Editor:

Vote “No” on Prop. K: Don’t Close Down a Critical Road for San Francisco’s West Side

As San Franciscans prepare to vote on Prop. K, it’s crucial to recognize the serious risks it poses to our city.

Prop. K isn’t about creating a better community – it’s about permanently shutting down one of the city’s most essential north-south routes and cutting off reliable access for thousands of residents and commuters. Far from being beneficial, Prop. K introduces impractical and disruptive changes that will harm daily life for working families, drivers and all who rely on accessible roads.

Here’s why Prop. K doesn’t work for San Francisco and why we must vote “no” to protect our City’s future:

Closing the Upper Great Highway Will Worsen Traffic and Safety Issues

Supporters of Prop. K claim this closure won’t impact traffic flow much, but that’s not true. San Francisco traffic is intense, and the Upper Great Highway is a crucial north-south route for drivers. Closing means pushing thousands of cars onto Sunset Boulevard, 19th Avenue and smaller neighborhood streets, turning quiet areas into congested cut-throughs. This isn’t just inconvenient – it impacts safety, air quality, and emergency response times for everyone nearby. Families, seniors, and kids rely on this roadway to get around efficiently. Why make it harder for residents to travel safely on the west side?

A Lack of Community Engagement

One of the most troubling aspects of Prop. K is how it was introduced by District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio – at the last minute, without notifying or consulting the people it affects most. Engardio pushed this measure forward without any outreach to residents, community organizations or small business owners, leaving many blindsided by a proposal that would significantly impact their daily lives.

This rushed, top-down approach undermines trust between elected officials and the community. By pushing his measure through at the final hour, Engardio deprived San Franciscans of the chance to weigh in on the future of the Upper Great Highway. If major decisions like this can happen without public input, what other actions might follow without proper consultation? Prop. K sets a troubling precedent, disregarding the open and transparent process our City deserves.

Prop. K’s Promise to ‘Make a Park’ Has No Clear Plan

Everyone loves a good park, but Prop. K doesn’t have a realistic plan or committed funding to support its proposal. Without guaranteed funds for maintenance and development, there’s a real risk that this section of the Great Highway could fall into neglect. Creating a new park without a clear, sustained funding plan leaves it vulnerable to inadequate maintenance, safety concerns and eventual disuse.

Prop K. offers no guarantees for upkeep, security or basic facilities. Instead of opening the door to an unfunded project that could create more issues than it solves, we can vote “no” on K to keep the Upper Great Highway accessible and open. This way, we ensure that any future park developments are planned responsibly, with the necessary resources in place for long-term success.

We Already Have a Great Compromise – Why Fix What Isn’t Broken?

The current setup – keeping the Upper Great Highway closed on weekends and open on weekdays – already works.

Families, runners, cyclists and drivers all benefit from this balance. Voting “no” on K will let us keep this compromise, allowing the community to access the coast and keeping a vital route open during the work week. Why rush to make this change permanent when we already have a fair solution for everyone?

The Misuse of Prop I: A False Comparison

Engardio’s reference to Prop. I is misleading. Prop I, which voters turned down in 2022, aimed to reopen the Great Highway and JFK Drive to vehicles 24/7, which many saw as rolling back pandemic-era compromises that had since gained acceptance. Voters turned down Prop. I because the existing weekend-only closure was working as a balanced solution, allowing recreational use on weekends and preserving road access on weekdays.

But Prop. K goes far beyond Prop. I’s scope by proposing a full-time, permanent closure of the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, removing a critical route for daily commuters and transforming it into a park. The defeat of Prop. I doesn’t imply support for Prop. K’s permanent closure. If anything, it shows that voters want the best of both worlds – a practical compromise that Prop K disrupts.

We Can Have a Park and Keep the Upper Great Highway Open to Drivers

If creating more parks is the goal, there are other ways to accomplish it. San Francisco can develop more parks in areas that won’t impact major transportation routes. We don’t need to permanently shut down the Upper Great Highway to achieve this, especially when we already have nearby park access along the coast and in Golden Gate Park. Let’s work together on responsible, well-planned projects that don’t hurt our daily commute or our quality of life.

The Smart Vote is “no” on Prop. K:

Keep Roads Open, Prioritize Realistic Planning, and Protect Transportation Access

Prop. K doesn’t serve San Francisco’s needs; it disregards essential access and creates unnecessary obstacles for residents, commuters and families. By voting “no” on Prop. K, we’re preserving vital access for drivers, maintaining trust in community-based decisions and keeping the Great Highway open for the benefit of all.

Let’s protect our roads and ensure any future changes are based on actual needs and the voices of everyone in our City.

Vin Budhai, Open the Great Highway / NO on K campaign