a lot of posturing, finger-pointing and vitriol has been coming from san francisco over the last few weeks, as a large number of mission residents are up in arms because american apparel intends to open a retail space on valencia street.

great.

i don’t see what all the fuss is about.

many opponents of american apparel’s incoming presence are, in the grand scheme of things, themselves new to the mission, and their very arrival over the last fifteen years has helped change the mission from an ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhood of mixed incomes into an increasingly exclusive, upscale  extension of hayes valley. as of this day, there is very little to distinguish valencia street from hayes street, fillmore street, columbus avenue, or any other shopping district in san francisco.

just take a look at the genteel clientele sipping four dollar single origin espresso drinks at four barrel or ritual coffee roasters (which, like american apparel, is a corporation). see how rainbow foods has changed over the years – ever notice the cars in their parking lot?

american apparel is going to bring about the demise of this district? it’s already happened.

i conclude this micro-commentary by stealing a quote from someone caught up in the thick of an argument on SFist:

“hipsters that come from ‘everywhere else’ wearing the clothing they profess to not want in “their” mission, typing on antique – probably artisanal – manual typewriters: does NASA know that there is literally another black hole forming as we speak, on valencia in the mission? yup, large groups of white progressive hipsters are having their heads disappear right up their own asses.

the only thing missing… is some white dude holding a sign in spanish that says ‘american apparel no en mi barrio.’”

and so it goes, thus we move on.