Great Highway demonstration planned near Ocean Beach
SAN FRANCISCO - The great debate over San Francisco's Great Highway continues; people who want to see the thoroughfare stay open to cars and traffic ran a caravan convoy down the road near Ocean Beach.
The demonstration began at Lincoln & Great Highway.
"We believe keeping the Great Highway open is vital for our community's well-being," said Tommy Yang, protest organizer and owner of Old Mandarin Restaurant.
Advocates for keeping the road closed say the road was used for social distancing while getting a workout during the pandemic. Now, some are saying it's time as a "closed road" is up.
They're hoping San Francisco voters will reject a ballot in November that proposes to permanently keep Great Highway car-free.
"Why you propose to close it, I have no reason," said Mel Lee, a longtime resident of San Francisco and opponent to the ballot measure. "We shouldn't close it. Leave it open."
They say the thoroughfare is a lifeline for seniors and individuals with disabilities to enjoy the city's beauty during scenic drives. Leanna Louie, a San Francisco resident, explains how she and Lee personally use the road.
"We're veterans," she said. "We use this thoroughfare to get from where we live to the VA Hospital, so when it's closed, it takes us twice as long and it makes traffic way worse."
The advocates demonstrating on Thursday also include parents who argue that they use the highway to take kids to school in the Richmond and Sunset districts.
State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco in the state legislature, has long been a supporter of closing the Great Highway seven days a week.
He says with hundreds of roads in the city, closing the highway, much like what the city did with JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park, is hardly a sacrifice.
"Taking a couple few small segments and making them car-free is completely reasonable," said Senator Wiener. "People enjoy the Great Highway so much as pedestrians and we should turn it into a park. I completely understand that some people might be frustrated, but the reality is, we have an entire transportation network. There are other ways people are able to get around with their cars."
San Francisco voters will have the final say when they take up the measure this November.