Opinion: Prop K, an unnecessary and dishonest ballot measure

The effort to permanently close an important highway connecting San Francisco's west side residents, businesses, students, patients, veterans and tourists, designated as Prop K, seeks to solve an imaginary problem. The Upper Great Highway debate, now dividing voters of the City, should not even be an issue of concern, and certainly not one for the ballot.

The facts: The Great Highway is a several-miles-long north-south route which quickly and efficiently allows upwards of 20,000 daily drivers to commute. It’s an important evacuation route as well, should there be a need (we sincerely hope not). Emergency vehicles must be given free and unhindered passage to be best capable of arriving on scene for a beach rescue. Blockading the roadway with locked gates delays fire, police, and rescue vehicles.

This alone should be reason for opposition to Prop K: Danger to public safety.

The section of beachfront highway specifically between the West side's Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, approximately 2 miles in length, is the Upper Great Highway, and the subject of Prop K. It’s the connection between the Richmond and Sunset Districts, as well as a way for visitors to access the SF Zoo, for south of the city commuters to quickly travel north to San Francisco's beach parking lots, to Golden Gate Park, Lands End, Beach Chalet and more.

More facts: Immediately to the east of the Upper Great Highway is a paved path, which for decades provides a safe, dedicated and protected pathway for walkers, joggers, bikers, baby strollers, dog exercise, and more. It runs virtually the entire length of the Great Highway, for miles. And to the west of much of the Upper Great Highway is an already existing Great Highway Promenade, built in 1989, directly along the beach, as part of a seawall, overlooking sand and waves further out. It’s well maintained, has ample seating, trash receptacles and of course beautiful vistas. Both paths already exist.

West side residents and tourists have been using this very important transportation route for generations, for nearly 100 years.

Now to the dishonesty: Those who support Prop K, the legislators, the financial donors and activists promoting closure of the Upper Great highway curiously, pushed this ballot measure in a dishonest and malicious way. They purposefully did not meet with, nor discuss, plans for permanent highway closure with local residents, nor with business owners or civic organizations. Voters are now up in arms, understandably, since they have been left out of the decision-making entirely.

More dishonesty: The Yes on Prop K people have been resorting to distortion and spreading fallacy. The claim passage of Prop K measure would create a park. But Prop K does not allow removal of the pavement of the Upper Great Highway. Does walking on a roadway intended for cars make the road a "park"?

Obviously no, it does not. Some supporters claim, including San Francisco Board of Supervisors members Joel Engardio and Myrna Melgar, that Prop K passing would create an "iconic, beautiful park and promenade". Again, walking, bicycling on an asphalt highway is not a park. And we have a true iconic park here now: Golden Gate Park. Also, the existing Promenade built in 1989 mentioned above is a true beachfront walkway.

Yet for some bizarre reason, Prop K supporters as well as Engardio and Melgar don’t acknowledge the existence of the Promenade, nor the paved pathway parallel to the east. Nor do they mention the highway's asphalt road must remain. They make further dishonest claims that the roadway is "crumbling," no longer useful and even abandoned.

They pretend 20K cars are not using the highway daily.

The questions beg to be asked: Why are the Yes on K proposition authors, supporters and donors so willing to mislead San Francisco's voters over this obviously dishonest proposition? There are so few individuals and financial donors behind the Yes on K effort. They need to come clean with us. What is the true objective for closing the Upper Great highway?

Obviously, we should all reject this dishonest ballot measure by voting No on Prop K.

*Richie Greenberg is a San Francisco-based political commentator, columnist, ballot measure author, and former candidate for mayor of San Francisco in 2018.