Cites Majority of Sunset Residents in Favor of Great Hwy. Compromise

By John Ferrannini

Newly-appointed District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong is calling out some supporters of the Sunset Dunes park who claimed he had not meaningfully engaged with them before announcing his support of a ballot measure that would return the question of the future of the Upper Great Highway to San Francisco ballots.

Wong made that announcement on Dec. 19, 2025 – the same day he announced he would be permanently running for the seat he was appointed to by Mayor Daniel Lurie at the beginning of last month. Wong replaced elected supervisor Joel Engardio, who was recalled in large part for his support for the 2024 ballot measure, Proposition K, that closed the Upper Great Highway to vehicular traffic and established Sunset Dunes on the roadway. Critics claimed Engardio did not do enough outreach to learn what District 4 voters wanted.

In an open letter to Wong, Alice Duesdieker, vice president of Outer Sunset Neighbors; Molly Rose, representing Sunset Parent Advocates; Eliza Panike, Outer Sunset Neighbors and District 4 SFMTA Citizens Advisory Council member and Poppy Gilman, Offix Edge owner and District 4 resident, blasted Wong, writing: “We are stating plainly that taking a controversial position – while refusing to meet with Outer Sunset organizations after committing to do so – undermines trust and damages your credibility in this neighborhood. We believe this can still be corrected. We are asking you to: Meet directly with Outer Sunset organizations and constituents that were ignored (and) hold your decision on this ballot measure until after engaging in those conversations.”

Lucas Lux, president of Friends of Sunset Dunes, joined the chorus of those condemning the move.

“We are deeply disappointed with Supervisor Wong,” Lux stated. “We believed that he was serious when he said he wanted to help restore trust after a divisive few years in the Sunset. Instead, he’s doing the opposite – claiming he’d listen to constituents while actively turning his back on them. This is unacceptable and we, along with thousands of Sunset Dunes volunteers and supporters in District 4 and across the City, will do everything we can to protect the park we love.”

But Wong said in a phone interview on Dec. 28, 2025, that not only had he met with groups “from across the political spectrum across the Sunset neighborhood,” but that he “met with the Sunset Dunes folks more than any other group.” He also posted pictures of the various meetings on Facebook.

“I don’t think it’s accurate to say I didn’t engage with them,” Wong explained. “I met with Lucas Lux. He gave me a multiple-page document explaining his rationale. I went on a tour of the Great Highway for an hour. Out of all the groups, Sunset Dunes engaged with me the most, actually. I think the pictures speak for themselves.”

According to Lux, Wong had promised that “he would participate in a public process to hear from District 4 residents,” and that he has not done so.

But Wong tells the story differently.

“When I was about to enter this office, I stated I would listen to everybody and meet with everybody,” Wong said. “Ultimately, I did it in the format I did it – going to different community groups and listening to them, so I think I did my part in listening to all these groups.”

Wong said on the day he was inaugurated that he would speak with both supporters and opponents of the permanent closure before committing to future policy specifics.

“I understand this community,” the Sunset District native said on Dec. 1, 2025. “I can commit to be someone who listens to everybody, who is open minded.”

In his Dec. 19, 2025, remarks, Wong said that he had spent weeks meeting with Sunset residents and found “a majority of Sunset residents who support reopening the Great Highway to cars on weekdays,” according to reporting by Mission Local.

Wong has said he did not vote for Proposition K, which passed citywide but overwhelmingly failed in District 4, not winning a single precinct there. A measure to repeal it and reopen the Upper Great Highway to cars on weekdays was floated by District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the Richmond District. Mission Local reported that Wong did not reach out to Chan before announcing his support for the ballot measure, but that he did reach out to supporters and opponents of Sunset Dunes.

In the June race to finish Engardio’s term, Wong is running against Natalie Gee, chief of staff to District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, former Recreation and Park Commissioner David Lee and Albert Chow, District 4 business owner and president of People of Parkside, Sunset.

After Engardio was recalled, but before Wong was appointed, the seat was briefly filled by 29-year-old political novice Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz, who resigned after one week due to controversies stemming from her handling of her Sunset District pet store.