San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston Facing Growing Criticism Following Interview Over Crime, Issues In The Tenderloin

San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston faced growing criticism on Monday following a recent Unherd interview, with many upset that he is calling for a reduced police budget during a major rise in crime, and calling the Tenderloin safe to walk around.

Since being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2019, Preston has made a name for himself as the most liberal member of the Board. A self-described “Democratic Socialist,” Preston has made headlines for fighting hard for eviction protections, extreme affordable housing measures, and opposing any police department growth in the city. In the past few years, Preston has also authored resolutions decriminalizing psychedelic drugs, giving 10 day warning periods for soon to be evicted tenants, and limiting authorization for security guards to use weapons when dealing with an armed threat. Many prominent figures, such as Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk, have called for him to be ousted because of the damage he has done to the city.

While criticism against him isn’t new, as he has faced public backlash following police defunding efforts and calling for a ceasefire in Israel because of Islamaphobia and anti-Palestinian rhetoric despite a rise in antisemitism and being the son of holocaust survivors, it has grown more consistent in recent years. On Monday, criticism reached new heights following a new interview.

Preston made several wild claims and statements in the interview, including saying that “Arresting drug users has not made our city any safer. It’s actually made it less safe. It increases overdoses.”

He also blamed capitalism and economic issues for the problems in the Tenderloin area of the city, adding that “I think what you’re seeing in the Tenderloin is absolutely the result of capitalism and what happens in capitalism to the people at the bottom rungs. The biggest driver of why folks are on the street is because they lost their jobs, income or were evicted from their homes, usually for not being able to pay the rent. So you have major landlords literally causing folks to lose their homes, and real estate speculation making it impossible for folks to find an affordable place to live.”

He then proceeded to contradict himself by claiming he felt safe while walking in the Tenderloin district and, “I don’t think every instance of poverty or addiction or behavioral health issue is a safety threat to someone walking by. I mean, there’s a lot of people who are doing things that are very harmful to themselves on the streets, who aren’t necessarily a safety threat.”

Finally, Preston also defended his police defunding stance, saying that they should focus on violence prevention work rather than focusing on arresting drug dealers.

“I think we have a very, very bloated police budget. All kinds of waste in the police department. I could cut $100 million out of the department,” added Preston.

Criticism against Preston

While Preston’s remarks have been praised by many in the city, others were up in arms over the remarks on Monday, especially those in his district.

“It’s people like him that are ruining this city and made it into this nightmare it is today,” said resident Cal Jackson, to the Globe on Monday. “He does have some support, especially around here, but there has been this growing movement against him in recent years. We obviously need more police here. We need better city services. And we are not seeing any change. Also, he said he felt safe walking around? Try being homeless, or walking around at night. We have had to time group meetings being let out to bus schedules and when people driving around to carpool people come by to avoid anyone having to wait in one spot too long, as people have been mugged that way. We shouldn’t have to do that.”

Bay Area Security consultant and former policeman Frank Ma added, “What he said, and what he has been doing since he was elected in, have been nothing but detrimental. From a security standpoint, what Preston is doing has been so callous. San Francisco is facing so many crises right now. Keeping things in check with a strong police force isn’t the only solution, but it is one very much needed to help things not get worse while everything else is being sorted.”

“My kids used to play this game called SimCity, where you get to control a city of your own on the computer. And every time you reduce police funding, the worse things get. Especially if you put that money in social programs. Even fifth-graders know that what he is trying to do is wrong.”

Still, others noted that the growing movement against Preston could have  an outcome seen several times in recent years in San Francisco.

“Preston is in danger of not being in office this time next year,” said Bay Area pollster Cheryl Powers to the Globe. “First off, most people see San Francisco as unsafe, so he is facing a big uphill battle on many of his views. But second, you need to remember that the people of San Francisco are really turning against progressive politics in recent years. Last year alone three members of the school board and the city’s DA were recalled in elections. And now reelection coming up. Preston is going more and more against the grain here with policies that just are not working. He needs something positive done, and soon.”

Preston is currently running for reelection next year.