San Francisco – In the latest campaign‑finance filings, supporters of the Sunset Dunes park have demonstrated overwhelming financial backing for keeping the Great Highway closed to automobiles. The “No on G” coalition, which opposes Proposition G, has raised over $1 million across two election cycles, a figure that is roughly seven times larger than the total raised by the “Yes on G” side.

Funding breakdown

The filings show the No on G campaign collected $279,500 in 2026 alone, with the bulk of that amount coming from a handful of large donors. Eight individuals contributed the majority of the money, and one donor – Laura Yakovenko, wife of Solana co‑founder Anatoly Yakovenko – alone gave $200,000 in August. Yakovenko has a history of supporting urbanist measures, having contributed to the 2024 Proposition L and the 2022 Proposition J, both of which sought to preserve car‑free spaces in the city.

Additional sizable gifts of $25,000 each came from Miami‑based investor Donald J. Edwards, Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, and the nonprofit Friends of Sunset Dunes, which champions the park. Campaign director Lucas Lux noted that the official filings do not capture every contribution; he estimates that 216 donors have given since July 23, with a median donation of $50.

Grassroots narrative

Lux emphasized that the park’s supporters represent a broad cross‑section of the community, saying, “People really enjoy the park and want to support it. We’ve always had a lot of success finding a broad base of both small and large donors because the park makes a positive difference in folks’ lives.” This sentiment aligns with the park’s role as a family‑friendly green space that offers recreation and respite in a densely populated urban area.

Opposition fundraising

The Yes on G campaign, which advocates reopening the Great Highway to cars on weekdays, reported raising roughly $38,000 in 2026, all from smaller contributions. The group listed 92 individual donors, each giving less than $5,000. The campaign later updated its total to about $100,000 as of September 4, though Mission Local could not independently verify the figure.

Among the most prominent Yes on G donors are local residents Lisa Arjes, who contributed $5,000, and William O’Keeffe, Jr. and Selena Chu, who gave $4,990 and $4,900 respectively. Arjes also backed the Joel Engardio recall and helped finance a lawsuit to overturn Proposition K, the 2024 measure that closed the Great Highway and enabled the creation of Sunset Dunes park.

Community perspective

Yes on G spokesperson Jamie Hughes highlighted the grassroots nature of his supporters, stating, “It shows we have lots of local support, all from working‑class people giving whatever they can. When you have lots of grassroots support like we do, you may be at a disadvantage in paid media, but we have lots of volunteers who are really active. You can do a lot with less.” While the campaign acknowledges a funding gap, it points to strong volunteer engagement as a counterbalance.

Historical context

The funding disparity mirrors previous ballot battles in the city. Sunset Dunes supporters raised over $1 million across the 2024 Proposition K campaign, which created the park, and the current Proposition G fight. By contrast, Great Highway proponents raised just $316,000 across those two races.

A separate lawsuit challenging the legality of Proposition K prompted a GoFundMe appeal in June, underscoring the financial challenges faced by opponents of the park. The recall effort against Supervisor Joel Engardio in 2025 also displayed a similar funding gap, with Engardio’s supporters out‑raising recall advocates nearly three to one, yet the recall succeeded.

What’s next?

With the November ballot approaching, both sides are intensifying outreach. The pro‑park coalition plans to leverage its robust donor base to fund advertising, community events, and voter‑education efforts. The opposition, while financially out‑matched, aims to capitalize on its volunteer network and grassroots messaging to persuade voters that reopening the Great Highway will improve traffic flow and economic activity.

San Franciscans will ultimately decide whether the beloved Sunset Dunes park remains a car‑free oasis or whether the Great Highway will once again welcome vehicles, a decision that will shape the city’s transportation landscape and quality of life for families and commuters alike.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.