San Francisco's Sunset District's political landscape is undergoing a significant shake-up as a recall campaign against Supervisor Joel Engardio officially kicks off. Yesterday, according to a report by CBS News, recall proponents gathered at the United Irish Cultural Center to collect signatures needed to advance their cause. The recall effort stems from a schism within the community triggered by the passage of Proposition K, which Engardio supported, to permanently close a two-mile stretch of the Great Highway to create a park.
Proposition K passed with a slim margin, but it's worth noting that most voters living close to the impacted roadway strongly opposed the measure, favoring the highway's utility over the promised parkland. In a bid to swiftly obtain the 9,400 signatures needed by late May, recall organizers have been mobilizing residents, emphasizing that Supervisor Engardio has, in their view, compromised public safety by not fully addressing the traffic issues that followed the road's closure. Frances Misenas, a District 4 resident, told CBS News, "I have concerns about safety because there's increased traffic in our neighborhoods." Such statements illustrate the primary grievances fueling the recall.
Meanwhile, Engardio's supporters rally to his defense, highlighting the supervisor's broader contributions to the district in public safety, education, and local events such as popular night markets. Engardio himself has defended the passage of Proposition K by pointing to the erosion along the southern part of the highway, stating, "I respect that people are going to disagree about what to do with the Great Highway, but you can't beat Mother Nature," as per CBS News. His supporters have organized their campaign titled "Stand with Joel," and have reportedly garnered significant financial support including a $25,000 donation from Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman.
Recall advocates have already raised around $12,000 despite the uphill battle and gathered 1,000 signatures since the campaign's inception, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. At the same time, they have to contend with the strong opposition from Engardio's camp, where support is grounded in the broader spectrum of his work. "No More Cars In Public Parks," reads one sign from the anti-recall drive, illustrating one of the key arguments for maintaining the Great Highway's transformation.
