After the permanent closure of a two-mile strip of the Upper Great Highway, a four-lane divided road running alongside Ocean Beach, the politician who pushed for the decision now risks losing his position.
San Francisco Board of Supervisor Joel Engardio sponsored Prop K, which was approved in November that closed the Upper Great Highway to vehicles to create a public open recreation space. While 55% of San Francisco voters supported the bill, 64% of the 34,000 registered voters in District Four—encompassing the Great Highway and much of the neighboring Sunset District—voted against it.
The road was first fully closed in 2020 by former Mayor London Breed during the shelter-in-place order to offer citizens additional open recreational space. Later, the closure was adjusted to only restrict cars on weekends.
Over the years, it’s become a popular spot for residents to exercise, bike, and stroll. Numerous free events have also been hosted in the space, such as a trick-or-treat event, The Great Hauntway, that has taken place over the past four years.
Some residents view this as an invaluable pedestrian area. Rachelle, a homeowner in the Outer Sunset District since 2021 and parent to an infant, walks on the Great Highway “almost every day.”
“Having a young family in the neighborhood, I am very excited about having more park space—it’s a place for families to teach our kids how to ride a bike,” Rachelle said. “It fosters a sense of community that I didn’t feel like we had before.”
Still, opposition against Prop K among some Sunset District residents led to an effort to remove Engardio from office. Launched on Feb. 1, the campaign has until May 22 to collect signatures from one-fifth, or 9,911, of District Four’s registered voters. If Engardio is recalled, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie would appoint a successor to complete his term, which runs until January 2027.
At the kickoff event held at the United Irish Cultural Center—an event venue located at the intersection of Wawona and 45th Avenue, just a five-minute walk from the Great Highway—organizers distributed pamphlets and black-and-yellow “Recall Engardio” posters.
Some residents have since displayed these posters in their street-facing windows, citing commute times and new commercial development as primary concerns.
The official Recall Engardio website defines their reasons for the recall effort: “Instead of representing the majority of District 4, Joel has focused on catering to a small group while ignoring the voices of the people who elected him. He’s pushed divisive policies like permanently closing the Great Highway—without meaningful community input—creating traffic chaos and increasing stress for families and commuters.”
Others, like Rachelle, hang a “Stand with Joel” poster in their windows in support of Engardio.
“[Traffic times] don’t concern me; we have dozens of streets that go to the exact same places,” she said. “I understand that some people may disagree with his policies but I don’t think that’s a reason to recall him. It’s an expensive distraction from things that improve our neighborhood.”
As Sunset District residents remain divided, the coming months will determine if the recall gains momentum or if Engardio can advance his agenda.