Editor:

I enjoyed a nice walk on the Golden Gate Park “Promenade,” aka JFK Drive, on a recent Sunday.  Lots of people were enjoying themselves, whether it was walkers or cyclists.  The number of people able to visit on weekends greatly outnumber those that visit during the week.  The same situation exists for the Upper Great Highway.  Unfortunately, it didn’t matter to the supervisors who voted to put Proposition K on the ballot and the voters who approved it.

Working people – as well as students who attend school – are not able to visit these recreation destinations during the week.  Meanwhile, the smaller population that is able to has imposed hardship on the citizens who are busy with work and school during the week. The midweek closing of JFK Drive has resulted in daily bumper-to-bumper traffic on Crossover Drive that didn’t exist on a daily basis prior to the closing. Some of us local crossed the park via the Band Concourse which helped alleviate the traffic that accumulates on Park Presidio Drive and 19^th Avenue.

Traffic hardship – this time in the heart of the Sunset District – will once again be the result of Prop. K’s passing. People trying to get to and from work, students attending school, etc., will all be subject to longer, congested rides so the citizens not working or attending school can access the Upper Great Highway with very few other people.  

Any why is that? Because roadways that have served the needs of taxpaying citizens for literally generations are now dealing with the repercussions of their closure on a daily basis. I’m sure the workers and students of San Mateo County who had no say on Prop. K would wholeheartedly agree. Successful compromises that served the greater good for several years were tossed aside.

I hope this ongoing inconsideration of the working class and students by our civic leaders and fellow voters will be recognized at some point.  There’s no doubt people are in favor of parks, cycling, walking, etc. Unfortunately, the passing of Prop. K was primarily due to voters whose passage did not have any adverse effect on them.  

I hope, in the future, when all concerned make decisions such as JFK Drive and the Upper Great Highway, more consideration is given to the majority of people who are busy with their lives on Mondays through Fridays and who can only “recreate” on the weekends.  

Curt Cournale