"Unlawful" Great Highway park faces legal challenge
Driving the news: Earlier this week, Proposition K opponents filed a lawsuit against San Francisco questioning the legality of the measure and how it was placed on the ballot.
Why it matters: The lawsuit is the latest escalation in the fight over the planned park set to open next month. It has split voters on the city's east and west sides over " the war on cars" and sparked a recall campaign against District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio who led the effort to put it on the ballot.
Catch up quick: Proposition K asked voters whether to permanently ban cars along a 2-mile stretch of the highway and turn it into an oceanfront park.
While the measure passed with 54% approval, voters in the Sunset and Richmond districts largely opposed the plan due to concerns over traffic and longer commutes, in sharp contrast to the approval it gained from voters in the city's eastern districts.
Between the lines: The plaintiffs in the case, including Matthew Boschetto, a former Board Supervisor candidate and leader of the " No on K" campaign, contend that voters do not have the right to approve the street closure and that the park proposal should be subject to the state's environmental review law.
The suit claims the defendants — Engardio, Supervisors Myrna Melgar, Rafael Mandelman, Matt Dorsey and former Supervisor Dean Preston — "ignored the state's plenary authority over traffic control and roads and unlawfully placed a measure before San Francisco voters," according to the lawsuit.
What they're saying: Boschetto argued that the ballot measure should be voided and that the park conversion should go through the legislative process with community input rather than being decided upon by voters.
"I don't have a complete prohibition to any park being there, but if we're going to do this, there's a right way to do it and it's been done the completely wrong way," he told Axios Wednesday.
The other side: Lucas Lux, president of Friends of Ocean Beach Park, said he doesn't believe the "lawsuit has any merit" and feels confident that it will be dismissed.
"If you buy their argument, you can't have JFK promenade anymore. You can't have the car-free road through McLaren park. You can't have this new Ocean Beach park. The consequences are so broad and sweeping and out-of-step with the intent of the state legislation," Lux said, adding that such projects have already been granted exemptions from environmental reviews.
"We want everyone's voices to be at the table, but the way to solve problems is not through lawsuits, it's through working together," he added.
What's next: The plaintiffs are seeking a court injunction to block this Friday's scheduled closure to vehicles and the park's opening on April 12.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
19 minutes ago
- Axios
Scoop: Trump's principal deputy press secretary heads to K Street
Harrison Fields, the Trump White House 's principal deputy press secretary, is leaving to join the Republican lobbying and public affairs firm CGCN, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Fields, a veteran of the first Trump White House, is one of the first major departures in Trump's second term and one of the most senior Black men on the president's team. What they're saying: "We are grateful for his service and wish him all the best in his next chapter," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "He has been a trusted and steady presence throughout both Trump administrations, and his loyalty, commitment and leadership have made a lasting impact." Fields told Axios that "it has been a great honor and blessing to play a small part in President Trump's triumphant return to the White House and the consequential success of the White House Press Office," and that he'll continue "to support the MAGA movement." Between the lines: Fields is a Leavitt ally; they became close as assistant press secretaries in Trump's first term.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Newsom locks in big win for anti-Trump move, his pollster finds
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is receiving a boost from his state's voters as he moves to counter a plan backed by President Donald Trump, his longtime pollster wrote in an internal memo released by Axios on Thursday. Newsom announced last Thursday that he will proceed with his own proposal to combat a Republican-led effort in the Lone Star State, which seeks to preserve Trump's slim House GOP majority ahead of the 2026 midterms. Texas Republicans are hoping to add up to five seats in a newly redrawn district map — as Democratic critics have slammed the uncommon pursuit of mid-decade redistricting. Meanwhile, Texas Democrats returned to the state this week after fleeing in a two-week walkout to ultimately delay a vote on the map. The measure, however, is soon expected to pass, Texas officials have claimed. Newsom's plan, dubbed the 'Election Rigging Response Act,' would allow California to gain several House seats while sidestepping its independent commission that has created district maps since 2010. In his announcement, he pointed to a special election on Nov. 4 for voters to decide on new maps. If what's known as Proposition 50 passes, it would take effect if Texas successfully enacts its proposal, and will then remain in place until the 2030 census. Democratic pollster David Binder found that 57% of California voters support the governor's redistricting measure, while 35% are opposed. Eight percent still remain undecided. Democrats are also mainly unified, with 84% backing the plan, and 13% standing against it. Republicans are banded together as well, as 79% are opposed. 'Voter trends on this measure closely mirror the presidential election results of November 2024, in which Kamala Harris defeated Donald Trump in California by 58% to 38%. Poll results indicate that Proposition 50 will fall along similar partisan lines,' Binder concluded in remarks to Axios. Binder also made clear that support toward the measure could change, depending on how it continues to be pitched to voters. He noted that it has already increased since July, in which 51% favored Newsom's redistricting push. 'When voters hear that Proposition 50 allows new maps to be designed on a temporary basis, triggered by partisan action in other state such as Texas, and retains the independent redistricting commission, they support the measure by a double-digit margin,' Binder wrote in the memo. The brewing redistricting battle between California and Texas could have major consequences for the second half of Trump's presidency. Republicans hold just a seven-seat majority in the House, with four seats remaining vacant. Other GOP-leaning states are also now reviewing options to respond to Newsom, who has been floated as a 2028 Democratic presidential nominee. The poll was conducted from Aug. 10-14 among 1,000 likely special election voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom's Redistricting Ballot Measure Chances of Passing—New Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom's redistricting ballot measure has support from a majority of the state's voters, according to a new poll. Newsweek reached out to Newsom and the California GOP for comment via email. Why It Matters The redistricting arms race between California, Texas and other states could have key implications for the midterms. Texas, with the support of President Donald Trump, first announced plans to redraw its map to become more favorable to Republicans and thwart losses in the midterms, but Newsom has warned California could redraw its map to benefit Democrats in return. California Democrats' ability to do so may hinge on the outcome of a ballot measure Newsom announced last week that would allow a new map drafted by legislators to temporarily replace the boundaries drawn up by the state's independent redistricting committee following the 2020 census. If the ballot measure is successful, it could neutralize efforts from Texas Republicans. But if it fails, Republicans may be able to net several seats in not only Texas, but also other GOP states like Indiana and Missouri. What to Know A new poll from Newsom's pollster, reported by Axios, suggests a majority of voters are prepared to support the ballot measure. The poll, conducted by David Binder, showed that 57 percent of California voters are in support of the proposal. Only 35 percent were opposed to it, while 8 percent remained undecided. Among Democrats, the ballot measure had 84 percent support, while only 13 percent opposed it. Among Republicans, 79 percent were opposed, the poll found, according to Axios. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on August 14, 2025. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on August 14, poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters from August 10 to August 14, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. California remains a solidly blue state where Democrats handily outnumber Republicans. Former Vice President Kamala Harris carried it by 20 points last November, so Democrats are hopeful this ballot measure will fall on partisan lines. But the state has an independent redistricting community that was passed by voters and remains popular. A Politico poll released last week found that 64 percent of California voters support keeping the commission, while only 36 percent support returning redistricting authority to the state legislature. Newsom, who is viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has cast the ballot measure as a temporary measure, which would no longer be in effect after the 2030 census, which is only in response to Texas' redistricting efforts. It would not go into effect unless Texas or other Republican states first redraw their lines. Republicans, however, have described it as a power grab that violates the will of Californians. What People Are Saying David Binder wrote in the poll, per Axios: "Voter trends on this measure closely mirror the presidential election results of November 2024, in which Kamala Harris defeated Donald Trump in California by 58% to 38%. Poll results indicate that Proposition 50 will fall along similar partisan lines." Representative Kevin Kiley, a California Republican, wrote to X on Tuesday: "Newsom is overthrowing the Redistricting Commission in order to make California 'a whole lot bluer.' To accomplish this, his proposal expressly overrides the entire State Constitution. Partisan gerrymandering will become the supreme law of the land." Governor Newsom wrote to X on Tuesday: "Unlike Texas, we're not following @realDonaldTrump's orders to quietly try to redistrict our way out of losing the next election. In California, we're working transparently to respond if Texas enacts new maps — and we'll give the power to the people to make our final decision." What Happens Next Voters will make their decision about the redistricting plan in November. Both Democrats and Republicans will spend the coming months making their case to voters on whether the ballot measure should pass. Meanwhile, the redistricting war continues across the country, with Trump urging Texas Republicans to pass their plan "ASAP."
