San Francisco, California, Proposition J, Limit Private Vehicles on JFK Drive and Connector Streets in Golden Gate Park For Use as Recreational Open Space Measure (November 2022)

San Francisco Proposition J
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Local transportation
Status Approved
Type Referral

San Francisco Proposition J was on the ballot as a referral in San Francisco on November 8, 2022. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported upholding an ordinance adopted in May 2022 that provided for the closure of portions of John F. Kennedy Drive and certain connector streets in Golden Gate Park, known as JFK Promenade, to use the area as open recreation spaces.

A "no" vote opposed upholding an ordinance adopted in May 2022 that provided for the closure of portions of John F. Kennedy Drive and certain connector streets in Golden Gate Park, known as JFK Promenade, to use the area as open recreation spaces

Election results

San Francisco Proposition J
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		181,694	63.07%
No		106,408	36.93%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition J was as follows:

“

Shall the City affirm the ordinance the Board of Supervisors adopted in May 2022 reserving portions of John F. Kennedy Drive and certain connector streets in Golden Gate Park as open recreation spaces, closing those streets seven days a week to private motor vehicles with limited exceptions?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Arguments

• Kid Safe SF: "No matter how visitors choose to get to Golden Gate Park, there's a space for them, with improved Muni service to the park, over 5,000 parking spaces inside the park, 18 open roads to drive in/out of the park, a newly-built ADA accessible parking lot, and the City's 21-point accessibility program."
• California State Parks Foundation, San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club, San Francisco League of Conservation Voters, Greenbelt Alliance, Livable City, Friends of the Urban Forest, and Friends of Great Highway Park: "Proposition J secures and advances the progress of nearly two years of work on the Golden Gate Park Access and Safety Program, which has ensured the park remains accessible for everyone with 365-day-ayear free shuttle service, a new parking lot dedicated to people with disabilities, and dozens of other access improvements to welcome all to the park, no matter who they are or how they get there."
• Stephanie Linder, Chief Executive Officer, Gardens of Golden Gate Park: "With record-breaking attendance at the Botanical Garden, we know that visitors from all over San Francisco, and beyond, are coming to enjoy JFK to the Promenade and the park's cultural institutions. A thriving Golden Gate Park is vital to the economic welfare and health of our city. Vote YES on Proposition J to preserve this boost to our community health and well-being."
• Rodney Fong, President, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce: "We know that people walking in San Francisco are at risk of dangerous traffic. Hundreds of people are hit and injured each year while walking, and some will not survive. Many of these are our elders and Asian people. This is why we value the safe space without vehicle traffic on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. In a city with so many dangerous streets, there is now a place for people of all ages to walk without fear. This is good for the health and safety of all people, but especially seniors. Please vote YES on Proposition J to protect safe space for seniors and everyone."

Opposition

Arguments

• Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, Concerned Residents of the Sunset, District 11 Council, East Mission Improvement Association, and Save Our Amazing Richmond: "San Francisco is a city of inclusion, yet the closure of JFK Drive has left seniors, people with disabilities, families and residents who live far from the park out in the cold. Golden Gate Park belongs to all of us."
• Older Women's League - Political Action Committee and San Francisco Gray Panthers: "The closure of JFK Drive takes away a critical aspect of people's health and wellbeing: being outdoors. However, it has especially taken a toll on seniors. Seniors are restricted in their modes of transportation, mostly relying on cars. It is already challenging for seniors to live and thrive in San Francisco. Prop J will take away access to Golden Gate Park for many, especially seniors who need it most."
• The Arc San Francisco and Access Advisory Support Group of the Fine Arts Museums of SF: "Like everyone else, it is important for persons with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors. Many are now prevented from visiting Golden Gate Park due to weather or a lack of public transportation. We lost 1,000 free parking spaces, including many nearby ADA spaces, with the closure of JFK Drive. Many of the park's institutions offer free or discounted programming for people with disabilities that we can no longer access. Most persons with disabilities don't have the luxury of walking or biking to the park. The closure of JFK Drive means only some San Franciscans can enjoy Golden Gate Park."
• Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer: "Asian families living between the Sunset and Richmond Districts have lost essential access through JFK Drive. It is far more difficult to visit Golden Gate Park as a family. Asian residents living far away from Golden Gate Park — like in Chinatown, Visitacion Valley and the Bayview neighborhoods — are completely excluded from what should be all of our park. The closures are also hurting local Asian owned businesses. The closures of JFK Drive and other park roads resulted in the loss of 1,000 free public parking spaces in Golden Gate Park. Park visitors are now using parking outside the park by nearby small businesses. Proposition J will continue to exclude our community."
• San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club: "It is not possible for a multi-generational family with parents, children and grandparents to get on a bus with strollers, toys, and picnic gear for a visit to Golden Gate Park. With JFK Drive closed, driving our elders to see the evening light show displayed on the Conservatory of Flowers becomes impossible. The closures have also eliminated nearly 1,000 free public parking spaces which help make the park affordable and accessible for all. We don't have to shut down roads that are vital to our communities to have open space."

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was placed on the ballot through a proposed ordinance by Board of Supervisors Members Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelman, Myrna Melgar, and Hillary Ronen.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in California

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

How to vote in California

Poll times

All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.

Automatic registration

California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

California allows same-day voter registration.

Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number. On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents: driver's license or identification card of any state; passport; employee identification card; identification card provided by a commercial establishment; credit or debit card; military identification card; student identification card; health club identification card; insurance plan identification card; or public housing identification card. Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…: utility bill; bank statement; government check; government paycheck; document issued by a governmental agency; sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental, agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof, of residency or identity; voter notification card issued by a governmental agency; public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency; lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency; student identification card issued by a governmental agency; tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency; insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency; discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter; public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency; identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies; identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities; drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; (R) property tax statement issued by a governmental agency; vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

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See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2022
• Local zoning, land use, and development on the ballot

California

• California 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, California
• San Francisco, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas