Downtown SF traffic is insane. Maybe it’s time to make drivers pay

Traffic congestion is seen on Fremont Street during the morning commute in San Francisco , California, on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Traffic congestion is seen on Fremont Street during the morning commute in San Francisco , California, on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Downtown SF traffic is insane. Maybe it’s time to make drivers pay 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

It may be time to start charging drivers in downtown San Francisco. The streets are packed, and with all the construction going on, it’s becoming a nightmare even to walk.

You have to watch out for cars, buses, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, pedestrians and every other living thing that is occupying what little space we have left.

We need more space on the roadways, and the only way you get that is to cut down on car traffic.

Traffic management fees would clearly have an impact on the number of cars on the road. There are proposals out there, but they inevitably run into one big problem: Drivers hate the idea.

No surprise there. Most people don’t like taxes either, but they pay for things that society needs. And if there’s one thing downtown San Francisco needs, it’s breathing room.

And while I’m at it: The busy intersections should have the same stoplight programs that are being used on Stockton Street in Chinatown and Montgomery Street in the Financial District — in other words, pedestrians and cars do not use the intersection at the same time, so you don’t have cars trying to turn onto streets while people are crossing.

Juvenile decision: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors needs to think long and hard before deciding to do away with juvenile hall.

The idea of closing down the hall and redirecting youths to rehabilitation programs is gathering steam, thanks to a Chronicle investigation that found juvenile halls in San Francisco and elsewhere were practically empty. But there will always be some violent young offenders to deal with, and the big question in closing juvenile hall is where they would be sent.

Under state law, juveniles cannot be incarcerated in the same jails as adults.

The juvenile justice facilities may not be ideal, but they do serve as a center where the myriad advocates and services in the youth justice system can operate — from public defenders to private conflict defenders to social service organizations.

Closing juvenile hall would almost certainly mean sending some youths out of San Francisco to other counties. If that happens, some families won’t be able to see their children without travel assistance.

It’s all well and good to have aspirations of ending incarcerations for youthful offenders. But not all aspirations are grounded in reality.

Democrats, start your engines: The presidential race is revving up, and we already have two models that could beat Donald Trump.

At last count, the Democrats had about 20 declared hopefuls in the race for the 2020 nomination.

The one who’s standing out in the crowd is Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., whose nearly unpronounceable last name is becoming part of his appeal.

Polls show the gay veteran of the Afghanistan war is rising in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. He’s right up there with the other fresh face of the year, California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Just think how instantly a ticket of a woman and a gay would rocket in the polls.

And either one would drive Trump crazy in a debate, because they’re energetic, smart and well spoken.

Movie time: “Dumbo.” Believe it or not, this Tim Burton remake of the classic flying elephant tale is better than the original.

Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton are excellent. The flying elephant is as real as it gets. It is a kids’ movie, but one that turns us adults into kids again.

“Shazam!” Another kids’ movie, about a boy who gets lost at an early age and spends the rest of his childhood trying to find his parents and being self-sufficient. Along the way he finds adventure, love, a magic lantern and one really entertaining genie.

It’s an enthralling movie for the first two-thirds, and then the magic runs out. Until then, you’ll have fun. But only if you paid for a matinee.

An invitation: The annual 1906 earthquake commemoration is on Thursday. Join me in the wee small hours just after 5 a.m. at Lotta’s Fountain at Market and Kearny.

It will be Mayor London Breed’s first time sounding the alarm, and we’ll be wishing Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White all the best in retirement.

Messaging: The best way to say “no” is the quote I found on a T-shirt: “Can you just not?”

Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com