I have had the privilege of covering the west side of San Francisco for the past 30 years, meeting many of the great people who make this part of the City such a great place to live. Now, it is time to pass the torch to a new leader.
Our philosophy is simple here. We are participating in the marketplace of ideas, and everyone’s ideas and opinions should be reflected in our stories and on our opinion pages. We always try to be fair to all parties involved.
It is time to scrap this Frankenstein “hybrid” plan that was concocted for the Richmond and to start work on a real transportation plan, one that considers everyone’s needs and best interests, not just the narrow-minded aims of a wayward transportation agency.
City officials have been playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette with the safety and
security of tens of thousands of San Franciscan’s lives. They all agree that a catastrophic
earthquake is coming, but they hope it’s not on their watch.
More than 15 San Francisco neighborhoods could burn to the ground due to a lack of water at the SF Fire Department ’s (SFFD) disposal after a major earthquake.
Lately, I have been wondering why the city’s transportation agency has been running
roughshod over merchants and local residents across town, and acting in total disregard
for the wishes of most San Francisco residents.
Political muscle and deal-making got Proposition E passed, which created
the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). The proposition was on the
November, 1999 ballot.
Whether it’s the Geary Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), or the L Taraval streetcar line, the public
and local merchants are ignored as being minor disruptions to the agency’s self-proclaimed higher ideals.
In the ballot pamphlet supporting their position, the 10 supervisors said, “Proposition E
will make Muni much more accountable for service delivered. It will take strong steps to
reduce traffic by finally making transit a real alternative to the automobile, and it will
ensure Muni is fully funded to meet the City’s transit needs for years to come.”
None of those goals have come to pass.
