By Wilson Chu - Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC)
8/29/25

Chair Nancy Tung, members of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, fellow Democrats —
We are here tonight because something is broken in San Francisco. And that something has a name: Supervisor Joel Engardio.

Let’s be honest: Joel Engardio betrayed his constituents. He knew exactly how residents felt about the closure of the Great Highway. We told him loud and clear — keep it open, protect our access, listen to the people! But what did he do? He concocted a plan to close it anyway, then tried to wash his hands of responsibility by deflecting the blame onto the voters of San Francisco. That’s not leadership — that’s deception! That is betrayal!

And let’s be crystal clear: Engardio has violated the very core values we as Democrats expect from any elected official. Representation. Transparency. Ethical conduct. Accountability. He has failed us on all counts. Instead of representing, he manipulates. Instead of being transparent, he hides behind political spin. Instead of accountability, he plays the blame game.

Now, I want to speak directly to a painful truth for many of us. Time and again, candidates in this city come to the Chinese American community when they need votes. They come when they need campaign volunteers. They come when they want to win. But when it comes to policy, when it comes to listening to our voices, too often we are ignored. And Joel Engardio has followed this same pattern. He embraced our community when it was convenient for him — but turned his back on us the moment he got into office. Enough is enough!

And let’s not forget Proposition K. Once again, the Chinese American community was left out of the conversation. Other Supervisors signed onto that legislation without ever consulting us, without ever listening to our concerns. This is not just Engardio’s failure — this is a systemic failure. Our community is good enough to deliver votes, but apparently not good enough to be heard on the issues that shape our lives. That is not democracy — that is exploitation! And we are here to say, no more.

Colleagues, let’s face it: Joel Engardio has lost the public’s trust. And when the people stop trusting you, you can’t lead. Period. Every issue he touches — even good policy — will face resistance, because no one believes he’s acting in the public’s interest. And when a supervisor loses all credibility, it’s not just his problem — it’s San Francisco’s problem.

This recall is about more than one politician. It’s about whether we, as Democrats, will accept betrayal, deception, and neglect as the new normal in San Francisco politics. It’s about whether communities like ours get to have a real voice, not just be treated as props during election season. And it’s about restoring trust and accountability in City Hall.

So I say to you tonight: let’s stand up. Let’s send a message. Let’s tell Joel Engardio — and anyone else who thinks they can betray their constituents — that when you ignore your community, when you lose the public’s trust, when you put spin above service, you do not get to keep your seat.

Members of the DCCC — I urge you to take a stand for integrity and accountability in this city. I urge you to endorse Proposition A: the recall of Supervisor Joel Engardio.

About Chinese American Democratic Club 
Since 1958, Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) has been empowering the
Chinese American community
and uplifting families and young
people in San Francisco.
As the oldest political club in
the United States for Chinese
Americans, CADC has been on
the forefront of advancing the
Civil Rights movement,
anti-discrimination efforts, and
the recent Stop Asian Hate
campaign.