Mayor Favors Parking Garages, Unsafe Sidewalks with Veto

Supervisor Aaron Peskin's parking legislation made sense for many reasons. With thousands of new units slated for downtown, putting restrictions on parking now will keep the area transit-rich, livable, and a model for other cities hoping to end their dependence on automobiles. Limiting parking spaces in the neighborhood would reduce traffic congestion caused by the influx of people coming there, and also ensures a higher level of residential density on a major transit corridor, making San Francisco a more livable place while preserving open space. And it could help make one of San Francisco’s most dangerous places for pedestrians safer.

However, Newsom’s proposed changes run counter to the intent of the legislation. Allowing more floors of above ground parking – Newsom’s changes would give developers up to three floors instead of just one – promotes the use of precious downtown land to house cars rather than people, despite the city being in the midst of a severe housing crisis. Such a change could significantly reduce the residential density of an area, allowing less people to live close to a major transit corridor and thus promoting sprawl.

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