San Francisco has plummeted in the rankings of America’s best cities as its soaring cost of living, rampant crime, homelessness and an exodus of companies takes a major toll.

The once shining City by the Bay fell from 27th last year to 126th in the most recent study by the Milken Institute, which rates metro areas nationwide.

The precipitous fall from grace comes after San Francisco was ranked No. 1 as recently as 2020 — the year that set off its COVID-induced struggles.

The Milken Institute’s annual report gauges the best cities based on metrics including job and wage growth, affordable housing, economic equality and other factors.

At the top of the list was Raleigh, NC, followed by Ogden, Utah and Salt Lake City. Huntsville, Ala. and Colorado Springs, Colo. rounded out the top five.

Since 2020, several major companies, including X, Oracle, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Charles Schwab and Palantir have relocated their headquarters from the San Francisco Bay Area to states like Texas and Colorado. The companies cited California’s high costs and regulatory challenges, and a more business-friendly climate in the other states.

This trend reflects a broader shift as corporations seek lower taxes, reduced operational expenses, and better economic conditions, impacting the Bay Area’s commercial real estate and job market.

Since the pandemic, the Bay Area also has faced significant challenges related to crime.

Oakland has experienced a surge in homicides, with 114 reported in 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year with over 100 homicides.

Meanwhile, a brazen wave of shoplifting prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign legislation in August aimed at combating organized retail crime.

The San Francisco Police Department has deployed high-tech drones equipped with surveillance capabilities to enhance crime-fighting efforts, leading to numerous arrests and improved response times.

San Francisco is also consistently ranked among the most expensive cities in the US alongside New York, San Jose, Calif., and Honolulu.

The deterioration in San Francisco’s quality of life has had political repercussions.

In the Nov. 5 mayoral election, billionaire philanthropist and Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie defeated incumbent Mayor London Breed, winning approximately 56% of the vote to Breed’s 44%.

Lurie, founder of the non-profit Tipping Point Community, is the first political outsider to be elected as San Francisco’s mayor since 1911.

His campaign focused on addressing crime, homelessness and housing affordability.

During the race, Lurie pledged to secure 1,500 shelter units within his first six months in office and to prioritize public safety by increasing police staffing.

Bay FC opened a mini pitch at the Crocker Amazon Playground in San Francisco Wednesday. Mayor Daniel Lurie, San Francisco supervisors, and other officials joined emcee Betty Yu at the unveiling. The event concluded with a mini-clinic for local youth hosted by Bay FC Midfielder Tess Boade and Defender Maddie Moreau.

SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco mother was convicted of mayhem and child endangerment for failing to get medical treatment for her daughter, who suffered third-degree burns over half of her body.

A jury found 29-year-old Reneisha Devore guilty of the charges, along with the girl’s babysitter, 42-year-old Diana Washington, convicted of child endangerment, the only charge she faced.

“My office will always do everything we can to protect children and hold those who harm them accountable. This case was horrific, and we pray for the victim’s continued healing and progress,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said.

On July 25, 2023, the 2-year-old victim was brought to UCSF Children’s Hospital Mission Bay with second and third-degree burns over 50% of her body.

Doctors determined the girl’s wounds were not acute but days old. Due to the severity of the girl’s injuries, she was transferred to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Bothin Burn Center for specialized treatment, where she remained for two months as she underwent multiple surgeries, debridement, and skin grafts that were necessary, in large part, because of the delay in care, prosecutors said.

While at the burn center, doctors determined the victim’s injuries were older than originally believed. The girl’s burn wounds were seven to 10 days old, and others were more than two weeks old.

The delay in care resulted in the wounds converting from second to third-degree burns. The wounds resulted in the girl’s permanent disfigurement, prosecutors said.

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Authorities said the victim’s mother was aware of her daughter’s injuries and did nothing to help her. They also said the girl’s babysitter knew and did nothing to help.

“The conduct in this case was particularly deplorable and heinous, not just because of the injuries, but because it was an act committed by a mother against her child,” Assistant District Attorney Melissa Demetral said.

Devore and Washington are both in custody.

Their sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2025.