Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Pick for Sunset Supervisor Resigns After 1 Week

Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s surprising choice for supervisor, resigned as District 4’s representative on the powerful board after just a week of representing the Sunset District and following a rapid flurry of media reports citing mice infestations and dubious financial moves at her former business.

The resignation marks a major blow for Lurie, a political novice who has been mayor for less than a year but who has earned praise for his leadership of the city and ability to avert a federal immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.

Alcaraz’s selection came as a surprise to many and arrived after Sunset voters recalled their former supervisor, Joel Engardio. The 29-year-old was not known to be active in community organizing circles and had never had a role in government before. Instead, she formerly owned a pet shop called the Animal Connection in the Sunset and most recently taught music and art classes to young children.

Just days after Lurie announced she was his pick, multiple news outlets reported that the pet store had issues with mice and unsanitary conditions. On Thursday night, Mission Local reported screenshots of text messages from Alacaraz where she said she paid workers under the table, kept tens of thousands of dollars in cash on top of reported revenue and misrepresented expenditures on taxes.

Within hours of the report, Lurie announced that Alacaraz had resigned and canceled a planned public appearance slated to happen on Friday.

“I spoke to Supervisor Alcaraz tonight. She and I agreed, as we always have, that the Sunset deserves a supervisor who is fully focused on serving the community. We also agreed that the new information about her conduct while running her small business, which I learned today, would be a significant distraction from that work. In our conversation, she told me she intends to resign as supervisor,” Lurie said in a statement. “My team and I will get back to work finding that person right away.”

Alcaraz spoke to KQED Forum on Tuesday, two days before stepping down, and defended her business after reports emerged about filthy conditions at the Animal Connection, which she sold earlier this year.

“I know what it’s like to keep the lights on and fight to pay my employees and keep my animals well-fed during a pandemic. And I’ve served this community as a business owner for the last six years, and it’s because of my business experience,” she said. “That is what positions me to do the best job as supervisor, and that’s why I’m gonna fight for every single business owner in the Sunset.”

The supervisor’s abrupt resignation marks another ripple in the Sunset’s recent political turmoil.

Engardio’s recall election stemmed from local residents’ frustration over Engardio’s support for closing the Upper Great Highway to open a park, but ultimately touched on everything from housing policy to racial dynamics on the westside.

Alacaraz was the first Filipina to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and among the youngest. But her brief time in office and the allegations that led to her departure have led to questions about the vetting process behind her appointment.

“I think [Lurie] needs to realize in this new position that he’s no longer the head of a nonprofit where people can’t challenge him, and the people of the Sunset are demanding real representation from someone with serious credentials,” said Sunset resident Lisa Arjes, who supported Engardio’s recall. “He’s made a serious mismove here and he’s starting to lose westside support.”

Lurie, who carried the Sunset in the mayoral election, defended his selection after initial reports about the pet shop came out, but shifted his tune after more serious allegations of illegal expenditure reporting came forward.

“When I took office, I promised San Franciscans leadership, accountability, and a government that would work every day to make their lives better,” Lurie said. “If that’s not happening, it’s my job as mayor to be accountable and to fix it.”

In 2008, San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew gave up his post and subsequently served time behind bars for bribery, extortion and perjury. Carmen Chu, another 29-year-old political novice, was selected by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom to fill the seat. She was then elected to the board.

Now, Lurie will need to appoint another supervisor to serve until at least June 2026, when residents will elect a supervisor. The turmoil comes as he tries to shore up support for his controversial Family Zoning Plan, which would allow taller, denser construction in some neighborhoods, including on the west side.

Albert Chow, a small business owner in the Sunset who vocally backed the Engardio recall and was interviewed for the District 4 appointment, said he is still open to the role but that this week has given him pause. He has concerns about the Family Zoning Plan, and Lurie is likely to select someone who backs the proposal for the seat.

“If [Lurie] does call me, I would certainly listen, but I won’t be pigeon-holed into a corner. Now the vote is coming for family zoning. I would definitely have to talk about that,” Chow said. “So I’m just sitting around to wait and see.”

At a press conference on Friday, Lurie did not share whether he would be looking for more experience in his next appointment. However, he said he would make sure his staff completes a more thorough vetting process.

Revelations about Alcaraz’s business came to light after reporters spoke with the current owner of Animal Connection. Lurie did not answer whether his team spoke to her before they made the selection, but they did contact her afterward.

“We are reviewing our vetting process,” Lurie said Friday, taking credit for the failed appointment. “We’ll get better and, already, I have meetings later today. We have names being submitted. And we have a list, and we’ll continue the search starting right now.”