Pak was a supporter of Art Agnos ( the city 's mayor from 1988 to 1992 ) , but opposed his efforts to tear down the Embarcadero Freeway , arguing that Chinatown would suffer catastrophic consequences if it lost the fast crosstown connection . She won a ballot measure about the issue in 1987 , but after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the freeway , her objections were overturned . According to the San Francisco Chronicle , Pak then " almost single-handedly persuaded the city to build " the $ 1.5 billion Central Subway project to compensate Chinatown for the demolition of the freeway
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Rose Pak