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With an elevator broken at the Clementina Towers housing project in San Francisco's South of Market, waiting residents often crowd the lobby.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleWith an elevator broken at the Clementina Towers housing project in... Voters will decide Tuesday whether to allow construction of the 8 Washington condominium project, where a private tennis and swim club now stands.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleVoters will decide Tuesday whether to allow construction of the 8... Part of the 8 Washington development would rise to 136 feet. The developer got special approval to exceed the 84-foot height limit.Part of the 8 Washington development would rise to 136 feet. The... A new flier from 8 Washington supporters is heavy on chain-link fences and parking lots but only has one image of the controversial 136-foot tall condominium building — a small one on the back.A new flier from 8 Washington supporters is heavy on chain-link... Pedestrians walks along the Embarcadero at Washington Street past a parking lot at the site of the proposed 8 Washington project on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChroniclePedestrians walks along the Embarcadero at Washington Street past... A pedestrian takes a detour from the sidewalk on the Embarcadero near the site of the proposed 8 Washington project on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleA pedestrian takes a detour from the sidewalk on the Embarcadero... Captain Andres Vasquez of the Columbian Navy walks along a detour route near the site of the proposed 8 Washington project on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleCaptain Andres Vasquez of the Columbian Navy walks along a detour... Clementina Towers resident Michael Dismuke wipes down his kitchen shelves after having them treated by maintenance for cockroaches that he says have been a problem in his apartment since he moved in a year and a half ago on Thursday, October 31, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Dismuke said his apartment has been treated before but this time cracks where the roaches might enter his home had been sealed.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleClementina Towers resident Michael Dismuke wipes down his kitchen... Clementina Towers residents Michael Dismuke (l to r) and Salomon Lopez talk in the lobby of their building next to a broken elevator on Thursday, October 31, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Several residents said the elevator had been broken over a month.
Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleClementina Towers residents Michael Dismuke (l to r) and Salomon...
Mrs. Huang is 80 years old and is tired of taking the stairs to her apartment on the upper floors Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleMrs. Huang is 80 years old and is tired of taking the stairs to her... Residents of Clementina Towers Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. have balcony areas adjacent to their apartments. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleResidents of Clementina Towers Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San... A woman named Alla (no last name given) waits for the elevator in the 330 Clementina Tower Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. she has lived in for years. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleA woman named Alla (no last name given) waits for the elevator in... The proposed 8 Washington project would replace a parking lot and health club with a 12-story condominium building, a rebuilt health club and a new privately maintained park along the Embarcadero. This view shows the new triangular park, with existing buildings on the right.Photo: Skidmore Owings And MerrillThe proposed 8 Washington project would replace a parking lot and... Signage is seen outside a health club along Drumm Street for a health club at the site of the proposed 8 Washington project on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleSignage is seen outside a health club along Drumm Street for a... A pedestrian walks along Washington Street near the site of the proposed 8 Washington project on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleA pedestrian walks along Washington Street near the site of the... A lone tennis ball sits on the sidewalk along Washington Street between Drumm Street and The Embarcadero near the site of the proposed 8 Washington project on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleA lone tennis ball sits on the sidewalk along Washington Street... The proposed 8 Washington project would replace a parking lot and health club with a 12-story condominium building, a rebuilt health club and a new privately maintained park along the Embarcadero. This view shows the playground portion of the new triangular park, with a cafe attached to the health club on the right and the Embarcadero beyond.Photo: Skidmore Owings And MerrillThe proposed 8 Washington project would replace a parking lot and... A broken elevator sign puts one of two elevators out of service which is difficult for seniors unable to negotiate stairs Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleA broken elevator sign puts one of two elevators out of service... Seniors often resort to chairs to wait for elevators, especially when one of two is out of order Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleSeniors often resort to chairs to wait for elevators, especially... For many of the residents at Clementina Towers, the elevators are the only way to get to the very top floors Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleFor many of the residents at Clementina Towers, the elevators are... A proposed project would redevelop the area along the Embarcadero north of Washington St. in San Francisco. Right now the land is home to a parking lot, tennis club, and open space.Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The ChronicleA proposed project would redevelop the area along the Embarcadero... Clementina Towers resident Jamel Burrell makes his way into a working elevator next to a broken one as he heads to his apartment at Clementina Towers on Thursday, October 31, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Burrell said he was trapped in the elevator (at right) when it went out.
Photo: Lea Suzuki, The ChronicleClementina Towers resident Jamel Burrell makes his way into a...
Xue Li Liu, who is 77 years old, says the elevators cannot be relied upon many days at Clementina Towers Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleXue Li Liu, who is 77 years old, says the elevators cannot be... The only working elevator at the 330 Clementina Tower building is always crowded at the lobby level Wednesday October 9, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. Mayor Ed Lee promised to make life better for residents of the city's public housing stock, but tenants at Clementina Towers often have problems with broken elevators and filth.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleThe only working elevator at the 330 Clementina Tower building is... Over one hundred supporters gathered in front of the Lee's building on Jackson Street to support the family Wednesday September 25, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. The Lee family has lived on Jackson Street in San Francisco for decades and now is being evicted under the Ellis Act. Friends, politicians and religious leaders gathered at their home to show their support for the elderly couple and stand against evictions of longtime residents.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleOver one hundred supporters gathered in front of the Lee's building... The Lee family moves bedding in preparation for their forced move recently in San Francisco, Calif. The Lee family, who are being evicted from their San Francisco home of over 30 years, move some belongings to the street for pick up.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleThe Lee family moves bedding in preparation for their forced move... Mother Gum Gee Lee (left) and her daughter Shiu Man Lee wait in a bedroom with some of their belongings shortly before leaving their home Tuesday October 22, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. On the last night at their home, the Lee family packs up and leaves for a motel where they will stay until more permanent housing can be finalized.Photo: Brant Ward, The ChronicleMother Gum Gee Lee (left) and her daughter Shiu Man Lee wait in a... 
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Font Page 1 of 1 A tale of two cities brought to you by Monday's Chronicle front page.
On the right side, we have the fight over 8 Washington, the proposed condominium complex whose 134 units are tentatively priced between $2 million and $10 million.
On the left side, how San Francisco doesn't have the money to fix broken elevators at its public housing projects, leaving seniors and disabled residents "stranded in their apartments."
I'm not taking sides on Tuesday's election to determine the fate of 8 Washington. If I owned or rented one of the luxury apartments at Golden Gateway Commons, I would be angry at my $1 million view being blocked by a 12-story building next door. If I was Mayor Ed Lee, on the other hand, I'd be bullish on the aesthetic, commercial and revenue-generating benefits 8 Washington would bring to the city.
But the chasm is impossible to ignore. San Francisco, one of the richest cities in the world - and getting richer all the time - does not have $8.4 million, out of a $7.9 billion annual budget, to fix the broken elevators at Clementina Towers and other public housing projects in the city.
Isn't there something wrong with this picture?
News to mayor's officeLee, who has referred to the projects as "poverty housing" and has pledged to eliminate them, knew nothing about the problem. Nor did his office, according to The Chronicle's Heather Knight, who broke the story.
But it seems to know plenty about 8 Washington - the mayor is its leading pitchman - and about the Golden State Warriors waterfront arena plan, featuring a 175-foot condominium tower, where, it's reasonable to conjecture, prices will be even higher than at 8 Washington.
Yes, we're shocked, shocked, and determined to do something, especially for the elderly and disabled at Clementina Towers - located in tech-heavy South of Market, by the way.
Perhaps the elevators will get fixed in relatively short order. (Although this is not the first time the powers that be have been alerted.)
Perhaps the $11 million that 8 Washington's developer would be giving to the city's affordable housing fund will, at some point down the road, help relieve the thousands of other San Francisco public housing residents plagued by mice, roaches, sewage overflows, mold, mildew, and regular absences of heat and hot water.
S.F.'s directionBut maybe some thought should be given to those San Franciscans as we ponder our vote on Propositions B and C Tuesday. And thought should be given, too, to the elderly Chinese American couple and their mentally handicapped daughter who were kicked out of their low-rent Nob Hill apartment of 34 years to make way for another batch of pricey condos.
And to where San Francisco, with all its glittering prizes, is going.
Andrew S. Ross is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: bottomline@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @andrewsross Printable Version Email This 
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