Opinion: A voice of a mother from Sunset District

Supervisor Joel Engardio has been going around saying, “I’m trying to save my job”—as if voters should feel sorry for him. But this recall is not about a man desperate for work. This is about accountability, broken trust, and a supervisor who has failed the Sunset District.

Supervisor Engardio is not fighting unemployment; he is fighting to protect his political career. He spent 12 years running nonstop in District 7, losing three times, before finally sliding into office in District 4.

If this was really about “having a job,” he would have treated the role with respect. He would have listened to his constituents instead of dismissing them, and he would have worked for the Sunset District residents rather than outside lobbyists.

A four-year term is not a blank check. Public office is not an entitlement. It is a contract with the people. No employee anywhere can ignore duties, insult their boss, or break promises without consequence.

Yet Supervisor Engardio behaves as though the rules don’t apply to him simply because he holds the title of Supervisor. It’s time to remind him: this position is public service, not personal power. When a public servant refuses to serve, the public has every right to remove him.

Why the Recall Matters?

1. Public safety decline

Community safety has deteriorated under Supervisor Engardio. The Taraval Police District had 70 officers in 2022. Today, it has just 51 — a 27% drop in patrol presence. Residents have repeatedly voiced concern, but Supervisor Engardio has not fought to restore resources or prioritize safety.

2. Ignoring voter input

Nearly 65% of Sunset voters and 80% of Richmond voters rejected the permanent closure of the Great Highway. Instead of respecting this, Supervisor Engardio pushed forward, bypassing town halls and community inputs. He fast-tracked projects like “Sunset Dunes,” skatepark, and sculptures, all without a clear budget or plan.

3. Misaligned priorities

Taxpayer dollars should address urgent needs: emergency siren systems, maintenance for existing parks, and crime prevention. Instead funds were wasted managing sand and traffic for the permanent highway closure, while park budgets were redirected to vanity projects. The supposed “savings” never materialized—costs grew.

4. Broken promises

Supervisor Engardio campaigned on the Great Highway compromise, telling at least 11,000 voters he supported weekday commuting with weekend recreation when he ran for District 4 in 2022. Once in office, he abandoned that promise and sided with special interests.

5. Loss of trust

Nearly 11,000 residents signed petitions to put this recall on the ballot. This is not about one issue. It is about a consistent pattern of disregard. A supervisor who loses the trust of his community cannot lead it.

Answering common questions:

Q: Isn’t a recall expensive?

A: The truth is, the cost of leaving ineffective leadership in place is far higher. Every month, our district suffers from unsafe streets, wasted funds, and irreversible policy damage. The recall is an investment in restoring responsive leadership.

Q: Why not just wait until the next election?

A: Waiting means allowing more harmful policies to move forward unchecked. We don’t have the luxury of wasting years while our district falls further behind.

Q: What about the argument that Supervisor Engardio has done “some good things”?

A: Even if that were true, isolated positives do not erase the broader reality: he has consistently ignored Sunset District residents, misused funds, and placed outside agendas ahead of District 4. A supervisor’s core job is representation. On that, he has failed.

Q: And who replaces him?

A: The recall doesn’t leave us leaderless. It opens the door to a representative who will truly prioritize the Sunset District — someone who will restore police staffing, fix roads, and engage honestly with neighbors. This is not about partisan ideology. It’s about local accountability.

Q: Finally, is this recall about one issue?

A: No. It’s about trust, safety, and responsible governance. Whether the topic is policing, infrastructure, or fiscal responsibility, Supervisor Engardio has proven unwilling to put his constituents first. This recall is broader than the Great Highway debate. It is about the very principle of representative democracy: elected officials must serve the people, not themselves.

The Bigger Picture:

Supervisor Engardio treats his four-year term as a guarantee, but public service is not a free pass. It is a responsibility renewed daily through honest engagement with the people you represent. By ignoring safety, silencing voters, and breaking promises, he has forfeited that responsibility.

The Sunset District deserves leadership that values our voices, prioritizes our safety, and uses our tax dollars responsibly. This recall is not about partisanship or ideology. It is about the basic principle that elected officials work for us.

*Selena Chu is a D4 resident, mom, and Recall Engardio volunteer