SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A San Francisco supervisor was recalled Tuesday after he successfully pushed to turn a stretch of coastal highway used heavily by neighborhood motorists into a car-free park despite strong objections by his constituents.
Supervisor Joel Engardio became the fifth elected official to be ousted in a recall vote in four years. He conceded, saying in a statement that he accepts the outcome and still stands by his decision to help create a park called Sunset Dunes.
“Sunset Dunes is a success. It’s good for the environment, good for our local economy, and it’s bringing joy to people of all ages,” Engardio wrote. “Very soon, we will wonder why this was ever a controversy. We won’t be able to imagine San Francisco without a coastal park and all the benefits it offers.”
Appropriate, given that he chose to act against the interests of the people he was representing. They’ll have a hard time undoing the damage (if I understand correctly, the entire city would need to approve) but at least they can prevent more of that sort of thing.
He might be right when he says that San Francisco as a whole is better off with this park, but I don’t think the role of local politicians is to maximize global well-being, as opposed to the well-being of their constituents, unless their constituents want to maximize global well-being.
That’s the problem with being a benevolent dictator- if an action is for the greater good but the people don’t want it, is it still good? What are you willing to do to stay in office now that the people have proven they don’t know what’s best for them, and you know that you do?
I don’t think it’s a matter of the people’s ignorance. His constituents may agree that the park is good for San Francisco as a whole and still oppose it.