Category: Elections
Posted inCommunity, Elections, Government & Politics, Parks & Open Space, Transportation

State Commission Gives Green Light to Close SF’s Great Highway to Cars

Avatar photo by Zhe Wu

San Francisco on Thursday received state approval to proceed with closing a 2-mile section of the Great Highway to car traffic as early as spring 2025, and to begin planning a long-term park on that stretch of road. The car-free highway will have separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, along with a new continuous bike lane connecting Daly City to Golden Gate Park.

Posted inCommunity, Elections, Homelessness, Housing, Neighborhoods, Politics

Politics Didn’t Matter to Him When He Was Homeless. Now He Organizes His Neighbors.

Avatar photo by Madison Alvarado

Solomon Bukenya, a formerly unhoused San Franciscan, has never lost hope for long — surviving a genocide in Rwanda, the loss of his leg, addiction and homelessness. Though he had no interest in civic engagement for years, today he’s on a mission to make sure his community’s voices are heard. Even after a tumultuous election, he remains undeterred.

Posted inCommunity, Elections, Government & Politics, Transportation

Attempt to Recall SF Supervisor Engardio Faces Uphill Battle

Avatar photo by Zhe Wu

An effort is under way to recall District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio for supporting the closure of a 2-mile section of the Great Highway to cars. Anti-incumbent sentiment persists in San Francisco, but wealthy donors are unlikely to support a recall and would probably back the supervisor financially should he face voters in a special election.

Posted inElections, Homelessness

Encampment Sweeps’ Uptick May Hurt Homeless People’s Access to Services, Voting

Avatar photo by Madison Alvarado

An escalation in encampment clearings could be leaving unhoused San Franciscans with fewer of their vital documents, making them less able to access services and, this month, vote, service providers and homeless advocates say.

In light of reports of these worsening problems, the city’s Homeless Oversight Commission has urged local government agencies to prevent the loss of essential items.

Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Elections, Parks & Open Space, Transportation

What Binds People to Great Highway, and Divides Them on Proposition K

Avatar photo by Zhe Wu

For the latest episode of our podcast “Civic,” we interview multiple people about their relationships with the Great Highway and how those connections affect their feelings about Proposition K.

The local ballot measure would close a 2-mile stretch of the coastal road to cars, and put it on track to becoming a new park.

Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Elections, Homelessness, Housing

‘Affordable’ Housing Can Be Too Expensive For Seniors. Proposition G Could Help Fix That.

Avatar photo by Madison Alvarado

Many older adults living on fixed incomes in San Francisco teeter on the brink of homelessness. After rent, they have little money for other essentials.

Proposition G could keep some of those people off the streets by reducing rents in hundreds of already-subsidized units, putting them within reach for extremely low-income seniors and other groups.

Posted inElections, Neighborhoods, Transportation

Analysis: What Would Really Happen to Traffic if SF’s Great Highway Closed?

Avatar photo by Zhe Wu

Perhaps no local issue in this election is more contentious than Proposition K, which would close the Upper Great Highway to cars and move it closer to becoming a park.

Supporters and opponents have sparred over how the measure’s passage would affect traffic in San Francisco. To find out what’s true, we examined multiple studies, and spoke with their authors and experts not affiliated with the city.

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