Former DA aide urges Los Angeles to emulate San Francisco’s turnaround

Alex Bastian, a former aide to two controversial district attorneys, has published a piece urging Los Angeles to model its recovery on San Francisco’s recent progress. He notes that San Francisco, once viewed nationally as a symbol of urban decline, now boasts cleaner streets, fresh investment and improving economic indicators after moving away from strict ideological stances. Bastian contrasts this with Los Angeles, which he claims still reflects the earlier, deteriorated state of San Francisco.

He argues that adopting the latter’s pragmatic approach could help Los Angeles reverse its own challenges. The commentary reflects Bastian’s personal ties to both cities, describing San Francisco as his hometown and Los Angeles as a long-term residence. His call centers on shifting policy focus from ideology to practical governance.