Isabella Alcaraz Is the New D4 Supervisor

The Facts

Isabella "Beya" Alcaraz was appointed to District 4 supervisor on November 6, filling the seat vacated when Joel Engardio was recalled in September. Alcaraz, 29, is a lifelong Sunset resident, art and music teacher, and former owner of the Animal Connection pet store.

Alcaraz experienced the city's permitting challenges firsthand, telling Will Jarrett at Mission Local that she spent $1,000 and waited six months for approval to install a simple storage shed. She must run in the June 2026 election to retain her seat until the end of Engardio's original term in January 2027, and again in November 2026 if she wants to serve a full four-year term.

The Context

Engardio's recall was driven by 62.7% of voters who opposed his support for permanently closing the Great Highway to vehicles and turning it into "Sunset Dunes" park. His replacement, Alcaraz, enters office as the Board of Supervisors debates the Family Zoning Plan, which would allow denser housing in neighborhoods like the Sunset.

The city faces a January 31, 2026 state deadline to approve a compliant housing plan or risk triggering the "builder's remedy," which lets developers bypass most local zoning rules.

The GrowSF Take

We don't yet know how Supervisor Alcaraz will legislate or what her priorities are, but her background as a small business owner who struggled with the city's permitting process is promising. The first-hand experience with city dysfunction may help spur more reforms.

With the June 2026 election rapidly approaching, GrowSF will evaluate all District 4 candidates through our endorsement process, which will kick off in the next month or two. Until then, we'll be watching how she votes on key issues like the Family Zoning Plan and other important governance reforms.