The Freeway Revolt - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 07:37, 21 January 2026

2026-01-21T07:37:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:37, 21 January 2026
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	''Video: courtesy Prelinger Archives, Lost Landscapes of San Francisco''		''Video: courtesy Prelinger Archives, Lost Landscapes of San Francisco''

			[[Image:Aerial of ferry bldg March 20 1958 AAD-6335.jpg]]

			'''Aerial of Ferry Building with Embarcadero Freeway under construction in front of it, March 20, 1958.'''

			''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library, AAD-6335''

			[[Image:Embarcadero and Howard Aug 1966 sfm005-01493.jpg\|800px]]

			'''Embarcadero and Howard Street, August 1966.'''

			''Photo: SFMemory.org sfm005-01493''

	[[Image:Embarcadero Freeway mid-1950s AAB-3553.jpg]]		[[Image:Embarcadero Freeway mid-1950s AAB-3553.jpg]]

Lisaruth: updated internal link to a renamed page

2024-08-05T18:09:05Z

updated internal link to a renamed page

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 5 August 2024
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	[[Image:Hwy-101-north-bef-CC-9876.jpg]]		[[Image:Hwy-101-north-bef-CC-9876.jpg]]

	'''[[Highway ~~101—50 years old~~\|Highway 101]] just south of Cesar Chavez exit, 2007'''		'''[[Highway 101\|Highway 101]] just south of Cesar Chavez exit, 2007'''

	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

Ccarlsson: added Heller family photos

2022-12-27T22:22:14Z

added Heller family photos

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 ::Oh, stand by me and protect that tree<br>
 ::From the freeway misery.
 [[Image:Cushman-Aug-15-1965-fwy-offramps-and-ferry-bldg-brand-new-P14851.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 20:42, 31 August 2020

2020-08-31T20:42:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:42, 31 August 2020
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	''by Chris Carlsson''		''by Chris Carlsson''

			<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/hidden-san-francisco-stop-t-11-freeway-revolt" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

			<hr>

			[[Image:Foundsf-hsf-icon.gif\|link=CESAR CHAVEZ and San Francisco]]<br>
			Next Stop #6: [[CESAR CHAVEZ and San Francisco\|UFW v. DDT]]

			<hr>


	[[Image:FreewayRevolt1-public-library.jpg]]		[[Image:FreewayRevolt1-public-library.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 00:47, 16 July 2020

2020-07-16T00:47:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:47, 15 July 2020
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	Freeway builders continued to resurrect various routes, encountering persistent, well-organized resistance by San Francisco neighborhoods, especially in the Sunset and Richmond where neighbors were dedicated to stopping the proposed Western Freeway. Supervisor William Blake was a key opponent of the freeway planners.		Freeway builders continued to resurrect various routes, encountering persistent, well-organized resistance by San Francisco neighborhoods, especially in the Sunset and Richmond where neighbors were dedicated to stopping the proposed Western Freeway. Supervisor William Blake was a key opponent of the freeway planners.

	Lost in the story of the Freeway Revolt is the role it played in helping BART get institutional support. After the 1959 Supervisorial defeat of freeway plans, BART advocates got surplus Bay Bridge tolls allocated to the proposed transbay tube. After the 1961 vote against the Western Freeway, Mayor George Christopher and the influential Bay Area Council both endorsed the proposed BART system. As freeway proponents continued to advocate for their plans, Supervisor Blake proposed burying a freeway in a “crosstown” tunnel as an alternative to the “beautified” Panhandle freeway. But state highway officials derided it as an unrealistic and costly plan, and after a year of study, ruled it out. San Francisco officials, including new Mayor Jack Shelley, made it clear they wanted the Embarcadero Freeway taken down and replaced with an underground route, the proposed Golden Gate Freeway, that would connect to the Golden Gate Bridge.		Lost in the story of the Freeway Revolt is the role it played in helping [[BART: Bechtel's Baby\|BART]] get institutional support. After the 1959 Supervisorial defeat of freeway plans, BART advocates got surplus Bay Bridge tolls allocated to the proposed transbay tube. After the 1961 vote against the Western Freeway, Mayor George Christopher and the influential Bay Area Council both endorsed the proposed BART system. As freeway proponents continued to advocate for their plans, Supervisor Blake proposed burying a freeway in a “crosstown” tunnel as an alternative to the “beautified” Panhandle freeway. But state highway officials derided it as an unrealistic and costly plan, and after a year of study, ruled it out. San Francisco officials, including new Mayor Jack Shelley, made it clear they wanted the Embarcadero Freeway taken down and replaced with an underground route, the proposed Golden Gate Freeway, that would connect to the Golden Gate Bridge.

	In 1964 the Panhandle-Golden Gate Freeway plan reached a climax, with a May 17 rally at the Polo Grounds to save the Park, featuring a "Natural Anthem" and a dedicated tune by Malvina Reynolds, the famous left-wing folk singer, and a speech by poet [[Kenneth Rexroth and Barcelona by the Bay\|Kenneth Rexroth]]. Months later, in a final, climactic 6-5 vote, the Board of Supervisors rejected the Park Freeway on October 13. Black supervisor Terry Francois cast the deciding vote, delivering a point-by-point six-page rebuttal to the pro-freeway arguments. (It is interesting to note that the other No-votes on that Board were future mayor George Moscone, future CAO/auto dealer and consumer of sexual services Roger Boas, future Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy, William Blake and Clarissa McMahon. In favor of the freeway were "progressive" supervisors Jack Morrison, Joseph Casey, Jack Ertola, Joseph Tinney and Peter Tamaras.) Mayor Jack Shelley was all for it, as was the Labor Council from which he hailed. The Supervisors' Transportation Committee had received a petition with 15,000 signatures, 20,000 letters and telegrams, and had received opposition from 77 community organizations.		In 1964 the Panhandle-Golden Gate Freeway plan reached a climax, with a May 17 rally at the Polo Grounds to save the Park, featuring a "Natural Anthem" and a dedicated tune by Malvina Reynolds, the famous left-wing folk singer, and a speech by poet [[Kenneth Rexroth and Barcelona by the Bay\|Kenneth Rexroth]]. Months later, in a final, climactic 6-5 vote, the Board of Supervisors rejected the Park Freeway on October 13. Black supervisor Terry Francois cast the deciding vote, delivering a point-by-point six-page rebuttal to the pro-freeway arguments. (It is interesting to note that the other No-votes on that Board were future mayor George Moscone, future CAO/auto dealer and consumer of sexual services Roger Boas, future Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy, William Blake and Clarissa McMahon. In favor of the freeway were "progressive" supervisors Jack Morrison, Joseph Casey, Jack Ertola, Joseph Tinney and Peter Tamaras.) Mayor Jack Shelley was all for it, as was the Labor Council from which he hailed. The Supervisors' Transportation Committee had received a petition with 15,000 signatures, 20,000 letters and telegrams, and had received opposition from 77 community organizations.

Ccarlsson: swapped in better map

2020-07-16T00:45:10Z

swapped in better map

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 15 July 2020
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	As the plans unfolded, public opposition grew. By the time the Embarcadero Freeway was nearly under construction in 1958, a loud opposition had formed, going on to campaign for its removal after its completion. Over 30,000 people signed petitions at meetings organized in the Sunset, Telegraph and Russian Hills, Potrero, Polk Gulch and other threatened areas. In 1959 The Supervisors voted to cancel 75% of planned freeway routes through the city, much to the shock of the Department of Highways and the state government. But that was not the end of the freeway revolt.		As the plans unfolded, public opposition grew. By the time the Embarcadero Freeway was nearly under construction in 1958, a loud opposition had formed, going on to campaign for its removal after its completion. Over 30,000 people signed petitions at meetings organized in the Sunset, Telegraph and Russian Hills, Potrero, Polk Gulch and other threatened areas. In 1959 The Supervisors voted to cancel 75% of planned freeway routes through the city, much to the shock of the Department of Highways and the state government. But that was not the end of the freeway revolt.

	[[Image:~~Proposed~~ freeway ~~routes embarcadero~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Routes for northern freeway.jpg\|800px]]

	'''Proposed freeway routes'''		'''Proposed freeway routes to complete Embarcadero Freeway to Golden Gate Bridge.'''

	Freeway builders continued to resurrect various routes, encountering persistent, well-organized resistance by San Francisco neighborhoods, especially in the Sunset and Richmond where neighbors were dedicated to stopping the proposed Western Freeway. Supervisor William Blake was a key opponent of the freeway planners.		Freeway builders continued to resurrect various routes, encountering persistent, well-organized resistance by San Francisco neighborhoods, especially in the Sunset and Richmond where neighbors were dedicated to stopping the proposed Western Freeway. Supervisor William Blake was a key opponent of the freeway planners.

Ccarlsson: added photos and links

2020-06-08T22:56:47Z

added photos and links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 8 June 2020
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	[[Image:Hwy-101-north-bef-CC-9876.jpg]]		[[Image:Hwy-101-north-bef-CC-9876.jpg]]

	'''Highway 101 just south of Cesar Chavez exit, 2007'''		'''[[Highway 101—50 years old\|Highway 101]] just south of Cesar Chavez exit, 2007'''

	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''
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	[[Image:James-Lick-freeway-under-construction-1953.jpg]]		[[Image:James-Lick-freeway-under-construction-1953.jpg]]

	[[Filthy Bum Turns Filthy Rich: James Lick \|James Lick]]''' ~~[[Highway 101—50 years old\|~~Freeway under construction]] in 1953: San Francisco's first. [[Post WWII Demise \| Seals Stadium]], the old ballpark is visible in center-left of photo'''		[[Filthy Bum Turns Filthy Rich: James Lick \|James Lick]]''' Freeway under construction in 1953: San Francisco's first. [[Post WWII Demise \| Seals Stadium]], the old ballpark is visible in center-left of photo'''

	''Photo: Ed Brady''		''Photo: Ed Brady''

Ccarlsson: added photos and links

2020-06-08T22:55:15Z

added photos and links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 8 June 2020
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	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	[[Bierman-Plaque-plaza-1100732.jpg]]		[[Image:Bierman-Plaque-plaza-1100732.jpg]]

	'''In this circular plaza at the western end of the Panhandle, near Shrader, sits a memorial to Sue Bierman for her role in the Freeway Revolt. She is also honored by having her name on the park where the Washington and Clay Street ramps to the Embarcadero Freeway once sat.'''		'''In this circular plaza at the western end of the Panhandle, near Shrader, sits a memorial to Sue Bierman for her role in the Freeway Revolt. She is also honored by having her name on the park where the Washington and Clay Street ramps to the Embarcadero Freeway once sat.'''

Ccarlsson: added photos and links

2020-06-08T22:54:52Z

added photos and links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:54, 8 June 2020
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	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

			[[Bierman-Plaque-plaza-1100732.jpg]]

			'''In this circular plaza at the western end of the Panhandle, near Shrader, sits a memorial to Sue Bierman for her role in the Freeway Revolt. She is also honored by having her name on the park where the Washington and Clay Street ramps to the Embarcadero Freeway once sat.'''

			[[Image:Bierman-Plaque-1100731.jpg]]

			''Photos: Chris Carlsson''

	<hr>		<hr>

Ccarlsson at 22:49, 8 June 2020

2020-06-08T22:49:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:49, 8 June 2020
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	[[Image:James-Lick-freeway-under-construction-1953.jpg]]		[[Image:James-Lick-freeway-under-construction-1953.jpg]]

	[[Filthy Bum Turns Filthy Rich: James Lick \|James Lick]]''' Freeway under construction in 1953: San Francisco's first. [[Post WWII Demise \| Seals Stadium]], the old ballpark is visible in center-left of photo'''		[[Filthy Bum Turns Filthy Rich: James Lick \|James Lick]]''' [[Highway 101—50 years old\|Freeway under construction]] in 1953: San Francisco's first. [[Post WWII Demise \| Seals Stadium]], the old ballpark is visible in center-left of photo'''

	''Photo: Ed Brady''		''Photo: Ed Brady''