For nearly a decade, residents of San Francisco’s Excelsior neighborhood have been battling city officials over the issue of parking, which has become a persistent nightmare. The area’s lack of residential parking permits has led to widespread chaos, with cars blocking sidewalks and driveways, and residents struggling to find parking spaces. Despite multiple efforts and surveys, the city has yet to implement the necessary changes, leaving the neighborhood frustrated and increasingly isolated.
A Parking Crisis in Excelsior
The Excelsior neighborhood, once one of San Francisco’s last working-class strongholds, is plagued by parking issues that have escalated in recent years. Residents like Bill Holdenstern have spent years petitioning the city for residential permit parking, a solution that would limit the number of cars per household and improve enforcement. The area, near the Balboa Park BART Station, has become a magnet for commuters and those taking advantage of free parking.
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Struggles with Triple-Parked Streets
Residents describe streets where vehicles are triple-parked, blocking sidewalks and driveways. Bill Holdenstern describes his block as “the nightmare block” due to the overwhelming congestion. The issue isn’t just about inconvenience; some residents have even had their tires slashed or cars keyed due to parking disputes. For some, like Marina Mantovani, parking issues have forced them to pay for costly alternatives like Uber to avoid moving their car.
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The City’s Inaction
Despite years of complaints and community efforts, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has yet to introduce residential permit parking. A major obstacle is the complicated petition process that requires signatures from 50% of residents on each affected block, a hurdle that’s difficult to clear in working-class neighborhoods like the Excelsior. While wealthier neighborhoods have managed to secure parking permits, the Excelsior continues to be overlooked…