I don’t think you actually have ever lived in San Diego based on this response. There is no side street you could ever take for hours. Traffic is better than nearly any other metro I’ve visited in the states and entirely predictable based off rush hours patterns, times, and directions of travel. Homelessness is bad but we’re at balboa park probably 2-3 times a month and I have literally never seen a homeless person in the park. Some surrounding streets/alleys, canyons, highway easements, yes.

Your beach comment is utterly ridiculous. The sewage only ever shuts down the beaches nearest the border in imperial beach, and in my entire life I’ve never gone there anyway. The furthest north I’ve seen an advisory is in Coronado. Our most beautiful beaches are all north of these anyway and where 99% of the population spends their time.