The shortest political career in recent San Francisco history ended with a stench—literally.
According to the Daily Mail, just seven days after being sworn in as District 4 Supervisor, 29-year-old Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz resigned following public outrage over appalling conditions at a pet shop she formerly ran, with evidence including dead animals frozen in plastic tubs and widespread filth coming to light.
It all began after Alcaraz passed ownership of The Animal Connection, a pet store in the city’s Sunset District, to Julia Baran in May.
Success Story Turns Into Political Trainwreck
Baran, who took control of the shop at age 26, came upon a nightmarish scene: dead mice under shelving, urine-soaked cages, piles of trash, and freezers stuffed with expired lizards and guinea pigs.
“It smells like death,” Baran said in a video shot on May 19. She wasn’t being dramatic—the footage captured decaying carcasses and walls coated in grime. Not content to merely recoil in disgust, Baran began documenting everything, eventually handing over photos and video clips to both the Daily Mail and The San Francisco Standard.
Filthy Conditions Documented Before Resignation
It wasn’t just Baran ringing the alarm. Inspection records revealed that San Francisco Animal Care and Control had issued warnings for violations as far back as May 2024, citing rodent droppings, spilled food, and foul smells.
A follow-up in July found things no better—the notes mention rat feces “everywhere” and continued strong odors, though the animals still alive were reportedly in decent shape. Despite being given seven days in 2024 to clean up the mess, it’s clear that little, if anything, actually changed. The matter was referred to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Mayor’s Office Praised Her Before Fallout
Before the controversy broke wide open, Mayor Daniel Lurie had sung Alcaraz’s praises. Calling her a model small business owner who kept her doors open throughout the pandemic, he appointed her to fill the seat left by the recently recalled Joel Engardio.
Lurie dubbed Alcaraz's story "a success," adding applause for her grit and her dedication to local community priorities. For a moment, she was San Francisco’s first Filipina supervisor and its youngest board member at just 29 years old. But in politics, image is everything—and moldy hamster cages don’t inspire confidence, no matter how inspiring the résumé sounds on paper.
Business Record Calls Mayor's Judgment Into Question
Baran challenged the mayor’s glowing portrayal head-on. “To say you're a successful businesswoman is not true,” she said, pointing to the deplorable state of the store Alcaraz left behind. She described the interior as having “a layer of pee and dust and poop on everything.” From sullied merchandise to soiled walls, the store was more health hazard than a retail outlet. Alcaraz’s resignation on November 13 came swiftly after the media firestorm, suggesting she understood what City Hall perhaps overlooked: some messes are just too big to mop up.
Calls Grow For Stronger Vetting Of City Appointees
Political spectators are now questioning how Lurie’s office allowed the appointment to happen without a more thorough background review. Alcaraz—though ambitious—had no prior government experience.
While identity politics clearly played a part in her selection, this debacle exposes the flip side of such appointments when basic competence is overlooked for progressive symbolism. The public's frustration isn’t with her background—it’s with a lack of oversight and an over-reliance on buzzwords instead of business records.
Lesson In Politics: Results Matter More Than Optics
No amount of virtue signaling will hide the smell of decades-old rodent waste, and the results speak for themselves. Elevating community heroes is fine—but paperwork matters. This story is a warning to all levels of government: clean résumés matter more than clean talking points. Flashy slogans won’t save you when the cameras catch the freezer full of dead pets.
San Francisco may still be reeling, but one thing is clear—if your past stinks, don’t expect your future in public office to smell like roses.
