Jake McGoldrick: Budget Passes, Pedestrian Safety Next

After much hard work, the SF Board of Supervisors passed this year's budget and I am proud of the priorities reflected therein.

The board sent to the mayor a budget which has by far the largest commitment to affordable housing ($160 million) of any budget ever passed. In addition, the City's spending on our health care system was significantly increased by the mayor and then significantly increased again by the SF Board of Supervisors, with the result that we have committed $990 million to meet the health needs of our residents. The board also replaced popular urban tree programs that had been cut by the mayor.

I secured funding for a performance audit of the SF Planning Department to address many issues raised by neighborhood advocates about whether the department is adequately fulfilling its responsibilities under the law. I also personally secured commitments of more than $500,000 for Richmond District after-school programs for children and youth. This commitment will allow us to open several Richmond District school playgrounds after school, increase our latch-key programs, provide counseling for teens transitioning between schools and beef up our teen programs at recreation centers. I also joined Supervisor Mark Leno in pushing for a charter amendment creating a Livable Streets Fund that would have a portion of each year's parking tax revenue dedicated to capital projects to improve pedestrian safety. Unfortunately, this measure did not secure the six votes necessary to be placed on the ballot.

Next month will be a big month for pedestrian safety at City Hall, and I have been working hard to prioritize these issues at the Board of Supervisors. Mark your calendar for Aug. 23, when several significant hearings on pedestrian safety are scheduled to take place at the supervisors' Housing, Transportation and Land Use Committee. The meeting will be held at City Hall, Room 263, at 10 a.m.

My package of pedestrian safety measures, scheduled for hearing that day, will address the needs of our most vulnerable pedestrians: school children, seniors and the disabled. This legislation calls for highly-visible ladder crosswalks and signage at intersections frequented by our children, seniors and the disabled. It also implements protected school drop-off areas enforced with tow-away penalties. In addition, it requires that any parking lots near schools be required to post signs warning exiting drivers of pedestrians.

This hearing also will take input from the public on ways to improve pedestrian safety on Geary Boulevard. We will also hear from city departments on how they coordinate painting and maintenance of crosswalk markings and explore how that process may be improved to avoid our current situation where drivers can not see some crosswalk stripes.

The committee will also receive a report from the legislative analyst, prepared at my request, that will address the effects of making the safety of pedestrians the first priority in our policy decisions concerning parking, traffic and transit. All of these hearings will help us gain the information we need to increase safety for pedestrians in the Richmond and the rest of the City. I hope to see you at City Hall Aug. 23.

Jake McGoldrick is a member of the SF Board of Supervisors representing District 1.