San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong on Friday revealed his position on the future of the Great Highway, a contentious topic in District 4 on the west side of the city that was at the center of the recall of Wong’s predecessor.
Wong, who Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed about three weeks ago as the supervisor for District 4 that includes the Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods, said he would support a ballot initiative to restore the Great Highway “compromise” that previously had the highway open to cars on weekdays and then turned into a park for pedestrians and bicyclists on the weekends.
“After meeting with Sunset neighborhood groups and leaders across the political spectrum over the past three weeks … I believe my values align with the majority of Sunset residents who support reopening the Great Highway to cars on weekdays,” Wong said Friday at City Hall’s Department of Elections.
A pivotal campaign issue
Wong’s stance on the future of the Great Highway could be a significant part of his campaign to become the district’s next permanent supervisor when voters head to the polls in June 2026. On Friday, Wong filed the paperwork needed to kick off his candidacy.
Wong was selected by Lurie to fill the empty seat, but District 4 voters will have to cast their ballots next summer to elect a supervisor who will serve the remainder of Joel Engardio’s term, which expires at the end of 2026. Lurie had originally selected political newcomer Beya Alcaraz to fill the seat, but she quickly resigned following allegations of misconduct surrounding her management of a pet store.
Engardio, the previous District 4 supervisor, was recalled in September in part due to his support for closing the Great Highway permanently and ending the compromise that had been in place since 2020.
The Great Highway ran from the Richmond District to Daly City, but the passage of Proposition K in 2024 closed the thoroughfare to cars in favor of an oceanfront park. However, the majority of voters in Districts 1 and 4, where the Great Highway is located, voted against its closure.
“I’ve never had an issue sharing it with people driving to work or taking their kids to school,” Wong said.
Wong is a District 4 native who has served in the U.S. Army National Guard and the American Red Cross. He also served as a legislative aide to former District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar before becoming an elected member of the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees.
His top priorities as supervisor will be to cut bureaucratic red tape, restore trust in local government, improve public safety and education, and advocate for more housing.
“For too long, the Sunset has felt that government is something imposed on them rather than a service that works for them,” Wong said. “I’m here to change that.”
Lurie: ‘An incredibly strong start’
As supervisor so far, Wong voted in favor of the Family Zoning Plan, which will allow for higher-density housing in the commercial corridors of certain areas of the city, including District 4.
“Supervisor Alan Wong has already gotten off to an incredibly strong start,” Lurie said in a speech Friday as Wong filed the candidacy paperwork. “I look forward to supporting him in the June election.”
Sherman Tang is the vice president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights and needs of Chinese American residents in San Francisco.
Tang joined Wong at City Hall on Friday, along with dozens of other supporters, to see Wong announce his candidacy. Tang, who opposed the closure of the Great Highway, was happy to hear Wong’s support for a ballot measure to reopen the roadway on weekdays.
“While he was helping former Supervisor Mar, he came out and discussed with us many times,” Tang said in an interview. “I’m confident that he will do a good job for our city and also our community.”