Why You Can Never Find a Bench in San Francisco

As the city pushes forward with new and innovative ways to re-energize its shared spaces, Zusha Elinson reports on the renewed debate in San Francisco over public space and homelessness.

"'There is a pretty broad agreement that depriving the public of seating is not going to solve the problem of who has access to public spaces,' Mr. [Neil] Hrushowy, an urban designer for the city said. 'The question is, how can we happily coexist?' Indeed, the homeless still hang out in United Nations Plaza, a 2.6-mile pedestrian mall whose benches were removed 10 years ago."