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Several ballot initiatives related to transit and transportation issues are on the November 8, 2022, ballot in San Francisco.

Propositions I and J relate to road closures in Golden Gate Park, including JFK Drive, and the Great Highway. Proposition L relates to extending a sales tax to fund various transit and transportation projects in San Francisco.

SaveMUNI urges voters to vote YES on Proposition I and NO on Propositions J and L.

Proposition I

During the COVID pandemic, the City closed JFK Drive and other roads in Golden Gate Park to cars seven days a week, impacting seniors and disabled people and many low-income people and families who need to drive to Golden Gate Park. They are also considering closing the Great Highway 24/7. This would significantly impact thousands of commuters who regularly use the Great Highway.

Proposition I requires San Francisco to again allow private motor vehicles to use the roadways in Golden Gate Park as they were before the pandemic. JFK Drive and certain connector streets in Golden Gate Park would be open at all times except from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and legal holidays year-round, as well as on Saturdays in April through September. This is consistent with an Agreement reached by the City with seniors and disabled San Franciscans in 2007.

Proposition I would also require the City to allow motor vehicle use in both directions at all times on the Great Highway and would not allow the City to remove the Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline boulevards, a proposal currently under consideration by the City.

Vote YES on Proposition I

Proposition J

Proposition J is in opposition to Proposition I.

Proposition J would affirm by voter approval an Ordinance the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted in May 20222, keeping JFK Drive and other roads closed to private motor vehicles seven days a week.

Vote NO on Proposition J

Proposition L

San Francisco has a one-half cent sales tax to pay for transportation projects under a 30-year transportation spending plan approved by the voters in the November 4, 2003, election. The tax will expire on March 31, 2034.

Proposition L would continue the one-half cent sales tax into 2053, replacing the current transportation spending plan with a new 30-year plan that would continue into 2053. It involves borrowing $1.9 billion without setting priorities for projects or showing how the money spent will lead to better transit service.

SaveMUNI opposes Proposition L for several reasons: It is $3.2 billion regressive sales tax; it is a blank check for MUNI; it involves borrowing $1.9 billion; it hurts families, elderly, the infirm.

Vote NO on Proposition L

You can learn more about these measures here: https://sfelections.sfgov.org/measures

May 9, 2022
For Immediate Release

SAVE MUNI OPPOSES MEASURE A

SaveMUNI voted to oppose Measure A, the $400 million Muni bond on the June ballot at our special meeting on May 2. We consider this bond measure far too vague. It fails to identify specific cost-effective transit improvements and prioritize them for funding.

SaveMUNI specifically objects to legal language that provides the MTA with what amounts to a blank check. Although several categories of projects are listed in the measure, the phrase, “not limited to”, opens bond spending to almost any project imaginable.

SaveMUNI also wondered whether looming cost overruns attributable to the Central Subway will somehow affect the use of bond proceeds. The SFMTA’s reluctance to say how they will pay for the $353 million of excess costs raises skepticism in our minds.

SaveMUNI understands that bond funding is costly. There are estimates that the total repayment for this bond issue could top $ 700 million. We believe that a pandemic time-out is warranted. A temporary halt on new bond measures, pending revision of the city’s strategic transit plan, should be put in place immediately.

Muni needs a comprehensive citywide transit strategy going forward. It is clear that the MTA has been failing to meets its own performance metrics for quite some time. Now with ridership returning, it is time to move toward full restoration of service that better meets the needs of all San Franciscans.

SaveMUNI is an independent, all volunteer, organization advocating for improved transit in San Francisco. In keeping with this role, we sponsored a debate between proponents and opponents of Measure A, and afterwards sent a set of follow up questions to each side for further discussion. After considering the available evidence, SaveMUNI could not support Measure A.

Contact:
Bob Feinbaum
President, SaveMUNI
bobf@att.net

SaveMUNI meets on the third Monday of every month by ZOOM. The next meeting is on Monday, January 16, 2023 at 5:30 PM. Contact bobf@att.net for Zoom details.