For the uninitiated, the Yoda fountain statue sits outside the Letterman Digital Arts Center — Lucasfilm's headquarters nestled in one of San Francisco's most beautiful corners. George Lucas planted his empire here, and unlike most things that get planted in SF, this one actually grew into something people enjoy without a $200 million municipal bond measure attached to it.

The little green guy stands atop his fountain, dispensing wordless wisdom to tourists, joggers, and the occasional Star Wars pilgrim who makes the trek out to the Presidio. No tax dollars were spent. No Board of Supervisors vote was required. No environmental impact report took six years. A private company just... built something cool. On time. That people like. Imagine.

On May the 4th — the internet's unofficial Star Wars holiday — it's worth remembering that some of San Francisco's best landmarks exist not because of government planning, but despite the bureaucratic maze that makes building anything in this city feel like navigating the Kessel Run. Lucasfilm chose the Presidio. They invested. They created jobs and gave us a beloved public art piece as a bonus.

There's a lesson here, and you don't need to be a Jedi Master to see it: when you let people and businesses create freely, good things happen.

Do or do not. There is no committee review process.

May the 4th be with you, SF.