Supervisor Wong fails to secure signatures to reopen Great Highway

Newly appointed District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong fell short in a last-minute bid to place a measure on the June 2 ballot that would have reopened the Great Highway to vehicles on weekdays, a move that would have reversed Prop K. Wong needed signatures from at least three other supervisors by the Jan. 13 deadline to secure supervisors’ sponsorship; he obtained only two additional endorsements and missed the cutoff.

The short-lived push unfolded over a matter of days and drew criticism from colleagues and community voices who described the effort as rushed and politically risky. The failure to reach the required number of supervisory sponsors means the issue will not appear on the June ballot through the board’s fast-track sponsorship route, forcing proponents to consider alternate paths if they want to advance the proposal.

Possible next steps include launching a citywide signature drive to qualify the measure for a later special or regular ballot, or pursuing a standalone citizen initiative for the November ballot. Both options carry higher logistical and financial hurdles: a citywide petition requires thousands of valid signatures and extended circulation time, while a November initiative would face a longer campaign calendar and sharper political scrutiny.

Local residents who use the Sunset and Great Highway corridor will feel the immediate implications. Reopening the roadway to weekday vehicle traffic would alter patterns of access for park users, surfers, cyclists and neighborhood drivers, and could change parking pressures on adjacent blocks. For many in the Sunset, the question of weekday vehicle access has become a proxy for competing priorities: open coastal driving versus protected public space and car-free recreation.

Supporters of the Sunset Dunes park and other car-free advocates reacted strongly to the campaign’s pace, voicing concerns that the rushed maneuver sidelined community input and put the park’s recent status at risk. Political observers noted that Wong’s early push, coming soon after his appointment to the District 4 seat, may have strained relationships on the board and could complicate future efforts to secure broader backing.

The episode spotlights a broader debate in San Francisco about how to manage limited coastal space amid competing demands for mobility, recreation and climate resilience. It also underscores how procedural deadlines and signature thresholds shape what issues reach voters.

For residents, the immediate takeaway is that the Great Highway will remain under its current restrictions at least through June. If proponents mount a petition or November initiative, San Franciscans can expect a heated, citywide campaign that will touch on traffic, park access and neighborhood livability in the months ahead.