Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
San Francisco

Facebook Billionaire Sean Parker Bankrolls Free Parking Ballot Initiative in SF

Sean Parker spent $100,000 to support Mayor Ed Lee's 2011 election bid, and $49,000 on a 2014 ballot initiative to maintain free parking and build new garages in SF.
false

Sean Parker, the founding president of Facebook and a major contributor to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, has spent $49,000 of his personal fortune to propel a ballot initiative that seeks to enshrine free parking as city policy, according to the SF Chronicle. Parker gave $100,000 to Lee's mayoral campaign in 2011.

The ballot initiative, which proponents frame as an attempt to "restore balance" to city transportation policy, first surfaced in April. While the measure would be non-binding, if it passes it could further slow much-needed policies to prioritize transit and street safety in San Francisco. One stated goal of the campaign is to kill Sunday parking meters for good. The SFMTA Board of Directors, which is appointed entirely by Mayor Lee, repealed Sunday metering in April, after Lee made unfounded claims about a popular revolt against the policy.

Mayor Ed Lee with Facebook-founding billionaire Sean Parker (right) and Ron Conway (center), both major campaign donors. Photo: The Bay Citizen/Center for Investigative Reporting
false

Several veteran opponents of transportation reform in San Francisco are aligned with the ballot initiative. And, in addition to the backing from Parker, another $10,000 for the measure reportedly came from the San Francisco Republican Party.

Parker's funding for the ballot initiative apparently helped pay petitioners to get out and collect the 17,500 signatures submitted last week to place the measure on the ballot. Two Streetsblog readers reported being approached in Safeway parking lots by petitioners who falsely claimed that the SFMTA had not repealed Sunday parking meters. A flyer distributed for the campaign [PDF] claims the measure calls for "restoring free parking at meters on Sundays, holidays and evenings." Campaign proponent and previous Republican Assembly hopeful Jason Clark told SFist that the allegations were "hearsay," but that the non-binding resolution would "ensure [SFMTA] can't" bring back Sunday meters.

Parker has a reputation for selfish extravagance at the expense of the public realm. In February, he denied accusations that he had workers bulldoze snow from in front of his $20 million home in New York City's Greenwich Village onto the street. The snow was reportedly cleared so a high-speed internet cable could be hooked up to the home. Last year, he was fined $2.5 million for damaging a Big Sur redwood grove that served as his wedding backdrop.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

GOP Governor Hopeful Mike Lawler Dishes Culture War Dreck In Anti-Transit Tantrum

The Republican congressman journeyed to Albany to spew the same empty rage that transit opponents have trotted out for years.

January 14, 2025

Gov. Hochul Eyes Parking Ban at Elementary Schools; Advocates Say It’s ‘Not Enough’

It's a start, but why not bring the safety benefits to the whole city?

January 14, 2025

Masters of Deflection: Congestion Pricing Foes Stoke Fear of Subway Crime

Opponents of congestion pricing are trying to claim the tolling scheme unfairly forces New Yorkers onto a dangerous subway system, but it's more complicated.

January 14, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Lest We Forget Edition

Ninth Street should be safer, say Brooklyn residents as they mourned one of their own last week. Plus other news.

January 14, 2025

IT’S WORKING: Initial Data Show Congestion Pricing Has Stemmed The Tide of Years of Increasing Traffic

Travel times are down an average of 34 percent across the eight bridges and tunnels into the Central Business District, which saw a 7.5-percent drop in overall traffic, according to MTA figures.

January 14, 2025
See all posts