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.
Much of the Sunset is already compact, with row houses shoulder-to-shoulder that would look like urban blocks in most towns. You can’t simply stack more stories on soft sand and limited parking and call it progress.
The plan would raise height limits from the current four stories in many places to as much as eight stories. It would encourage the demolition of single-family housing and even small apartment buildings in favor of larger apartment buildings.
I find walking at Sunset Dunes to be absolutely exhilarating, right above the beach and the ocean, with the sound of the waves, the smell of the salt air, and in the evenings, the incredible sunsets.
Furthermore, if we still had at-large elections, there would have been no recall – whom would you recall? The whole Board? Those board members who voted to put this on the ballot?
But the latest development really takes the cake! The San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (now corporate branded as “The Gardens of Golden Gate Park”) is putting gaudy LED lights on a “mile” of trees in Strybing Arboreum (now commercially promoted as the “botanical gardens”).
If the Great Hauntway celebration is truly inclusive to everyone, then it should be fully ADA compliant so disabled children and adults may also attend. This follows the same pattern of deceit used to establish this so-called “park” by widely spreading misinformation. The park’s events are not open to everyone if disability access is inadequate.
Ultimately, Joel Engardio’s speech is completely opposite of the recall’s true results because it falsely presents a narrative of his success, of progress, and of democratic triumph, while the recall actually signifies his voter rejection of his leadership and policies.
I want to sincerely thank Supervisor Joel Engardio for his correct and courageous decision in supporting the transformation of the Great Highway. Even in the face of opposition and political risk, he stood by what he knew was right for safety, livability and the long-term future of San Francisco.
I recently sent the email below to Mayor Lurie. I hope you’ll publish it. The Emergency Firefighting Water Supply (EFWS) has not been expanded to protect the Richmond and Sunset districts in their entirety.
That Prop. 50 is as bad for the Democratic Party as it is for democracy is less obvious but just as real.
The residents of Sunset wanted nothing more than to be respected and to be heard. It’s a damn shame it took a recall election for that to even begin to happen.
… while the recall is behind us, the question before us is clear: How do we move forward together?
When people’s lives are made more difficult they get upset. When a parent sees their child is not getting access to classes they need, attend schools across the City but then the roads are closed and they are dismissed with, “Hey, ride a bike, take Muni, walk!” they become frustrated.
I was trying to explain to my neighbors, who had no idea why this was important to keep open during the weekdays, why it shouldn’t be closed.
Here we are. I am only glad my children are adults and I am not driving all over the City.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 