Jake McGoldrick: Working on Pedestrian Safety, Budget

Geary Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements
At last, it appears that contracts have been awarded and construction will now begin on the long-promised pedestrian safety improvements along the Geary commercial corridor in the Richmond. As of this writing, groundbreaking is set to occur on the morning of Friday, April 26, for installation of pedestrian crossing signals at Geary Boulevard and 12th Avenue.

The contract for these improvements will cover the Geary intersections between Masonic and Presidio avenues and will involve installation of countdown clocks for pedestrians. Recent studies by the City have confirmed what many of us thought was common-sense: that countdown signals give pedestrians the information they need to cross busy, wide streets like Geary in relative safety. A DPT study of countdown clocks at 14 San Francisco intersections showed that they have reduced the number of pedestrian-vehicle accidents by 63 percent over the past year.

I am happy the continued work of my office on this issue has made a difference in making the streets of the Richmond safer for vulnerable pedestrians like children and seniors.

Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee
My office has introduced legislation establishing a pedestrian safety advisory committee made up of citizens that will advise the SF Department of Parking and Traffic and other departments involved in pedestrian safety issues. This simple addition to the process will be invaluable in decision making on pedestrian safety issues by bringing the voice of pedestrians into planning related to our traffic and transit decisions.

The legislation will be heard before the supervisor's Transportation and Commerce Committee on Thursday, May 9, at 11:30 a.m., at City Hall. Supported by a broad coalition of seniors, bicycle, pedestrian and neighborhood advocates, the measure will ensure that the needs of pedestrians are heard. I hope you will come down and support this important measure.

Budget Process Off and Running
The budget process is off and running and last month's Richmond Town Hall Meeting kicked off public input from District 1 residents. A very full meeting at the Richmond Recreation Center saw more than 100 folks show up to listen and give their input on the priorities for the budget.

My office had staff there from both the Office of the Legislative Analyst and the Board of Supervisors' Budget Analyst office to take and record input from those attending.

In addition, budget meetings are now ongoing at the Board of Supervisors' Budget Committee nearly every Tuesday of the month, and public testimony is welcome. We also will be having another Town Hall Meeting on the mayor's final budget proposal on Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Richmond Recreation Center. Every effort is being made during this tight budget year to get as much public input as possible as the board faces tough choices. Please make sure to add your voice during this process.

Related to the general budget hearings, my office also has been taking a close look at how certain departments operate to ensure that their operations become efficient and effective. The budget analyst will be releasing shortly an audit of the Planning Department that I requested.

It is my understanding that the audit will identify many areas where the SF Department of City Planning can improve its operations so our tax dollars will be well spent. This is especially crucial for this department, which is responsible for the review and approval of projects that drive our economy. I look forward to reviewing the results of this audit and working with the planning department and the budget analyst to make the department lean and mean and ready to fuel our economic engine. In addition, I have asked the budget analyst to review the practice of many departments in hiring public relations specialists to help the departments polish their images.

The budget analyst's preliminary review has found that such practices by city departments cost the City upwards of $4.7 million a year. It is my view that, in such lean budget times, this money may be better spent on other more pressing needs. I will be convening a hearing to explore these issues.

Busvan Project Community Meeting Planned
My office also is working with the planning department to set up a public process for input into the mixed-use housing/commercial project proposed at the site of Busvan for Bargains on Clement Street. Planning Department Director Gerald Green and his staff have pledged to work with my office in setting up public meetings to discuss the project and its potential impacts on the neighborhood.

This will allow the kind of public input into the planning decisions around this project which I have advocated for many years. Once this meeting is set up, notice will be sent to surrounding neighbors. I encourage those of you who live in and shop in the area to participate in this process and have a say in what happens with this project.

Jack McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.