From LivableSF, Inc.: 

COMMUNITY LEADERS FILE SUIT TO STOP ILLEGAL CLOSURE OF GREAT HIGHWAY

Community leaders and residents held a press conference on March 11 on Irving Street at 22nd Avenue announcing they filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court challenging the legality of Proposition K, the controversial measure passed in November 2024 that seeks to permanently close the Upper Great Highway to private vehicles.

Plaintiffs include neighborhood advocates, small business owners and transportation-focused nonprofit LivableSF, Inc. They allege Proposition K violates California law that controls permanent road closures, and it was adopted without the required environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

Comments by Plaintiffs and Community Leaders

“This legal action is necessary because of the manipulation of government processes and the misleading of voters by the proponents of Proposition K and their elected proxy, ” said Richard Corriea, former SFPD Commander and community advocate.  “They disregarded laws prohibiting the obstruction of roadways needed for safe regional and local transportation.” 

“When the Upper Great Highway closes, it won’t create a better city – it will hurt the people who keep this city running,” said Albert Chow, Sunset small business owner and plaintiff. “Everyday working families will be pushed aside so a few can have a car-less road, while thousands of cars are force into our neighborhoods. That’s not progress – that’s a threat to our safety. Seniors, kids and families will be forced to navigate more dangerous streets. This lawsuit is about standing up for the people who are being left behind.”

“With nearly 70% of westside residents rejecting Prop K, it’s clear that Supervisors Joel Engardio and Myrna Melgar evaded accountability by placing this initiative on the ballot,” said Matthew Boschetto, community advocate and plaintiff. “Even worse, they appear to have forced the public to do their political dirty work – despite strong evidence that the people lacked the authority to act in this case. This lawsuit is our only path to correcting their wrongdoing and ensuring a fair and just process for those most affected.”

“The process is important – the manner in which Mr. Engardio put forward this initiative measure, Prop. K, was done in a way that is antithetical to representative democracy,” said Lisa Arjes, plaintiff and community member. “If ever there was a moment where citizens need to have trust in their government and elected representatives, it is now. For government to earn that trust, the process by which they govern needs to be transparent, and the electorate have the right to hold them accountable. Mr. Engardio has broken that trust with his constituents.”

“This lawsuit is just one step in a broader effort to hold our elected officials accountable,” said Vin Budhai of LivableSF. “Proposition K is the result of political overreach and failed leadership, and now we’re pushing back in court and through the recall. If we want safer streets and real accountability, we need to fix the harm and remove the people responsible for it.”

Background

The Upper Great Highway is a vital north-south route on the west side of San Francisco, serving over 20,000 vehicles daily before the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposition K aims to close it permanently without any mitigation plan, traffic study, or funding for the promised park. The lawsuit also highlights that just days after the election, the California Coastal Commission approved a seawall to protect the very stretch of road that Prop. K proponents claimed was “falling into the ocean.”