THE BAY AREA, ITS PROSPECTS AND ITS PROBLEMS - 10 - every businessman in the area will be vitally affected by the prosperity of the entire region, and therefore I say to you that we must examine critically the adequacy of our set-up in this area to influence our economic destinies and to solve the many problems with which we are faced. San Francisco has long since recognized that its future prosperity is dependent upon developing the area as a whole, and there is a growing recognition within San Francisco of the changing role that the city must play in its relationships with its neighbors. There was a time when San Francisco was a relatively self-contained community with most of the people who worked there lived within the city, a city which was the predominating center of manufacturing, commerce, and world trade, a city relatively independent of its neighbors. That situation no longer exists, and San Francisco must content itself with top billing in an all-star cast. It has its role to play, namely that of the core city that is the hub of the wheel but nevertheless just a part of the wheel. As the core city San Francisco's role in the economy is to supply the surrounding area with those particular services that are its natural functions - the center for national and regional headquarters, for finance and insurance, for import and export houses, facilities for tourist and convention trade, wholesale distribution centers, retail stores carrying either an unusually complete line of merchandise or an especially distinctive line of merchandise, cultural and entertainment facilities superior to anything that is financially feasible in the surrounding areas. Conversely San Francisco must look to its neighbors to provide for the area the industrial growth, the growth in regional shopping facilities, accommodations for the people who will work in San Francisco and live in the other areas. This is a natural economic integration that will take place by itself if the read blocks are removed, but can be most efficiently developed only if the problems are approached on an area-wide basis.