Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I think issues of "relative 'safety'" are more about insecurity and false perception. There are roughly 6-12 blocks separating the Le Meridien, JW, Westin St Francis, RC, Marriott Marquis, Palace, Park Central, StR, and W hotels.
I think we all see it as ridiculous to assume that such a small area has some major differences in crime--because it doesn't. It's just about people feeling better about an area they know or prefer rather than there being any substantiation for their unfounded fears of a nearby area or one they don't know as well.
There may not be a difference in actual crime incidence but I have definitely observed a difference in how much aggressive panhandling happens across those 6-12 blocks. It's very different to step out of Le Meridien in a quiet part of downtown, mostly office buildings and some residential, than to step out into the thick of the tourist and panhandler population at a location like Park Central.
I think it's reasonable to factor that somewhere into the equation, when paying the ridiculous prices SF hotels ask.