Also, as you all know, driving down Market Street is kinda impossible, so why not?

Lining up against the idea, natch, are merchants along Market Street who fear that the closure's will hurt business. They point out that a similar thing happened in Chicago, killing the area until they reopened it. Elsewhere, the results have been spotty at best. Also lining up against the idea are Gavin's people who think it’s a non-starter, especially because it's been proposed by Mr. Daly, a person with whom Gavin spokesman Nathan Ballard referred to as "not exactly the president of Mensa." Gosh, isn't the level of political discourse in this city so illuminating?

The idea has actually been kicking around for awhile and was even once proposed by Willie Brown. Also quickly killed by Willie Brown.