He commented that this hill had been a majestic vantagepoint to see the beauty of the city until recent years. Los Angeles is no longer uncontested as the smog capital. From Alcatraz Island, a little over a mile away, I recently discovered that, though San Francisco and its bay were still beautiful, smog limited the view. Money and a determined public can solve that problem, however. The other problem is much more severe and more difficult to change.
Beggars still get enough donations to continue their presence on city sidewalks.
They might earn money elsewhere, but this is either easier, more lucrative or the only activity they know how to do. Most of us pass them by. We know many are either lazy or fakes. We give to agencies that provide help for the poor and the unemployed and the sick and the ignorant, figuring those agencies will be fairer and more knowledgeable about their customers. We don't like the ugliness the presence of beggars causes on our city streets.