A recent bid to allow the Great Highway in San Francisco to welcome cars once again during weekdays failed to make it onto the June ballot. Supervisor Alan Wong, the recently appointed representative for the Sunset District, was unfortunately only able to secure three of the four necessary additional signatures from his fellow board members. "I am disappointed with the results, but I am proud our office did our best to advocate for our constituents," Wong said at a news conference, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The proposal's defeat is a notable setback for Wong, who took office in December and is already preparing for a competitive election contest slated for this summer. Wong's attempt to open the highway to car traffic on weekdays was not supported by Supervisor Shamann Walton. As per SFGATE, Walton said, "There are several important issues and critical priorities on the June ballot, and I do not want us to be distracted by a measure that was not well thought-out, introduced at the last minute and constantly changing."
Despite this setback, advocates for keeping the current park setup, including the San Francisco advocacy group Friends of Sunset Dunes, have celebrated the measure's failure. According to SFGATE, Lucas Lux, president of Friends of Sunset Dunes, heralded the news as "the last gasp of an anti-park crusade that San Franciscans have rejected at every turn." Furthermore, former Supervisor Joel Engardio, whose stance on Proposition K led to him being recalled, rejoiced in the proposal's failure, stating that fighting over a park and a road is trivial compared to other pressing urban challenges.
While Wong's push for the June ballot has been halted, the debate over the highway's fate persists. Jamie Hughes, a recall organizer, told the San Francisco Chronicle about plans to begin petitioning residents to put the issue on the November ballot. The proposal on the table mirrors Wong's proposition, which means discussions about the Great Highway's use will likely continue to forge a divide in the Sunset community.
