To the Editor:
Mr. Willis’ personal attack upon me rather than the substance of the Better Neighborhoods proposal itself is unfortunate and does a great disservice to a civil discourse about the very critical planning issues facing the future of San Francisco. Will San Francisco be a city for all of its diverse people or will it become a reserve for the wealthy and well off? Current planning policies and procedures are clearly broken and largely ignore the real interests of our residents. Developers reap huge profits, while provision for critical infrastructure and public benefits are largely ignored or are spotty at best. Housing has become unaffordable to over ninety percent of our residents.
The lack of a coherent policy to protect our diverse communities has lead to widespread displacement of families, small business and the less well off. In an effort to try to respond I have participated along with a broad group representing a wide range of interests in the development of the Better Neighborhoods Plus proposal. The proposal attempts to reform the planning process and its implementation by requiring greater public involvement and a plan for providing public benefits relating to development.
The proposal before the Board of Supervisors after many months of public hearings and public review applies exclusively to neighborhoods in the Eastern part of the City currently under massive development pressure. It does not affect already established neighborhoods not under such pressure.
As to Mr. Willis accusations regarding my involvement with the Coalition to Keep the De Young In the Park, I have to plead guilty along with 66% of the voters in two citywide elections. Since a two-thirds vote was required both bond measures to rebuild the museum in the park fell a few votes short of passage. Fortunately for the public, philanthropists stepped forward and have donated almost two hundred million dollars to enable the museum to remain in the park. I have been observing the public reaction to the new museum and feel proud to say that it is truly a museum for the people. Common folks of every stripe and color, from children and families to the elderly are enjoying the new museum, which has achieved both national and international acclaim.
Contrary to Mr. Willis’ assertions I have always and continue to oppose through traffic in the Music Concourse. I was proud to participate in the drafting of Proposition G on last month’s ballot which passed by an overwhelming 68% of the vote with broad support throughout the City. The passage of Proposition G prevented the creation of a four lane road leading into the heart of Golden Gate Park. It is ironic that Mr. Willis attacks me over Proposition G when he himself supported it.
Anyone observing the Music Concourse today can not help but notice a tremendous improvement over the past. Instead of a rush of cars speeding by, one observes people walking openly around the concourse. Every few minutes a car can be observed slowly making its way through. Measures have been taken to strongly discourage through traffic, while permitting drop off access to the museum. The Board of Supervisors will revisit their effectiveness after one year to see if stronger measures are required. As a result of my involvement in Proposition J seven years ago, eight hundred spaces have been or soon will be removed from the surface of the park. Now when one experiences the Music Concourse the parked cars are out of sight and the garage is virtually invisible. As to the park shuttle it is correct that funding is an issue. Given the great success of the Shuttle to date it is my hope that a portion of the parking taxes from the new garage will be used to maintain the service as well as to fund the transportation management plan promised by Proposition J. I urge readers (and Mr. Willis) to contact the Board of Supervisors in support of this proposal.
Please judge the Better Neighborhoods Plus proposal on its merits and reject the politics of irrelevant personal attacks.
Dennis Antenore
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San Francisco, CA 94102
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