Suburban sprawl is the problem. Suburban sprawl increases city issues because they cost more to upkeep than the city gains in tax revenue or workers. It sucks up resources. With lots of suburban sprawl, things like maintaining city roadways, maintaining or implementing public transport, electrical infrastructure, water services, and more all become harder and more difficult to maintain. It drives up housing prices inside the city and that’s why San Fran is such a fucking mess. Necessary housing to keep the city running and people off the streets isn’t being built because real estate developers want to only attract high income yuppies and the like.