{"id":32300,"date":"2024-03-13T12:06:28","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T19:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=32300"},"modified":"2024-03-13T12:06:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T19:06:30","slug":"meet-the-district-5-candidates-are-police-crackdowns-on-drug-dealing-effective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/03\/13\/meet-the-district-5-candidates-are-police-crackdowns-on-drug-dealing-effective\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the District 5 candidates: Are police crackdowns on drug dealing effective?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"A by\u00a0ELENI BALAKRISHNAN<\/a> <\/strong>MARCH 12, 2024 (MissionLocal.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Bilal Mahmood, Dean Preston, and Allen Jones are running for District 5 supervisor in the November 2024 election. Illustrations by Neil Ballard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the latest in our \u201cMeet the candidates\u201d series for District 5, where we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election, with answers capped at 100 words. All the responses will ultimately be compiled onto a single page, where readers can peruse the potential supervisors\u2019 stances on upwards of 40 topics before it\u2019s time to vote in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, here\u2019s our latest question for the District 5 candidates: We have seen recent law enforcement crackdowns directed at open-air drug dealing. Have these efforts been effective, if not, how would you address this issue?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"District<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dean Preston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Effectiveness should be measured by whether the crackdowns have prevented overdose fatalities, reduced street violence, and improved neighborhood conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By those metrics, the crackdowns have largely failed. At best, enforcement strategies have improved some blocks at the expense of others, while creating turf wars that have increased gun violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to use a comprehensive strategy with evidence-based solutions, and until we do that, we will continue spending millions without results. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve called for San Francisco to implement Zurich\u2019s successful \u201cFour Pillars\u201d strategy to combat addiction, save lives, and improve street conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"District<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Allen Jones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have not noticed a difference one way or the other in law enforcement crackdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, I have no intention of trying to tell SFPD how to do its job, but I will monitor the situation post-Prop. E. If Prop. E tools are not effective enough in cleaning up street drug dealing; after being given a chance to work, I think we need to clean out those in charge. The reasonable time frame should be no more than one year after police cameras are installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"District<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bilal Mahmood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arresting fentanyl dealers and providing treatment to users is necessary to ending our open-air drug markets. As a Tenderloin resident, I know that we need both, and that our current efforts are not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need beat officers who build relationships with the community to be patrolling our streets \u2014 currently, we have zero in nearly all precincts of the Tenderloin. We need to fully staff employees for existing social services programs, and reduce the bureaucracy impeding nurses and officers\u2019 ability to do their jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By cutting red tape and increasing staffing, we can improve outcomes to create healthier, safer communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at eleni@missionlocal.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the rest of the District 5 questions here<\/a>, and the entire \u201cMeet the Candidates\u201d series here<\/a>. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can register to vote via the\u00a0sf.gov<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELENI BALAKRISHNAN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

eleni@missionlocal.com<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

REPORTER. Eleni reports on policing in San Francisco. She first moved to the city on a whim more than 10 years ago, and the Mission has become her home. Follow her on Twitter @miss_elenius.More by Eleni Balakrishnan<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0ELENI BALAKRISHNAN MARCH 12, 2024 (MissionLocal.org) Here\u2019s the latest in our \u201cMeet the candidates\u201d series for District 5, where we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election, with answers capped at 100 words. All the responses will ultimately be compiled onto a single… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1864],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32300"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32300"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32301,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32300\/revisions\/32301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}