On October 8, local transit advocate and frequent MUNI rider, known as “TransitingNerd” on social media, voiced strong opposition to Proposition L, questioning the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) management and the lack of accountability in how new funds will be spent.
“L won’t provide more transit service, more MUNI Forward projects, nothing. There’s no accountability on how the money will be spent, it’s just dumping it into the bank acct of the MTA,” said TransitingNerd.
The opposition goes beyond just the lack of service enhancements. TransitingNerd also criticized the agency's internal inefficiencies, such as bloated administrative positions and outdated bus scheduling practices. He pointed out roles like the “Diversity Coordinator” as unnecessary, while vital issues like optimizing bus routes to meet post-pandemic demand remain unaddressed.
The advocate pointed to inefficiencies within MUNI, highlighting outdated bus schedules and resistance to adapting services to post-pandemic rider needs. Despite the city's fiscal challenges, including looming deficits, TransitingNerd argued that merely increasing funding without significant reforms is a short-term fix, urging voters to wait for a future solution: “Prop L is just a quick money grab to solve a 1-year problem. We need a future solution.”
MUNI, short for the San Francisco Municipal Railway, is the public transit system in San Francisco, operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), providing bus, streetcar, and light rail services throughout the city.
According to San Fransisco’s Ethics Commission, for Fiscal Year 2025, San Francisco is grappling with a $799 million budget shortfall, requiring city departments, including SFMTA, to propose 10% cuts in both FY25 and FY26.