By Megan Robertson

Following the passing of Proposition K, a controversial ballot measure which now will turn the Upper Great Highway into a full-time city park, a group of westside residents are beginning their attempt to recall District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who advocated for the measure to be on the ballot.

On Dec. 4, 2024, Richard Corriea and Vin Budhai submitted a formal letter of intent to recall Engardio. Budhai is the founder of Open the Great Highway and a resident of Engardio’s home district. Corriea is a longtime Richmond District resident, as well as the former president of the Planning Association for the Richmond and prior captain of the San Francisco Police Department’s Richmond Station.

Corriea and Budhai collected 80 signatures from District 4 residents, which are included in the Dec. 4 letter. Per the San Francisco Department of Election’s requirements, Engardio filed a formal response to the intent. Corriea and Budhai are now in the process of further signature collection, with the hopes of a special election in 2025, before Engardio’s term is up in early 2027.

Engardio won the seat in 2022 with 50.7% of the vote, narrowly beating incumbent Gordon Mar. He entered a heightened political landscape on the city’s westside surrounding the stretch of the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. The roadway was closed to traffic completely in 2020 to provide residents a safe recreation area during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the City landed on an agreement, to last until the end of 2025, which would close this stretch of the highway to most vehicle traffic on weekends.

This issue was made even more complicated when the SF Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in May 2024 to close the portion of the Great Highway south of Sloat Boulevard due to coastal erosion. While the highway no longer serves as a 100% direct route to Daly City for commuters, more than 14,000 drivers use the stretch from Lincoln to Sloat each day.

Budhai said the thought of a recall did not come up until Engardio, along with four other supervisors, introduced Proposition K to the ballot last summer. The stated justifications for the recall are that Engardio should have done more outreach to constituents before putting the proposition on the ballot and that Engardio should never have put it on the ballot.

Outside of this issue, Budhai admitted Engardio has had many accomplishments for the district.

“The night markets, fixing potholes and things like that. These are all wonderful things. Don’t get me wrong,” Budhai said. “But they’re not the things that the community needs or relies on a daily basis. Drivers, commuters, they need to get back and forth from work to pick up and drop off their kids, and to get to hospital appointments.

“We feel that, as a leader of the community, you should have done some more outreach to your constituents, to your voters, to see how they would think or how they feel about you moving forward by putting this on the ballot for the entire City to vote on.”

Proposition K passed with only an approximate 30-40% support rate in the westside districts.

In an email statement, Engardio wrote, “I’m humbled by the views of residents who opposed Prop K.”

Engardio responded to the accusation that he did not do enough outreach to voters.

“Many said they didn’t feel heard in the process, and I take this feedback to heart,” he said. “I’m hearing loud and clear that we need safer residential streets and better traffic flow. These are valid concerns, which I share. That’s why I’m working with Mayor-elect Lurie to ensure key traffic improvements are made before implementing the Prop. K road closure.”

Traffic improvements by the city are planned for the coming months.

Budhai claims that part of Engardio’s initial election victory was due to his stance on keeping the Upper Great Highway compromise in place.

“It’s an act of betrayal against all of the voters and his constituents,” Budhai said. “A lot of folks were happy with the compromise and just said it is what it is. Let it be.”

Engardio disputed this claim via email.

“I’ve always talked about the pending closure of the Great Highway south of Sloat due to coastal erosion and how it would create the opportunity for a permanent oceanside park. This language has been on my website and platform since my campaign in 2022.”

Following the Board of Supervisors’ May vote to close the southern end of Great Highway, Engardio addressed the fate of the Upper Great Highway running along the edge of the Sunset District.

“Clarity was needed about what to do with the middle section of the road. There were only two ways to resolve this issue: Either by the voters directly or by the 11 members of the Board of Supervisors,” he said. “Either way, residents or supervisors on the east side would have a say. Rather than 11 supervisors deciding the future of our collective coast, a vote at the ballot box gave everyone a say. After all, the coast belongs to everyone.”

Engardio is in the process of releasing a “Stop the Engardio Recall” campaign and website.

“Not everyone agrees, however, that my role in Prop. K is a recallable offense,” he stated. “I was one of five supervisors to put Prop. K to a democratic vote of the people. Voters have a democratic right to recall elected leaders, of course. But recalls should be reserved for elected officials who commit the most egregious offenses or who are unable or unwilling to fulfill the duties of their office. No matter the result, this recall will not change the outcome or implementation of Prop. K.”

“We just need someone that really truly represents all of the district and not just a small minor group that he’s advocating for right now. Ideally, we want to replace Joel Engardio with a supervisor that represents everyone,” Budhai said.