APEC has injected San Francisco with a vibrant energy—drawing in people from many countries, from influential leaders to notable VIPs. The city this week is buzzing with excitement, albeit occasionally accompanied by –at times annoying, armored black SUVs traversing the streets on high alert, and so are the patrols with their flashing sirens. But that is part of the whole enchilada.

The palpable excitement reaches nearly everyone, including the rightfully impassioned protesters leveraging this gathering to champion justice.

For me, the true gems are the creatives who captivate us with mesmerizing displays of rainbow lights, mixing art and cutting-edge technologies.

Add to the excitement this: the developments and intrigue surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Vehicles are once again attracting innovative, inquisitive individuals and risk-takers to our cherished City by the Bay.

But amidst the glitz and glamour, the persistent challenges of homelessness and high crime rates remain, and a sustainable solution is yet to be seen.

-LFP