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Golden Gate Park’s John F. Kennedy Push has been blocked off to vehicle website traffic considering that the commence of the pandemic, and on Tuesday night San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted to maintain it that way.
In a specific assembly with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the board voted 7-4 in favor of Mayor London Breed’s legislation to completely close the 1.5-mile extend to automobiles. Those who supported the legislation sided with advocates who reported a motor vehicle-free of charge JFK was in line with the city’s determination to safer streets and thoroughly clean air.
Supervisors Connie Chan, Shamann Walton, Ahsha Safaí and Aaron Peskin opposed the legislation. Chan and Walton sponsored a competing proposal that would carry out a single-way targeted traffic among Eighth Avenue and Transverse Push and two-way motor vehicle targeted visitors on Conservatory Generate behind the Conservatory of Bouquets.
Supervisors Matt Haney, Dean Preston and Rafael Mandelman co-sponsored Breed’s legislation.
“Right now is a historic working day,” Breed wrote on Twitter Tuesday night time. “The Board just voted to make JFK Generate completely motor vehicle-free. An crucial space for our citizens and households that is now, a prolonged-term advantage to this city. We however have perform to do, but passing this laws is where by we get started to make serious alter.”
Luke Bornheimer, a Group Spaces SF organizer, called it a “massive gain for a extra connected, wellness and sustainable San Francisco.”
The vote adopted a marathon conference with 9 hrs of community remark in man or woman at Metropolis Corridor and in excess of the mobile phone. A spotlight bundled SF musician John Elliott who sang in favor of a vehicle-free of charge JFK “”on behalf of the dwindling community of musicians in San Francisco, and the 50% of San Franciscans who hire their homes and do not possess a car.”
“Retain it car-totally free so the young children can play,” Elliott sang at the podium even though strumming his guitar. “Car-no cost to scoot and skate and trip. Car free of charge so we can all have a location to safely and securely move outdoors. Motor vehicle absolutely free for 100 a long time.” (For a finish glimpse at all people who spoke at the meeting, visit the The Frisc’s Twitter feed.)
The vast majority of remark was in favor of trying to keep the automobile-totally free promenade, but critics argued that a long-lasting closure would reduce off park obtain to men and women who are disabled, elderly or dwell farther away though benefiting pick out bicyclists and runners.
Some men and women called for closing the street to car or truck website traffic on weekends only and claimed drivers commuting to function and transporting children to college required access during the week.
“To close down portions of the park suggests to a specific geography, claims to a specified class of men and women, says to a selected race of individuals below in San Francisco that you weren’t welcome right before and you are even now not welcome,” Board President Shamann Walton, who represents one of the most diverse and small-money sections of the city, explained at the meeting.
The de Young Museum released a assertion before this year on its internet site saying that the closure has disproportionately impacted users of the community with restricted mobility.
“Although it is terrific for people who can wander or bike to the de Young, it negatively impacts a sizeable group of our local group, including persons with disabilities, those with ADA placards, the aged, family members with infants and young small children, and other people,” the museum reported.
JFK Travel among Kezar Travel and Lincoln Way was closed to autos and other vehicles in April 2020 to make a secure position for persons to bicycle, stroll and operate with social distancing.
The SFMTA and Recreation and Park office carried out a survey to see how inhabitants felt about the road closure and collected responses about eight months. Each agencies discovered that 70% of the 10,000 respondents supported maintaining JFK Generate permanently no cost of vehicles.
Bay City Information and the Related Push contributed to this tale.
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