舊金山最多華人落腳的日落區，在916的特別選舉中，以六成三的壓倒性多數通過罷免市議員殷嘉立。
這一結果，就等於是：日落區居民結結實實地給代表該區的市議員殷嘉立一記當頭棒喝！
三年前，以華人居民為主流的舊金山日落區曾對這位非華裔的殷嘉立另眼相待，除了因其關切華人社區的議題、寄予厚望之外，並期待他能致力謀求社區的福利和發展。沒想到，殷嘉立在坐穩市議員之後，逐漸的「露餡」了。
殷嘉立市議員於去年底「發起並推動永久性關閉海傍公路的提案」，而該提案亦獲得全市市民的贊成通過。舊金山市府隨即動工關閉了日落區賴以為生的交通要道—海傍公路，並將之改為公園，專供遛狗、慢跑、騎自行車等休閒活動之用。殷嘉立竟然沾沾自喜的吹噓為「大功一件」，完全無視它給許多日落區居民造成多大的不便與衝擊。
在916的罷免選舉中，日落區居民把他們半年多來的不滿與怒火，全發出來了！通常，這一單一選區的特別罷免選舉的投票率應是很低的，很冷的。但這次日落區的投票率仍能到42.31% 應算是不錯的，也顯示出日落區的選民對罷免殷嘉立這件事是很上心的。最令殷嘉立最為臉上無光的是：不僅是日落區的二十個投票站皆一致贊成罷免他，就連他自己住的「本命區」也都沒保住，甚至是投下了67%的大比例罷免票。
這一結果顯示，日落區居民早已拿定主意要炒了殷嘉立！
面對這一難堪的罷免結果，殷嘉立不僅不後悔他的「封路」之舉，並堅持他是站在「歷史對的一邊」，他更強調，「海岸是屬於大家的 、每一個人都有發言權」。從殷嘉立的敗選談話，顯然，他仍然不知道他是為何會被罷免的？甚至，殷嘉立根本就沒有從這場罷免選舉中吸取任何教訓。坦白說，如果殷嘉立繼續持這一態度來面對其罷免，他在日落區的政治路已經是走到頭了。
在殷嘉立被罷之後，舊金山市長羅偉依法可以任命一位市議員來取代殷嘉立的遺缺，直到明年六月選出新的市議員為止。當媒體問及將會任命什麼樣的人來代理殷嘉立？羅偉市長立即爽快答稱，「我會任命一位傾聽居民聲音的人」。羅偉的這一回答，其實，就已百分百的點出了殷嘉立的最大敗因。歸根究底的說：殷嘉立忘了他是日落區選出來的市議員，他在計畫「封路」之時，完全罔顧日落區居民的聲音，才會導致殷嘉立的慘遭「炒魷魚」。
這一當頭棒喝，如果還不能敲醒殷嘉立的話，我認為，殷嘉立今後就別想在政治圈混了！
文/陳子巖
《作者簡介》陳子巖 現任加州華聞社社長、曾任中國時報報系駐美西特派員、美洲時報周刊總編輯、中時電子報駐美特派員、KTSF-26台「台灣抉擇」主持人。
Sunset District Voters Recall Supervisor Joe Engardio with Overwhelming Majority
In San Francisco’s Sunset District, home to the city’s largest Chinese community, voters overwhelmingly approved the recall of District Supervisor Joe Engardio in a special election on September 16, with 63% voting in favor.
The result amounted to a heavy blow dealt by Sunset residents to the supervisor who represented them.
Three years ago, the predominantly Chinese Sunset District gave this non-Chinese politician the benefit of the doubt. Because he paid attention to issues affecting the Chinese community, residents had placed great hopes in him, expecting he would work to improve community welfare and development. Unexpectedly, once he secured his seat, Joe Engardio began to show his “true colors.”
At the end of last year, Joe Engardio spearheaded and pushed through a proposal to permanently close the Great Highway. That proposal won citywide approval, and the city government soon began converting the Sunset District’s critical traffic artery into a park for dog walking, jogging, and cycling. Joe Engardio even boasted of the project as a major achievement, while ignoring the tremendous inconvenience and disruption it brought to many Sunset residents.
In the September 16 recall, Sunset voters unleashed their months of dissatisfaction and anger. Typically, turnout for a single-district special recall election would be very low. But this time, voter participation reached 42.31%—a respectable figure that showed how seriously residents took the recall. Most humiliating for Joe Engardio was that not only did all 20 polling stations in the Sunset District vote for his removal, but even his own precinct rejected him, with 67% voting to oust him.
The result made it clear: Sunset residents had already made up their minds to fire Joe Engardio.
Facing this humiliating defeat, Mar expressed no regret over his road closure initiative. Instead, he insisted he was “on the right side of history” and stressed, “The coastline belongs to everyone, and everyone has a voice.” From his concession remarks, it was evident he still did not understand why he was recalled—or perhaps refused to learn any lesson from it. Frankly, if Joe Engardio continues to hold this attitude, his political career in the Sunset is finished.
Following Joe Engardio’s removal, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Laurie is authorized to appoint a replacement supervisor until a new one is elected in June next year. When asked what kind of person he would appoint, Mayor Daniel Laurie promptly replied, “I will appoint someone who listens to the voices of the residents.” His answer perfectly captured the core reason for Joe Engardio’s downfall. Ultimately, Joe Engardio forgot that he was elected to serve the Sunset District. By moving forward with his road closure plan while completely disregarding the voices of local residents, he brought about his own dismissal.
If this wake-up call still doesn’t shake Joe Engardio, then it’s safe to say his future in politics is over.
By John Chen
