Editor:
Prop. K was easily the most derisive and divisive issue in the Sunset District in my lifetime!
What a mess Edgardo left this district. Mayor Lurie is trying, and I believe doing a great job: consistently bringing new businesses and supporting existing ones, supporting the working-class, blue-collar workers. It is not easy considering the idiocy of the state legislature (Wiener). We will see how the new Sunset District supervisor appointee fairs. At least he’s a native.
My point here is much more basic: We have not had adequate, let alone competent, representation in this district for a long time. So, what is the ultimate result of this? Voters in the Sunset District feel disenfranchised. You have proponents of a park on the Great Highway (Friends of the Sunset Dunes, SF Bike Coalition, SFMTA, SF Rec. and Park, etc.) who haven’t even lived here in the Sunset a decade, if at all!
When a district ousts an elected representative by almost a supermajority, basically over a single issue, believe me they are not stopping there. These proponents of a park on the Upper Great Highway will be lucky to keep any of their Burning Man rejects, let alone a bike lane.
People out here are pissed off; they want that highway open again. It’s like a powder keg waiting to go off. The backroom dealing, the lies, the misrepresentation is just feeding the populace along with the “We know what’s best for you” mentality of the elitist pushing for this park.
So, now we have our court system to decide the fate. I have great respect for this system. Decisions are made based on the facts and the law; the men and women who sit as judges understand the gravity of their decisions. This court system is oftentimes the last chance for the underrepresented and disenfranchised. I’ve spent my lifetime – first as an ocean lifeguard and then as a firefighter – helping others. I just pray that someone, somewhere, has the guts to stand up and say, “Enough is enough! I will help these Sunset residents.”
My grandson just turned 1 year old and is already in the water surfing. He will be the fourth generation raised at the beach. I would like to be able to tell him that the blue collar/working class values that he will have, regardless of occupation, came about by because individuals in the system of government stood up and did the right thing. And if they won’t, the westside residents will!
Marty Murphy
Categories: letter to the editor
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 
I agree with much of what you have to say with the exception of Lurie doing a “great job,” He just appointed a supervisor who, while he voted against Prop K, hasn’t decided if supports a ballot measure to put the compromise on the ballot until he listens to the three sides (park/highway/compromise). I think it is fair to say that the vast majority of D4 voters have already spoken by voting nearly 2-1 against Prop K and recalling Engardio by a similar margin. Perhaps Supervisor Wong and Mayor Lurie have a hearing deficit as the voters have loudly spoken. Appointing Supervisor Wong is a bit of slap in the mouth to those who have spoken, it isn’t doing a great job.
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A responsible newly elected supervisor, who just finished making a speech about how he will not make decisions without first listening to and taking into account the opinions of his constituents, should have abstained from voting for the Mayor’s Family Zoning Plan, which would not have made one bit of difference in the passage of this bill because the Mayor’s six votes needed were secured without D4’s vote. What Supervisor Wong should have said to the Board of Supervisors is that he was abstaining and would request the Board to put this vote over one week to give him the opportunity to speak with his constituents so he could come back fully prepared to represent the majority. Then he should have called for a Town Hall if they went for it, and returned better informed about who he represents. Among other things, this Zoning Plan removes our coastal protections and is detrimental to D4 and D1 residents. At least if he “tried” to keep his word to include us, we would be more likely to trust him going forward. Instead, he just lost a significant amount of votes that might have had gone his way in June. Regarding Prop K and restoring the Great Highway compromise, I agree with David’s comment that D4 has spoken and wants the highway open weekdays. Move the skate park and hammocks to Golden Gate Park.
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Engardio deliberately pitted the Sunset against the rest of the City based on lies.
Good riddance. We need to undo the CEQA-bypassing BS in the courts.
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You have a chance to respond to the SF Chronicle poll and say how closing the Great Highway has affected you. https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/sf-great-highway-sunset-dunes-21221706.php?t=27843d97f4&sid=53ba4a77fdd5ac153d0000a3&ss=P&st_rid=null&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=headlines&utm_campaign=sfc_opinioncentral
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The Chron already put their thumb on the scale, big time.
They know YIMBY yuppies are their future subscriber base. They’re counting on it, literally. If anything they serve as lubricant to the Billionaire class takeover.
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Hey I agree with most of what you’ve said, but I think we’ve failed to fully calibrate to Lurie’s actual position.
As someone who has vigorously supported Lurie in this campaign, what he has shown is ultimately a disregard for the Chinese and D4 vote.
First, in response to the lack of representation, his town hall message wasn’t one of assurance or empathy, it was a nicer version of “my way or the highway”. When discussing the Family Upzoning Legislation, he did not argue or present how it already incorporated concerns or views of the constituency–he didn’t even try! He blamed it on the State.
This is, of course, a mayor who is renown for working with just about every political group out there in San Francisco. Except the blue collar D4 & Chinese that keep the city running. (Please pay all your taxes and vote for us by the way.)
Second, as you noticed, he had two bites at the apple. If anyone wants to tell me Alcaraz would NOT have voted for the Upzoning, well, I have several bridges I can sell you or anybody else. Actual representation of D4 is optional here.
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Ultimately, what does D4 want to do. If D4 and the Chinese community want to vote for Lurie when he comes up in two years, what can I say, stupid is as stupid does. But maybe you are right. Maybe a smattering of recalls does not portend well to any politician who disregards the will of the people. In fact, I hope you are right, and if that should come to be the case, I will remember this letter of yours. But right now, as the evidence stands, Lurie does not care. He’ll work with anybody else BUT US.
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