The Facts

The Sunset Night Market is no more, according to a report in The Standard. Organizers did not give a reason why the popular market wouldn't return, but many suspect it was the political environment caused by the recall of Supervisor Engardio. The Standard called the market "politically radioactive."

The Context

Supervisor Engardio helped launch the Sunset Night Market last year, inspired by trips to his husband's home of Taiwan, where night markets are a vital part of the culture. The night market was exceptionally popular, drawing over 10,000 people to event.

But now Supervisor Engardio faces a recall election on September 16th, and the campaign to oust him may have contributed to the market being cancelled.

Engardio told The Standard that "politics should not be part of the night market. It's about bringing people together and creating joy. At the end of the day, most people say they love the night market."

The GrowSF Take

What a loss for the Sunset and for San Francisco. This is local politics at its worst. Disagreements over political policies shouldn't lead to the cancellation of popular public events. The recall campaign ought to be ashamed of itself for causing this.