But that's not what's going in this case. Turning on existing WiFi at a specific location or providing more free WiFi throughout the city, is not bankrolling all of the US's homeless.

And regardless, San Francisco's homeless problem won't go away by ignoring it or pretending to. Makes more sense for the city and area to deal with it, by coming up with more effective and humane solutions. To not do so, creates a worldwide bad look and increases the embarrassment. Various people (or groups) are already making fun of the US by constantly reporting on and shooting videos of its huge numbers of homeless, to push back on the bragging, bravado, and hypocrisy.