportunities does this precarious moment present?

Join The San Francisco Chronicle and its SFNext project for a live conversation about creative solutions and practical steps for revitalizing downtown San Francisco hosted by Laura Wenus, host of the SFNext podcast, Fixing Our City.

Manny's never turns away someone due to lack of funds. If you need a complimentary ticket, please email the title of the event and the word "grapefruit" to angelina@welcometomannys.com

Want to support community members? By purchasing a "Pay It Forward" ticket you will allow us to provide free tickets to those who may not be able to afford entry otherwise and ensure we can create a diverse socio-economic audience that represents San Francisco.

We’ll be joined by:

Sujata Srivastava: San Francisco Director of SPUR, a nonprofit public policy organization focused on urban planning and research in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Desi Danganan: Executive Director of Kultivate Labs (Kapwa Gardens) and lead economic development strategist for SOMA Pilipinas cultural district.

And we want to hear from you! What are your ideas for the future of downtown? The evening will be recorded live and air as a future episode of the Fixing Our City.

Before the conversation kicks off, we’ll also have an introduction to SFNext — which seeks to involve city residents in finding solutions to San Francisco’s most pressing problems — from Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Emilio Garcia-Ruiz and SFNext Editor Jonathan Krim.

The event is part of The Chronicle's new monthly event series Chronicle Live at Manny's, which brings Chronicle journalists in front of a live audience to discuss the most pressing issues in San Francisco and have a little fun along the way.