Editor:
The issue that I and other residents of the Sunset and Richmond districts have with the Sunset supervisor is that, while his conduct did not rise to the standard of a “serious ethical breach” by legal standards, it does meet the standard of ignoring the constitutes you were elected to represent. He could have supported the compromise (as he stated he would time and time again when he was running for office) that the supervisor in the Richmond District supported.
The great majority of the residents of the Sunset and Richmond districts who are behind the recall are not “petulant” nor are we seeking revenge. What we would like to see is politicians held accountable to their constituents for their conduct. I voted for him and donated to his campaign. He’s a nice guy. I will vote for his recall and give money to support the recall. This is just the business of politics!
Underlying this divide are the bigger issues: Values. Sunset and Richmond residents want to raise their families in their neighborhood, go to the schools they choose, go to the churches they support. They are not YIMBYs or bike coalition proponents. We are not going to apologize for espousing middle class values. Most of us are fairly well educated and pragmatic – hence willing to compromise.
As a lifelong surfer of Ocean Beach and retired ocean lifeguard and firefighter, I have raised my family here in the Sunset. I had my first grandchild a couple of weeks ago! I’m sure my son will pass on the values that we take pride in, paramount being love and tolerance. Having said that, make no mistake that we will stand up for ourselves. This is what the recall is about.
Marty Murphy
Categories: letter to the editor
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 
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Thanks Marty. Well written and expresses our feelings and thoughts. Engardio lied to us and did not represent us as our district supervisor. The only reason he was elected was because redistricting put his residence in D4. He lost 2 elections in a row running for supervisor in D7. I guess they knew he was a liar. The only reason he won in D4 (the Sunset) is because we wanted to get rid of Gordon Mar! Mar was the one who started the plan to close the Great Highway and got himself voted out because of it. Engardio should take the hint and just resign. Recall Engardio!!
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Engardio lies constantly. It wasn’t unintentional and it repeats at every opportunity.
It’s the London Breed school of BS management. He says one thing, does another.
Everyone I have spoken to about this fully supports the recall. No more lies!
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Great letter Marty; I feel the same way.
Congrats on your grandchild.
Lynnie
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Prop K passed and the Coastal Commission approved the UGH closure. The decision has been made whether some SF residents like it or not.
Would this anger about Supervisor Engardio’s choice to support Prop K not be better served in advocating for traffic and street safety improvements? Supervisor Engardio has stated, on numerous occasions, his intent to work with everyone, K supporters and opponnets alike, on creating a successful result.
To me it seems like an overreaction when Joel has been an overall solid leader for the Sunset. He’s advocated for more police patrol, brought customers to Sunset businesses via the night markets, and I regularly see his office addressing community fixes.
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You are delusional if you think his office addresses community fixes. A compromise WAS the fix. One could say that the ball was dropped – but this was no mistake by Engardio. It was deceitful, purposeful, completely at odds with the messages from the majority of his constituents (and his own campaign promises), and the author of this article nailed it. Also, Sunset residents can walk and chew gum at the same time, no need to set up a straw man that we can’t advocate for safer streets while also supporting honest public servants who do what they say and say what they do. We have already seen that Engardio states his intentions, then does something else. He is a liar, end of story, and he will be escorted out shortly.
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Thoughts on the opposition of the Recall in the Sunset
The downtown special interest groups, the YIMBY’s, the billionaires, and the bike coalition proponents all have three-character traits and beliefs in common: First and foremost is their arrogant attitude that they know what’s best for everyone else. Two: they think with an upper crust, ivy League educated mentality. Three: They think that the Sunset and Richmond residents are a bunch of backward immigrants, that are uneducated, blue-collar workers (Oh no! get your hands dirty doing physical labor! Oh my!)
Well, they got one thing right: We residents of the Sunset and Richmond are either immigrants or the sons and daughters of immigrants. And proud of it! We espouse working class values. There are lots of doctors, lawyers, accountants, civic leaders, state judges, supervisors, governors that have come from the Sunset and Richmond Districts. But they all, no matter what their socioeconomic position, have a blue collar/working class value system.
Out here, we could care less about your race color creed religion sexual orientation. The only question that is asked: what high school did you go to? There are many persons living in these neighborhoods, not originally from SF, that are completely part of the fabric of our neighborhood. They lay down roots here, work hard, contribute to the community. They are Ohana.
They only thing I ask the opposition is to understand the characteristics of the San Franciscans describe above. I do not ask that you appreciate it. You will soon enough when the supervisor from the Sunset does a walk of shame out of City Hall.
Sincerely,
Marty Murphy
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Joel is a leader like Breed was a leader. Zero information voters, it’s just sad.
The gimmick night markets and whatnot have nothing to do with his blatant lies.
It’s a distraction for the developer sellout in plain sight, and you fell for it.
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Well perhaps Engardio should have been working on improving the alternative traffic arteries BEFORE closing the GH. Perhaps he should not have stated the GH would not be closed immediately but only after the mitigation efforts had been completed (uh, closure in the first quarter of 2025). Perhaps he should not have put this to a CITY wide vote where people who have no idea what the situation is along the West side of the city and who probably never use the GH as a key traffic corridor and who were fed lies about “it’s only five minutes longer” when the GH is closed could vote on something that doesn’t harm THEM in any way but harms the people who actually use and live along the GH. Again, the “joy” of night markets is minute compared to the “pain” of a closed GH. Insipid use of “Joy” should not be the guiding principle of a district supervisor – a functioning, safe, efficient city should be.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/great-highway-park-art-installations-plan-19988523.php
The downtown developer suck sound. They are PRIVATIZING THE COMMONS.
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Recalls seem to be becoming a way of life here. Folks ready to vent on a moment’s notice. I don’t like Engardio’s stance on this and a number of other issues, but the place for that is at the ballot box. “If Engardio is recalled the big winner will not be those who sought to recall him, but Daniel Lurie, the new mayor who will, only a few months after taking office, be able to put a person of his choosing, and therefore loyal to him, on the Board of Supervisors. This is only one way the recall process can be badly exploited to serve the political interests of specific groups or individuals.” https://lincolnmitchell.substack.com/p/san-francisco-recall-elections-could?publication_id=1340058&post_id=153423935&isFreemail=true&r=6pt1k&triedRedirect=true
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Engardio himself vocally supported recalls – when it wasn’t his own, when he found it politically expedient. Goose and gander. SF will no doubt save money by getting rid of his corrupt quid pro quos before he can do more selling off of the public commons to downtown developer interests. I believe most in the Sunset do trust anyone Lurie would pick before Engardio. Even a random pick would be better. Breed corruption must be wiped out if we’ll ever get back to respecting the will of the people, the constituency he ignored deliberately.
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You can already see Engardio’s PR firm at work. The article in SF Gate about how Outer Sunset property values will rise when they create the park (which apparently now includes “retail”) is a perfect example.
Guess what?? We care about our quality of life not just our property values!!
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