Editor:

On Feb. 18, around 1 p.m. near 22nd Avenue and Irving Street Market, two Asian women in their late 60s and early 70s were collecting signatures for the recall Engardio petition when a man who appeared to be in his 50s took their sign, tore it apart, and stepped and spat on it, according to Albert Chow, a recall supporter and president of the neighborhood group People of Parkside Sunset. The man yelled at the women, saying they shouldn’t be collecting signatures on the street.

Then on Feb. 19, a juvenile was wounded in a shooting in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset District. The shooting was reported at around 2:44 p.m. in the area of 37th Avenue and Santiago Street.

It’s deeply concerning that our elected supervisor, Joel Engardio, has remained silent on a number of serious issues facing our community. From incidents of intimidation against petition signature gatherers to a recent shooting in our district, Engardio’s silence speaks volumes about his priorities as a leader.

As constituents, we deserve a supervisor who is willing to engage with the tough issues facing our community, even if it means taking a stand that may be unpopular or politically difficult. By remaining silent on these issues, Engardio is sending a message that he’s more concerned with maintaining his own image than with serving the people who elected him.

It’s time for Engardio to break his silence and start listening to the needs and concerns of his constituents. If he’s unable or unwilling to do that, then perhaps it is time for us to consider new leadership that will put our community first.

Even if the incidents of intimidation and harassment of petition signature gatherers were not directly orchestrated by Engardio or his campaign, his silence on the matter still speaks volumes. By failing to condemn these incidents or call for civility and respect in the recall process, Engardio is implicitly condoning this behavior and sending a message that he’s not interested in hearing from those who disagree with him.

This is not the kind of leadership our community needs or deserves. We need a supervisor who is willing to listen to all voices, even those that challenge his own position or agenda. By remaining silent on these incidents, Engardio is demonstrating that he’s more concerned with preserving his own power than with serving the needs of his constituents. It’s time for him to take a stand and speak out against these incidents, or step aside and make way for someone who will.

D.P. Sardaneta, District 4