San Francisco’s waterfront may be charming and scenic, but it’s not immune to age or rising waters. That’s why voters should approve a $425 million bond to rebuild the Embarcadero seawall from Fisherman’s Wharf to Mission Creek.

The site of crumbling concrete and collapsing piers makes the case. So do predictions of bay waters rising three feet by midcentury and five by the century’s end. Along with age and higher water go earthquake worries about collapsing bulkheads and snapped utility lines.

City leaders say the bond measure will be a down payment on an eventual $5 billion bill for more seawall work funded over future bond requests. If approved, the first slug of money will go to pressing projects on a yet-to-be devised work list.

San Francisco has a chance to get ahead of the unavoidable threat of floods and earthquakes and prepare before disaster hits. Vote yes on A.

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