It’s typical SF POA behavior to torch any politician who fails to toe the party line.It is a certainty that the powerful cops Union is leaning on Law and Order Mayor Daniel Lurie to not appoint Natalie Gee to the Board of Supervisors.
I am more concerned about Natalie Gee’s desire to dismantle Sunset Dunes Park than I am about her views regarding the San Francisco Police Department.
Look what happened to Joel Engardio. Driven out of office by the car centric entitled District 4 motorists.
Now former Supervisor Joel Engardio, driven from office for taking a courageous stand, speaks at the opening of Sunset Dunes Park – April 12, 2025
It is Natalie’s boss Supervisor Shamann Walton who notoriously described JFK Promenade as “recreational redlining” in 2021. Without a doubt she would bring these car centric views to the Board of Supervisors.
Louis Wong, shown in 2013 as an officer with the San Francisco Police Department, is now president of San Francisco’s police union. He wrote a letter to Mayor Daniel Lurie suggesting Natalie Gee should not be appointed supervisor of the Sunset District. Michael Macor/The Chronicle
Being able to Just Say No to the entitled motorists takes guts in District 4. Natalie would not be the one. Having said that, no D4 politician who wants to survive in office will advocate for Sunset Dunes Park.
It’s her views on this issue which carries more weight than anything Natalie Gee says about the SFPD.
SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL – BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAMBERS
Lee Heidhues 6.16.2025
Everything is politics in San Francisco. Particularly when law enforcement is involved.
Today provided a vivid example of the political brawling involved in the selection of a panelist for the seven member Police Commission. Particularly when the Commission will be a major player in the selection of a new Chief of Police. Replacing eight year incumbent Bill Scott.
The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee heard a couple of hours of testimony.
People lined up to testify at the Rules Committee hearing.
The most graphic and political testimony was provided by Randy Shaw, Director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic a supporter of the eventual nominee Pratibha Tekkey; and Nancy Tung, Chairperson of the San Francisco Democratic Party, a supporter of Marjan Philhour.
Portions of the their respective testimony follow.
Randy Shaw – Director Tenderloin Housing Clinic – Pratihba Tekkey supporter spoke at the two hour: 35 minute: 50 second point in the televised hearing.
Randy Shaw – Director Tenderloin Housing Clinic – Pratihba Tekkey supporter in suit jacket waiting in line to speak. Sitting wearing glasses is Tracy McCray newly named SFPD “Commander” and currently President SF Police Officers Association.
“There has never been anyone from the Tenderloin on the Police Commission… Some people, including the head of the Democratic party Nancy Tung..if you don’t support Marjan you’re politicizing the process. But here we have the head of the Democratic Party in San Francisco doing more lobbying than anybody. That seems to be politicizing that which should be a non-political process. She also said that ‘everyday people’ support Marjan. I saw a lot of ‘everyday people here today. Everyday people who never come to City Hall to testify came out for Pratihba Tekkey.“
Nancy Tung – Career Prosecutor – Marjan Philhour supporterspoke at the two hour: 41 minute: 05 second point in the televised hearing.
Nancy Tung – Career Prosecutor – Marjan Philhour supporter
“I want to pull back the curtain a little bit. People want to think these actions of this committee are apolitical. The actions of this Board and these committees often times show they are not (apolitical). In 2020 I was nominated for Mayoral appointment not in competition with anyone else for this very commission and was voted down by a majority of the Board of Supervisors. Including (current) Board President Mandelman. Do I take offense to this? No. Because this is not a decision, a decision that happens in a vacuum. It is a political decision and I want people to understand that. Was it bonkers? Maybe to some. But more than anything else the vote was political.”
A link to the entire hearing is attached. Open the link and go to the RULES COMMITTEE 6.16.2025 meeting.
Excerpted from San Francisco Standard Power Play 4.13.2025
Daniel Lurie has spent his first three months as mayor trying to engage people all over the city’s political map. But in a departure from this painstaking strategy, he unilaterally granted Waymo robotaxis access to a mostly car-free Market Street.
Cyclists advocating for car free Market Street cycle by City Hall in 1972. Years before Daniel Lurie was born.
It may come as little surprise that jilted stakeholders — from safe-street advocates and the SF Bicycle Coalition to rideshare companies Uber and Lyft — are peeved. This is San Francisco, after all.
Uber officials didn’t get word until right before Thursday’s announcement, while Robin Pam, cofounder of KidSafe SF, said she got a heads-up just the evening before.
Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for the mayor, suggested that Waymo’s fleet has commercial license plates — unlike Uber and Lyft drivers, who use their private vehicles — and this would have given the robotaxis the ability to provide rides on Market Street with or without the mayor’s permission. Waymo supposedly chose to honor the car-free policy instituted on Market Street in 2020.
Car free and pedestrian friendly Market Street in San Francisco.
But Uber and Lyft officials aren’t buying that argument, saying Lurie is playing favorites. Uber has a higher-end service that features commercial vehicles. There is suspicion across the political spectrum that Lurie is playing favorites with Waymo because his policy chief, Ned Segal, is tight with Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet, which owns the robotaxi company.
Porat was tapped to serve on the Partnership for San Francisco, the mayor-aligned group advising City Hall on revitalizing downtown. Its other leaders include philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs and Katherine August-deWilde, a former president of First Republic Bank.
Lutvak said he wasn’t sure if Waymo officials or the mayor’s office reached out first about getting robotaxis onto Market Street. He added that he probably wouldn’t share that information even if he did know. Stay tuned for more on the situation Monday.
Lee Heidhues 4.10.2025
The billionaire San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is no friend of the movement for pedestrian car free areas. He is kowtowing to the motorists and their enablers.
His most blatant move to date is his unilateral decision permitting Waymo driverless vehicles to pollute Market Street. A thoroughfare which former Mayor London Breed made a car free sanctuary six years ago.
This is the same Daniel Lurie who opposed Proposition K, approved by 55 percent of the voters last November, which mandated the creation of the newly named Sunset Dunes Park. A two mile pedestrian/cyclist oasis along the city’s shoreline.
This is the same Daniel Lurie whose campaign lawyer Jim Sutton is leading the lawsuit to overturn the voters mandate creating Sunset Dunes Park (Matthew Boschetto v City and County of San Francisco – CPF25-518967).
Excerpted from The San Francisco Chronicle 4.10.2025
The move comes at a moment of tense debate over the future of Market, six years after the city’s seismic decision to remove cars from the eastern portion.
District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder underscored that point in a social media post Thursday: “Waymo should be taxed to fund public transit,” she wrote. Pedestrian and bicycle groups expressed their dismay in a statement, calling autonomous vehicles “a step backward to a chaotic, dangerous Market Street that serves no one’s purposes, including businesses.”
Supporters view car-free Market as a win for pedestrian and cyclist safety and note how it’s improved the speed and reliability of public transit. Some view the incursion of Waymos as an attempt to replace high-capacity Muni buses with low-capacity self-driving cars, especially given the timing: Muni is slated to make service cuts this summer that would have some bus routes turn around when they reach Market Street, obliging riders to transfer.
“Market Street runs through the heart of the city, and we’re making sure it continues to evolve with the times,” Lurie said in a statement Thursday, presenting the autonomous ride-hail vehicles as a tool to invigorate the troubled corridor — and in particular the theaters, hotels and restaurants whose owners have begun lobbying the mayor to reinstate car access.
Over the next few weeks, Waymo will begin mapping Market Street for its vehicles, enabling them to start operating there as soon as this summer. Waymo’s electric Jaguar SUVs would then be welcomed onto the two-mile “car-free” stretch east of 10th Street.
The entitled motorists have an ally in Room 200 at City Hall.
In a brutal last ditch attempt to halt creation of an environmental oasis by the Pacific Ocean, Levi’s scion and billionaire Mayor Daniel Lurie has enlisted his legal fixer to destroy Great Highway Park
Proposition K was approved by 55 percent of San Francisco voters last November.
Daniel Lurie has been Mayor only nine weeks and his attempt to slash and burn the environmental legacy of his predecessor London Breed is evident for any who care to notice.
Rather than come out and publicly say he opposes Great Highway Park, approved by 55 percent of the voters last November, Mayor Lurie enlisted his campaign lawyer to slash and burn the voters will.The only conclusion one can draw from this turning his back on The People is that the Mayor has been bullied into submission by the entitled motorists.
It’s a crass political calculation that the environmentalists who have waged a successful battle can be safely politically ignored.
It’s a shame that even though the proponents of a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly San Francisco have emerged victorious in all the major battles; JFK Promenade, Slow Streets and Great Highway Park the spoiled rotten entitled motorists refuse to acknowledge reality.
Former Mayor London Breed was a champion for the environment and car free streets. She advocated for JFK Promenade and Great Highway Park. Those halcyon days of environmental progress are over.
Former Mayor London Breed, champion of both JFK Promenade and Great Highway Park, signs enabling legislation creating JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park – May 7, 2022 – photo Lee Heidhues
Excerpted from The San Francisco Standard 3.10.2025
Opponents of Proposition K, the ballot measure that authorized the closure, and created Great Highway Park last November were expected to file a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that San Francisco voters don’t have the right to close the street to cars.
The lawsuit, led by Jim Sutton, alleges that the city ignored the state’s authority and unlawfully placed a measure before San Francisco voters. Sutton was Mayor Daniel Lurie’s campaign attorney.
Advocates for Proposition K – Great Highway Park. Will Daniel Lurie destroy their success?
The lawsuit also questions how the measure was put on the ballot, saying it bypassed the California Environmental Quality Act review process.
“This lawsuit is about standing up for the people who are being left behind,” said Albert Chow, a Sunset small-business owner and plaintiff. “Seniors, kids, and families will be forced to navigate more dangerous streets just so City Hall can score political points.”
Prop. K passed with 54% of votes in November 2024 after being placed on the ballot by five supervisors, including Joel Engardio of the Sunset, where the stretch of road is located. Approximately 64% of Sunset residents opposed the measure. Some have launched a recall effort against Engardio.
Top photo: Daniel Lurie prays that his Hail Mary to destroy Great Highway Park succeeds.
SAN FRANCISCO – BACK TO THE FUTURE EDITION- JANUARY 11, 1968
Lee Heidhues – 1.11.2025
Peace demonstrators fill Fulton Street in San Francisco April 15, 1967 during their five-mile march through the city. The march winds up at Kezar Stadium where a peace rally will be held. San Francisco City Hall is in the background. (AP Photo/Robert W. Klein) Blogger Lee was there.
Liz reminded me this morning that it was 57 years ago today that while I inexplicably was dining with Vietnam war apologist Secretary of State Dean Rusk people rioted outside the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
Going Back – That’s how I feel composing this edition of Lee’s Perspective
I was a student journalist at San Francisco State University and went to the protest expecting to be amongst the protesters. Things worked out in a completely different way as my journal entry for the day memorialized.
JANUARY 11, 1968 – Journal entry – Fairmont Hotel SAN FRANCISCO
Well, of all the things to happen this is the day that it all occurred. For this evening well documented in nine pages of notes is my encounter with Secretary of State Dean Rusk at the Fairmont Hotel. A crowd of 1200 ate a fancy dinner and heard the Secretary defend our foreign policies. Sitting approximately 50 feet away and with a good view. An excellent one. I had one of the best experiences, ever. It all came about as Sam and I went to see a protest against Rusk at the Fairmont. The folks shouted and waved placards and the police stood about later engaging in some harassment. I went into the lobby which I thought would be closed to spectators. I said hello to the Time Magazine SF bureau chief who seemed in a hurry at the end of the hall. I saw a person scurrying about with tickets to the function. I inquired where he was going and he said to the banquet and invited me to come along. The folks were certainly well dressed and security types couldn’t really believe it but there we were with tickets. One policeman wanted to know where we got the tickets but had to let us go on. Once inside it was a grand room and the people we sat with at the tables were really nice. And even when the hostesses badgered us the folks at our table defended us. It seems we were the celebrities of the evening and I felt like some little kid meeting baseball stars. As we left the police outside did a real double take. I had on my boots, green corduroys, white sweater, suede coat and neck scarf. And that makes it one of the classic things of the evening. My companion Scott Johnson was dressed in tennis shoes though he had a sports coat on. After I met Governor Brown who looked harmless. More details are given in the nine pages of notes (since lost)..which are a historic memento.
Kezar Stadium in San Francisco where the peace rally was held. Groups came from Los Angeles and the Northwest to join in the march and rally. April 15th, 1967 (AP Photo/Robert W. Klein)
Luckily for me I was able to find an accurate accounting of what transpired outside on the streets of San Francisco.
“DEAN RUSK COME S TO SAN FRANCISCO” – Bruce Hartford
New York Times article – January 11, 1968
Pete Seeger covered the Country Joe and the Fish Vietnam War protest song ‘I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag’ in 1970. There were initially plans to release his version as a single. Some copies were sent out to DJs. But according to Seeger, distributors refused to handle it, and it was never officially released. It eventually found its way onto the Internet. It was also included as a bonus track on a reissue of his 1969 album Young vs. Old.
Top photo caption. Policeman uses his club to subdue a girl demonstrator at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, Jan. 11, 1968. Demonstrators were protesting the Vietnam War while U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk was inside the hotel giving a speech. (AP Photo)
It was a beautiful sunny day in Civic Center as the new Mayor Daniel Lurie was sworn into office and the large crowd feasted on lox and bagels in the City Hall rotunda.
A crowd of over 2600 people including Da Mayor Willie Brown watched Mayor Daniel Lurie be sworn into office. Followed by his inaugural address. Many of whom then entered City Hall for the food and music festivities.
Da MayorWillie Brown, dapper as always.
The crowd looks on at Civic Center Plaza.Service Employees International Union (SEIU) workers whose three months strike against San Francisco Hotels was settled with the intervention of Mayor Lurieshow their appreciation.The Philip and Sala Burton High School Marching Band performed in front of City Hall.Leung’s White Crane and Lion Dance Association entertained the inaugural crowd.Everyone was welcome at Mayor Lurie’s inaugural.The inaugural crowd in the City Hall rotunda.The SFJazz High School All Stars entertained the inaugural crowd in the City Hall rotunda.Mayor George Moscone whose life was tragically cut short by Dan White on November 27, 1978 as he sat in the Mayor’s office. After assassinating Mayor Moscone, the assassin walked to the Board of Supervisors offices where he assassinated Supervisor Harvey Milk.
The crowd waiting to greet Mayor Lurie in his office.
City Attorney David Chiu greets a well wisher in the City Hall South Light Court.Law enforcement was a heavy presence including this trio of bicycle riding SFPD officers
Willie Brown and blogger Lee in front of San Francisco City Hall
Inaugural attendees were invited to complete a ‘My wish for San Francisco’. This is Blogger Lee’s contribution.
The arrogance of Connie Chan is breath taking in piously claiming “She will invite proponents of of Prop. K to discuss if there is room for compromise.“
All San Franciscans who care about the environment and people’s democracy need to keep a vigilant eye on Supervisor Connie Chan.
This is the local ambitious politician who drove to victory as an environmentalist four years ago. Then proceeded to stiff the “progressives” who foisted her into office by 125 votes. Becoming the most car-centric and anti-environmental elected official in San Francisco.
Connie Chan’s hypocrisy is mind boggling.
It’s obvious that just reelected Supervisor Connie Chan has forgotten who won the citywide vote creating Great Highway Park by with a 55 percent majority.
Connie’s comment that she “will hold proponents accountable” flies in the face of reality.
Connie should be telling the opponents of Prop. K to stand down and shut up.
The people Connie should hold “accountable” are the screaming cadres of entitled motorists, a main prop in her successful reelection effort.Connie needs to tell these whiners to accept the will of the 55 percent majority.Connie has catered and bowed to the motorists since the day she took office as a Supervisor in January 2021.
Great Highway Park is coming. Soon.The message to Prop K opponents is simple. Deal with It.
Say, what??!! Sup. Chan “will hold proponents of Prop. K accountable the changes they proposed.”
The citizens of San Francisco cannot ever forget that it was Supervisor Connie Chan who has opposed Great Highway Park ever since it was closed to cars in spring 2020.
The citizens of San Francisco cannot ever forget that it was Supervisor Connie Chan who almost single handedly destroy JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park. It’s a documented record that Connie Chan met with the lobbyist for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco numerous times in their nearly million dollar effort to destroy JFK Promenade.
My message to the group of San Francisco west side spoiled rotten entitled motorists who are starting a Recall petition against Supervisor Joel Engardio.
Sore losers. All of them. Unhappy and refusing to accept the fact that the voters Citywide approved Proposition K on November 5th, 2024 with a 55 percent majority.
The creation of a Great Highway Park along the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco.
“Your involvement means the world to us, and we’re so grateful to have you on board. Together, we can make a real difference for District 4 and all of San Francisco.” The so called “world” is that of the spoiled entitled motorists. A group of sore losers who refuse to accept the 55 percent YES Citywide vote on Prop K..If you are unhappy with Joel Engardio vote him out in 2026. This misguided waste of taxpayer money when the City is staring down an 800M deficit is selfishness personified.
Quoted Language in blue border from the Recall website recallengardio.com and my response in the email seeking support for the Supervisor Joel Engardio Recall
Excerpted from the San Francisco Standard 12.3.2024
A group of Sunset residents is launching a campaign to recall Supervisor Joel Engardio over his support of Proposition K, the ballot measure to close part of the Great Highway that was successful in the November election but roundly rejected by his district constituents.
A recall petition letter, filed Tuesday morning with the Department of Elections, accuses Engardio of violating his “campaign promises of transparency” and betraying voters in his district.
Prop. K passed with 55% of the vote. But on the west side, including Engardio’s District 4, which encompasses the stretch of the coastal roadway affected by the measure, 64% voted against it.
Chan acknowledged that her vocal opposition to Proposition K, a controversial ballot measure to close the Great Highway, may have helped her win by demonstrating to the district that she’s not an ideologue and will fight for the community. – SF Standard 11.18.2024
There’s no need for Connie “The Car” Chan to be shy. She drove her car to victory on election day.
During the past four years Connie has been the best friend of the entitled motorists in San Francisco.
Her car centric advocacy nearly destroyed JFK Promenade in 2022. Her strident opposition to Proposition K may have played well with her D1 constituents. Fortunately, 54.73 percent of the electorate citywide were having none of Connie’s car love and voted through Great Highway Park by 36,595 votes.
Advocates for the just enacted Great Highway Park need to be vigilant. It’s safe to assume that Connie “The Car” Chan will do everything she can to ignore the will of San Francisco voters. Supervisor Chan will throw up every administrative roadblock at her disposal to impede the banishment of cars and slowdown implementation of Great Highway Park.
SAN FRANCISCO – GREAT HIGHWAY PARK Lee Heidhues 11.8.2024
I am beyond joyous that Proposition K which will see the creation of The Great Highway Park by the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco has been approved by a healthy majority of ALL the voters.
Liz and Lee at the kickoff for Proposition K – Great Highway Park – July 27, 2024
I will never stand down, will continue to fight and am relishing this moment of victory for a pedestrian, cyclist friendly San Francisco.
Victory of Proposition K is another affirmation that San Francisco voters can overcome the juvenile mentality of the spoiled rotten entitled motorists. Motorists who have fought viciously to protect their false sense of entitlement.
Two years ago these same dead enders with their false sense of car centric privilege waged a despicable campaign to stop JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park. Their effort to bring cars back to JFK Promenade, aided by over 800K in funding from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, was crushed. The voters said “We want this car free oasis” by a 63 percent YES margin.
Two years later these vitriolic motorists waged a war of threats and personal insult against Supervisor Joel Engardio who put Proposition K on the ballot. These motorists have no shame. Even now they pledge to continue their onslaught against all who oppose their selfishness.
Mayor London Breed, voted out of office this week, may have sacrificed her political career by advocating for JFK Promenade and The Great Highway Park. When the history of her tenure is written this environmental advocacy will be long remembered.
Liz and Mayor London Breed parley at the 4th Anniversary celebration of JFK Promenade. Were it not for Mayor Breed JFK Promenade would not be a reality today.
Personally, I have been ridiculed and vilified on social media for vigorously promoting the car free movement in San Francisco. The most egregious example being my banishment by Michael Durand, publisher of the Richmond Review for pushing back against the entitled motorists.
To celebrate this joyous moment I am including La Mer by Claude Debussy. Music Liz and I listened to 55 years ago when we lived on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Close by what is now The Great Highway Park.
Lee's Perspective 