The existing San Franciscans seem to be pretty effective NIMBY-ites too... and for a city that seems so proud of being progressive, they can be pretty damn reactionary about changing anything.
I won't admit to being an expert, but public policy is a balancing act that doesn't seem to be keeping pace with the residential and business demographic shifts. Giuliani did an impecable job at it in New York, but its hard to see how his plans could be applied in such a different city and context.