San Francisco is preparing for the APEC summit, which will bring together 20,000 foreign dignitaries, including world leaders like Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, and Xi Jinping. The event has prompted increased security measures and the closure of several city blocks around the Moscone event center. Tech executives, including Elon Musk, Marc Benioff, and Sundar Pichai, will also be in attendance.
APEC, short for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, aims to promote trade and economic development among nations around the Pacific Ocean. The group consists of 21 economies, representing almost half of the world’s trade and nearly 40% of the global population.
Tech leaders have praised San Francisco’s efforts to clean up the city ahead of the summit. Elon Musk tweeted about the city’s cleanliness, commenting on the contrast between the preparations for the event and the living conditions for residents. Marc Benioff also posted on Twitter, highlighting San Francisco’s potential to be a clean and beautiful city.
While it’s not uncommon for cities to spruce up before major events, San Francisco has taken measures such as clearing homeless encampments, confiscating carts from street food vendors without permits, and temporarily closing restaurants in Chinatown for health code violations.
California Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the city’s preparations but emphasized the ongoing efforts to improve the city’s conditions. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of special shelters for displaced people during the summit.
The APEC summit provides an opportunity for tech companies to showcase their advancements. Panels and interviews featuring tech executives will discuss topics like artificial intelligence and the future of technology.
Despite the excitement surrounding the summit, there are concerns about whether the city can maintain its cleanliness and support its homeless population. The author, Kylie Robison, expresses her frustration with the traffic caused by the event and the billionaires’ complaints.
As the rain falls and the dignitaries arrive, the author chooses to stay home, observing the events from a distance.
