I’m Writing a Letter to All Officials at City Hall
Some Trees Interfere with Sidewalk Traffic
We all love trees, but...
• • • • • • • • May 2025 • • • • • • • •
Does any elected official or City employee believe that this sidewalk, shown in the photo above, is safe? Legal? This photo shows the sidewalk on the east side of Octavia just north of Hayes. (I don’t expect anyone to admit in writing that the conditions are illegal, but if you are in doubt, consult the Office of the City Attorney.) Does anyone believe that this reflects well on the City and County of San Francisco and its government?
Since my previous attempts to call attention to the state of our sidewalks on January 14, in an email entitled “Sidewalks, Crosswalks, Streets, and Curb Ramps,” with photos attached thereto, and my email of May 28, 2024, forwarded therein, I never received a reply to either from any elected official, except Supervisor Chan, who forwarded one of them to someone at DPW
The issues I am raising are exactly what you claim to prioritize ... walk the walk. Prove my cynicism wrong.”
I don’t know what kind of tree is upending the sidewalk. Still, there are many trees of the same species throughout San Francisco. Many are causing badly upended sidewalks. This species of tree should never have been planted. Besides replacing the sidewalk and curb ramps shown above and those referred to in previous emails, I request that the tree be removed. I’m also asking that the appropriate City agencies and departments do an audit or inspection of sidewalk trees throughout San Francisco to make sure that the appropriate trees are being planted. Whenever conditions like these exist or are likely to exist in time, the tree causing the upending should be removed.
This photo shows a blue zone on Octavia. What was someone thinking about planting new trees that block the blue zone? When were these trees planted? What department or agency is responsible for doing this?
The employees at DPW and MOD care about these things, work hard and try their best. Some are extremely gifted.
Apparently, no elected official except Supervisor Chan cares about these issues, so woefully inadequate dollars are allocated, not enough staff or consultants are hired, and no elected official follows up. There should be enough resources in a $16 billion budget for all sidewalks in San Francisco to be safe, disability accessible, and code compliant.
In a video from The Free Press. Beginning at 0:47 are 2021 clips of former Supervisor Preston and other former Supervisors describing their priorities for terms that began in 2021. Most of the video, however, features Board President Mandelman and other current Supervisors in 2025 talking about prioritizing nuts and bolts and daily quality of life issues. The issues I am raising are exactly what you claim to prioritize in the video. Please walk the walk. Prove my cynicism wrong.
Sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb ramps that are dangerous or in poor condition should be replaced.
Howard Chabneris a disability rights activist and retired lawyer who has lived near Golden Gate Park since 1988.
May 2025
