Coit Tower Preservation Measure Likely Headed To SF Ballot
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Over 16,000 signatures have been turned into San Francisco's Registrar of Voters from a group trying to preserve Coit Tower, which is well over the number needed to put the issue to voters. However, city officials have said they're already doing the best they can.
"No one is really taking responsibility for Coit Tower," said Jon Golinger, who has decided to lead the drive to funnel more money towards the famous North Beach tower.
Golinger's idea is to put an initiative on the June ballot requiring that the tourist magnet be given the first crack at the tourist dollars it brings in, That money would be used to maintain the building, and keep its famous murals in good repair. As it is now, Coit Tower shares much of its money with other Rec and Park locations.
"The ballot measure doesn't say that every dollar that comes into Coit Tower has to stay there. It just says that the money should be prioritized so that Coit Tower actually gets what it needs," said Golinger.
KCBS' Janice Wright Reports:
The measure would also dictate that private functions to raise money are okay sometimes, but not on a regular basis.
"If we want to invest more money to protect Coit Tower, then we actually need a source of funding to do that," said Rec and Park director Phil Ginsburg.
The department is working with a new vendor for private functions, but the proposal is to limit events at the top of the tower to no more than once a month.
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