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Welcome to โMeet the Candidates,โ where Mission Local asks supervisor hopefuls questions in the lead-up to the November election. In District 7 โ which includes the Inner Sunset, Parkmerced and West Portal โ Matt Boschetto and Stephen Martin-Pinto are running against incumbent Myrna Melgar.
Voters will soon decide on what the Great Highway should look like — and whether it should remain a highway at all.
Supervisor Myrna Melgar noted that the boldest thing she would do as supervisor would be to convert the Great Highway into an oceanfront park, during a District 7 candidate forum hosted by Mission Local earlier this week. And, along with District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio and others, Melgar has put that proposal on the November ballot.
The plan includes building a park along Ocean Beach and permanently closing the Great Highway to traffic from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard.
The Great Highway Park would extend from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard
remain open
to cars
proposed
oceanfront park
and closure
to cars
already
set to close
due to erosion
remain open
to cars
proposed
oceanfront park
and closure to cars
already set to close
due to erosion
Map by Junyao Yang.
This week, we asked the three candidates to weigh in: What do you think of the proposal to convert the Great Highway into an oceanfront park?
Matt Boschetto
- Job: Small business owner
- Age: 35
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Saint Mary’s College of California
- Residency: Living in District 7 since 2014
While I appreciate the effort to engage voters on the Great Highway’s future, I believe removing cars entirely isn’t the best solution. It’s great that we can discuss this important issue and envision a better version of the cherished stretch of San Francisco. However, cars remain crucial for many, including blue-collar workers, the elderly, and those with accessibility needs. Removing them could reduce livability not only for these groups, but all San Franciscans. Instead, let’s work towards a multi-modal future that enhances infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, improves beach access, and maintains vehicle access for all.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Police Officers Association
Myrna Melgar
- Job: District 7 supervisor
- Age: 56
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Bike
- Languages: Spanish, French, Swedish
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, Excelsior College; master’s degree in urban planning, Columbia University
- Residency: Living in Ingleside Terraces since 2011, and lived in District 7 while in college at SF State between 1987 and 1991
A park running the length of the Westside, along the Ocean, allowing people to walk, bike, be together along the waves opens up so many opportunities! I am excited by the possibilities. Along with my colleague representing the Sunset, Supervisor Engardio, we have placed it on the ballot for the voters to weigh in.
Endorsed by: SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Hillary Ronen, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Catherine Stefani, Senator Scott Weiner, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins … read more here
Stephen Martin-Pinto
- Job: Firefighter/major, U.S. Marine Corps reserves
- Age: 46
- Housing: Tenant in SF, property owner and landlord in Lemon Grove, California
- Transport: Fairly evenly split between car, Muni and walking
- Languages: Spanish, Russian, Georgian
- Education: University of California, Davis
- Residency: Living in District 7โs Sunnyside since 2014, and earlier from 1983 to 1998
I support the current solution of closure on weekends only. I believe we can have a compromise that offers the most satisfactory solution for the most people. Keeping Great Highway open on weekdays is ideal for commuters, and keeps cars out of the neighborhood, away from cross traffic and pedestrians. Furthermore, the uninterrupted steady flow of traffic on Great Highway means better fuel economy. However, it can be closed on weekends so that bicyclists and pedestrians can use it. I also think it could be a draw for Outer Sunset businesses, especially during warm summer days.
Endorsed by: Former District 7 Supervisor Tony Hall, former Planning Commissioner Michael Antonini, former Police Chief Tony Ribera, drug policy advocate Tom Wolf, BART Board Director Debora Allen … read more here
The order of candidates alternates each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar.
Do you have a question for the candidates? Let me know: kelly@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
Reopen the Great.
Engardio proposed this closing without any notice to the people in his district. The use of the Great Highway by bike riders is exaggerated. The Westside is suffering from the speed bumps and traffic congestion from the closure 3 days a week.There has been no study or plan to divert traffic.The bike riders are entertaining themselves. They have Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced and many other places to entertain themselves. Making the path along the Great Highway wider is a more ecological solution. I see too many people drive their cars to ride bikes there.Everyday the Great Highway is closed when I go to the beach I encounter a bike rider either coming too close to me or on the sidewalk.On inclement days the Great Highway is deserted.This is when being on the Great Highway in a car is much safer for everyone. The speed bumps only make driving more unpleasant and drivers get more aggressive because of the annoying interruption of their need to do their day to day errands. Not that many people have the luxury to be able to pick up children and do their shopping by bike and have jobs.