Opinion: No on Prop. K to preserve the Great Highway and existence of the Chinese community in the West Side

Imagine if one day, the lifeline of Chinatown, Stockton Street, was suddenly and permanently closed to private and commercial vehicles. What would happen to Chinatown?

The West Side also has a vital roadway: the scenic Great Highway alongside the Pacific Ocean. This road connects the Richmond District to the Sunset District, with access to Daly City to the south and the Golden Gate Bridge to the north.

Established in 1929, this road predates the Sunset District, which was then uninhabited, with people living primarily north of Golden Gate Park. To develop the Sunset District, the government opened the Great Highway.

In the upcoming November election, Proposition K will permanently close the Great Highway to private and commercial vehicles. This action will fundamentally alter the demographic structure of the West Side, making it less suitable for middle- and low-income families, setting the stage for urbanization.

This is particularly devastating for the Chinese community, which makes up a significant portion of the West Side's population.

The Great Highway is the lifeline of the West Side, just as Stockton Street is for Chinatown. Proposition K's permanent closure is touted as a way to create recreational space, but it lacks funding and a concrete plan. While the closed road will still allow bicycles, park shuttles, and emergency vehicles, it will block access for ordinary cars.

This permanent road closure disrupts the current compromise: weekdays for commuting and weekends for recreation. This arrangement has benefited over 20,000 daily commuters while allowing residents to enjoy recreational activities on weekends. Isn’t this a win-win?

However, Proposition K seeks to disrupt this mutually satisfactory arrangement, suddenly cutting off a commuting route for workers. This influx of 20,000 vehicles will spill into local streets, potentially paralyzing the West Side.

Moreover, this will hinder the ability of the Chinese community to establish roots in the West Side. Currently, about 55% of the West Side's population is Chinese and Asian. The three-generation family structure necessitates having a vehicle for transporting children and the elderly, as well as for commuting to work. Without a car, maintaining a large family becomes unmanageable.

If Proposition K passes, traffic will be severely congested, with 19th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard experiencing multiple times the usual volume, leading to extended delays of over an hour. This will make it difficult for residents to get to work or pick up their children, resulting in job loss or forced relocation. The demographic structure of the West Side will inevitably change, making it impossible for many Chinese families to remain.

What happens in the West Side impacts the East Side as well; a similar proposition could threaten its lifeline in the future. We must unite to protect the West Side's lifeline and send a clear warning against arbitrary cuts to any community's access.

Join us Saturday, October 12, for the rally to support our community, families, and those with elders and children.

We already have 700 people signed up across the city from Chinatown, Tenderloin, Richmond, Sunset, Portola, Visitacion Valley and Bayview.

Let’s stand to preserve our community, against the closure of the Great Highway and oppose Proposition K!

*Josephine Zhao is the President of the Chinese American Democratic Club and Co-Founder of the Chinese Parent Advisory Council of San Francisco. She is a 14-year SFUSD parent advocate turned educator. Her second career as a paraeducator and substitute teacher in SFUSD has been into its 9th year.