Overview
- Mayor Daniel Lurie said Beya Alcaraz agreed Thursday night to step down from the District 4 seat, calling the revelations a distraction.
- Journalists verified texts from Alcaraz’s phone in which she wrote about paying workers under the table, keeping $50,000–$75,000 in unreported cash, and deducting personal meals as business expenses.
- Alcaraz defended her conduct in a statement, saying she owes no taxes and that she ensured young workers at her store were paid.
- Accounting experts told the Chronicle the practices described could be illegal and expose her to significant IRS penalties depending on her filings and any audit.
- Lurie acknowledged vetting shortcomings as supervisors questioned the appointment, while the pet store’s new owner described severe conditions and multi‑year losses.