Greenberg Brief: Dean Preston’s Anti-Capitalist Hypocrisy Amid Failings

Many call him a petulant schmuck. A man-child, grifter, hypocrite, a communist. I agree with those labels, and more. San Francisco district supervisor and member of the eleven-seat Board of Supervisors representing the 5^th District is Dean Preston, one helluva magnet for ridicule and condemnation. And he’s again making headlines across the nation as he blames Capitalism for the ails plaguing The Tenderloin neighborhood of his district.

Elected in 2019 with a win over a moderate candidate by a mere 185 votes, Preston ran as a “Socialist” and endorsed by the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America). Joining the ranks of screw-loose, radical-reformer characters like his comrade Chesa Boudin, Preston is deeply entrenched in ideology so much so, he is often the sole hold-out  on votes on new legislation. He’ll examine and comment on everything through a Karl Marx lens. And he’ll sacrifice decency, dignity and compromise for the sake of being controversial. They say activists make terrible elected officials, and Dean Preston is proof.

In his most recent claim, he’s trying to make the case Capitalism is to blame for the suffering in The Tenderloin, during an interview for a documentary chronicling the demise of cities by UnHerd.

Over the years, Preston has lots of pointed jabs, but he doesn’t say much about his own failures, exploitations and deflections.

He and his family trust own millions in property, including an apartment complex, and his own multi-story restored Victorian house overlooking Alamo Square, a park featuring grand vistas of the downtown San Francisco skyline and famous for the row of “Painted Ladies” in so many films and TV shows like “Full House”. As Supervisor, he earns a six-figure income plus benefits.  He’s one of a trend of ex-New Yorkers and East Coasters who’ve made their way to the West Coast, becoming involved in politics claiming to champion “San Francisco Values.” Jane Kim, Chesa Boudin, Mark Leno and Scott Weiner did as well.

Dean Preston has been on the wrong side of our city’s governance on so many things. He supported Chesa Boudin’s election and condemned his recall. He opposes funding the beleaguered SF Police Department. He opposes arresting drug dealers, and wants jails closed. He rabidly opposes clearing tents off sidewalks and supports the city’s Reparations Plan. If there’s a hard Left-Wing ideology proposal in the works, he’s on it like a fly to crap. And he loves to fight with the Mayor, London Breed (Side note, she really needs to clap back at him).

There are eleven supervisorial districts in San Francisco, with representatives at city hall comprising our city council, as a Board of Supervisors. Why should the words and screw-loose claims of one member be of importance or matter at all to the rest of the City, if it’s mostly Preston’s district that is the poster child for really bad leadership, drug dealing run amok? Because he earns a salary and benefits paid for by taxes from all city residents, businesses and tourists as hotel occupancy taxes. And moreover, he disrupts any sense of normalcy in city hall legislative work by taking stands, speaking at length during policy proposal deliberations, and calls for fellow hard-Left activists, Socialists and radicals to come to chambers and give testimony during public comment time. Remember the hours of condemnation of Israel, and support for Hamas/Palestinians last week in a bid to approve a resolution calling for a cease-fire? That was Dean Preston’s doing.

Preston is running for re-election next year. Already in campaign mode, he’s working hard to garner support from his most loyal voters and campaign donors. He’s received early endorsements from several groups and organizations, though the window for candidates to join the race doesn’t close until June, 2024. We’re eagerly waiting for a credible opponent. He’s firmly positioned as the farthest Left official in San Francisco and he’s proud of it. Interestingly though, a huge number of his constituents of District 5 don’t agree with his stance. Since his taking office in January 2020, the district’s lines have been redrawn and he’s inherited neighborhoods which include The Tenderloin, where voters don’t agree with his loony antics.  He’s feeling major heat and he sees the real potential for defeat in the future.

I have a message for Mr. Preston: If Capitalism is so bad, why do you actually embrace it? How about selling off your multi-million dollar property holdings, break up your family trust, refuse your salary, cancel your health insurance, donate your possessions including your technology items, stop wearing capitalist clothing, cancel your credit cards, close your bank accounts, renounce your US citizenship and passport, and buy a one-way ticket to Venezuela?