A newly appointed San Francisco district supervisor has resigned just one week into her term following shocking revelations about her former pet store business, including allegations of dead animals stored in freezers and unsanitary conditions throughout the shop.
Isabella ‘Beya’ Alcaraz, 29, stepped down as District 4 supervisor after Mayor Daniel Lurie requested her resignation. The scandal erupted after Julia Baran, who took over The Animal Connection pet shop from Alcaraz, exposed disturbing photos and videos showing hundreds of dead mice, rotting animal remains, and a store coated in urine, feces, and dust.
Baran told local media that the smell inside the store was overwhelming, saying, “It smells like death.” She also claimed she and her brother had to bury the remains of the animals found throughout the shop. Photos reportedly showed dead animals in the same freezers as commercial inventory.
The Animal Connection, located in the city’s Sunset District, had been cited by the city’s Department of Public Health multiple times, and the store’s reputation deteriorated under Alcaraz’s management. Baran further alleged that Alcaraz boasted in text messages about paying employees under the table and writing off personal expenses like dinner and drinks to lower her taxes.
Despite having no prior political experience or higher education credentials, Alcaraz was appointed by Mayor Lurie, who had previously praised her as a “bridge builder” and “problem solver.” Her appointment was widely criticized after the reports surfaced, with critics questioning how someone with such a questionable business background had been selected for a six-figure public office.
Alcaraz was sworn in just last Thursday, on her birthday. Within days, her appointment turned into a political liability for the mayor’s office. Critics, including Baran, rejected the narrative that Alcaraz had been a successful businesswoman, pointing to the overwhelming evidence of neglect and mismanagement at her former store.
The scandal has become one of the most embarrassing missteps in Mayor Lurie’s tenure to date and has sparked renewed scrutiny over how public appointments are vetted in San Francisco.
