The article points out that Miami and San Francisco both have Latino populations, as if it were some reason why they should remain similar cities. But in fact, Miami's Latinos are not similar at all to San Francisco's. San Francisco is made up of about 15% Mexicans, where Miami has a majority of Cubans along with other Central Americans, and about half of the population is Hispanic. All of Miami is Hispanic, and really only the Mission is in San Francisco. Miami is also missing the large Asian population.
Don't forget that San Francisco is 550 miles away from the USA/Mexico border. Miami is on the coast and is a much easier destination for new immigrants.
SF's population is also about double that of Miami.
The mission isn't even historically Hispanic. So it doesn't have the flavor as might the Mexican neighborhoods in san jose. The mission has been one of the historical destination neighborhoods for new immigrants who settle in SF. So the mission does not have a stereotypical ethnic look and feel.
The one thing can be said about the mission is that along with old Chinatown and excelsior they are the immigrant neighborhoods, but the characteristics of the immigrants to these neighborhoods have changed over time and only old Chinatown has held on to its ethnic look and feel, but looking at it through that lens is unhelpful. If we look at Beijing of today, it has not retained the look of the hutongs. Cities change. That said, The new immigrants to these neighborhoods are now not foreign but urban domestic.
Don't forget that San Francisco is 550 miles away from the USA/Mexico border. Miami is on the coast and is a much easier destination for new immigrants.
SF's population is also about double that of Miami.