We're not going to sugarcoat it: the areas surrounding SFO have become yet another showcase of the region's inability to maintain basic standards in public spaces. Whether it's the encampments creeping closer to airport-adjacent roads, the visible decay of once-functional commercial strips, or the general vibe of neglect that greets travelers before they even hit the 101 — it's, as one observer put it, "just still crazy to see."

And yeah, it is crazy. SFO is supposed to be a gateway. It's the first impression millions of visitors get of the Bay Area every year. It's also a multibillion-dollar operation funded in no small part by taxpayer-backed bonds and public revenue. So why does the surrounding landscape look like local government checked out years ago?

The answer, as usual, comes down to misaligned priorities and a bureaucratic apparatus that's better at spending money than delivering results. San Mateo County and the surrounding jurisdictions collect plenty in taxes and fees. The region is swimming in wealth. Yet the corridor around our premier airport looks like nobody's minding the store.

One Bay Area resident summed up the broader frustration well: "This will last until we build enough God damn housing for everyone at all price points. Not just subsidized housing and luxury housing. Unfortunately, no one has the political will to make that happen, so the madness will continue."

That about covers it. We have the resources. We have the tax revenue. What we don't have is leadership willing to prioritize basic competence over ideological posturing. The area around SFO isn't some forgotten rural outpost — it's the front door to one of the wealthiest regions on Earth.

Maybe it's time we started acting like it.