Compared to last year, San Francisco leaders say visitors packed places like Union Square this holiday shopping season and despite more people, car break-ins.
Some of San Francisco's legacy businesses downtown say they are seeing a slight increase in shoppers, as the city goes all out this holiday season to draw more people to Union Square and the surrounding area to shop and dine. "I've felt safe the few days I've been here. It's very walkable," said Alex Eddings, a tourist visiting from Nashville.