SAN FRANCISCO
Lee Heidhues 2.10.2024
Preetika Rana – Wall Street Journal reporter.
I must correct the misstatements regarding JFK Promenade in your article. “Tech Millionaires Take on Politicians in a Fight to Fix San Francisco.” 2.8.2024
The City did not decide to “reopen” JFK Promenade to cars when the Pandemic subsided.
Quite the Contrary.
The Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 to make JFK Promenade a permanent car free space. The legislation was signed by Mayor London Breed in May 2022. I was there. (see attached photo of Mayor London Breed signing the legislation creating JFK Promenade 5.7.2022)
The Supervisors, to cement this legislative victory, placed the issue on the November 2022 ballot.
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), whose jewel the De Young Museum sits astride JFK Promenade, paid signature gatherers to place their own measure in opposition to JFK Promenade and The Great Walkway along the shoreline.
The FAMSF spent nearly 1M on this effort.
In November 2022 the voters approved the Supervisors measure, Proposition J, with a 63 percent YES vote. Simultaneously the voters turned down the FAMSF measure, Proposition I, with a resounding 65 percent NO vote.
TOP PHOTO: Mayor London Breed signs legislation creating JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park 5.7.2022 – photo Lee Heidhues
Lee's Perspective 