Summer in most cities means sunshine and warmth. Summer in San Francisco means Karl the Fog rolls back in like he owns the place — because, frankly, he does.

If you've been outside this week, you've noticed: the fog is back in full force, pouring over Twin Peaks, swallowing the Golden Gate, and turning every sunset into something that makes even the most jaded San Franciscan stop and reach for their phone. Social media is flooded with locals sharing their fog shots, and honestly? We get it.

As one SF resident put it, "This is my perfect San Francisco night."

Hard to argue with that.

Here's the thing about Karl — and we say this as a publication that spends most of its time yelling about budget deficits and bureaucratic incompetence — the fog is maybe the last great public amenity this city provides at zero cost to the taxpayer. No bond measure required. No oversight committee. No $4.7 billion over budget. It just shows up, does its job beautifully, and leaves when it's done. City Hall could learn a thing or two.

The fog is also one of the great equalizers. Doesn't matter if you're paying $4,500 a month for a studio in the Marina or crashing on a friend's couch in the Outer Sunset — Karl doesn't check your income bracket. He rolls in for everybody. No means testing, no waitlist, no environmental impact report.

And let's be real: in a city where seemingly every conversation turns into a debate about what's broken, what's failing, or who's leaving, there's something genuinely nice about everyone just... appreciating the same thing for five minutes. The fog reminds us why we put up with the nonsense. Why we stay despite the cost, despite the dysfunction, despite that thing that happened on BART last Tuesday that we're all trying to forget.

So here's to Karl. The most reliable public service San Francisco has ever produced. May he continue to deliver on time and under budget — a true municipal miracle.