by ELENI BALAKRISHNAN APRIL 30, 2024 (MissionLocal.org)
Here’s the latest in our “Meet the Candidates” series for District 5, where we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election. Three candidates are challenging incumbent Supervisor Dean Preston to represent District 5, which spans from the east end of Golden Gate Park through Haight-Ashbury, Japantown and the Western Addition, the Lower Haight and Hayes Valley, and most of the Tenderloin.
Mayor London Breed last week proposed a midnight curfew for some convenience stores in the Tenderloin, to deter drug dealing activity in the neighborhood — the latest in the city’s series of efforts to stop unwanted behavior by fencing it off or shutting it down.
Preston’s office, with the support of his fellow supervisors and the mayor, already passed legislation this month restricting new smoke shops from opening in some areas of District 5, with similar goals in mind. But although residents purportedly called for the earlier shop closures that Breed is now proposing, storeowners are reportedly unhappy about the proposal.
This week, we asked the candidates what they think of this plan: How will it affect residents and businesses, and what effect do you expect it will have on drug dealing and users in the area?
Living in District 5 since November 2021.
Allen Jones
I’m voting for Mayor London Breed, even though I do not support the proposal to close some stores by midnight in the Tenderloin.
Frankly, I don’t believe this is her idea. Closing stores early sounds like another hair-brained SFPD plan run amok. And if true, is SFPD willing to share some of its budget to help these same stores? The lack of creativity by City Hall on this issue is the problem, not, poor ole mom and pop, if you will.
Living in District 5 since December 2020.
Autumn Looijen
Why would we force convenience stores to close from midnight to 5 a.m. in the Tenderloin?
Because these stores supply drug users with late-night strips of tinfoil, torches, and crack pipes… the purchases often funded by late-night sales of stolen goods.
They’re supporting the drug markets that force beloved restaurants and other businesses to close.
Would you want this in your neighborhood?
Tenderloin residents want a 1-year pilot curfew narrowly targeted to just these shops, as one part of a broad strategy to shut down the drug markets and make our streets safe.
Let’s run this experiment (and others), and track the results.
Living in District 5 since May 2023, lived adjacent since May 2021.
Bilal Mahmood
Implementing solutions with community input such as this one is crucial, however, this is a temporary crutch. Supporting our local small businesses requires long term solutions to addressing the underlying issues — we need to end open-air drug markets to restore safety and vibrancy to the Tenderloin.
I recently proposed a Drug Market Intervention plan, a community and evidence-based approach to end San Francisco’s open air drug markets. It will ensure fully staffed police departments to arrest fentanyl dealers and incapacitate the market, provide off-ramps for local low-level offenders to deter the market, and increase beat patrols to prevent markets from emerging.
Endorsed by: State Senator Scott Wiener and DCCC Chair Honey Mahogany
Living in District 5 since 1996.
Dean Preston
The legislation is overbroad and would unfairly punish small businesses. Tenderloin businesses are struggling and deserve to be at the table for decisions impacting them. Unfortunately, the Mayor didn’t consult with our office or the immigrant-owned businesses that would be impacted.
We’ve been meeting with stakeholders to arrive at amendments that address problematic businesses without unfairly harming others. The last thing we need in the Tenderloin is more vacant storefronts.
The proposed curfew won’t reduce drug use/dealing. Comprehensive approaches, like the Four Pillars Strategy, are proven to combat addiction, save lives, and improve street conditions.
Endorsed by: Bernie Sanders, United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco Tenants Union, National Union of Healthcare Workers
The order of candidates is rotated each week. Answers are capped at 100 words, and may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at eleni@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the District 5 questions here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
READ MORE CANDIDATE ANSWERS
Meet the Candidates: San Francisco’s District 5 supervisor race
ELENI BALAKRISHNAN
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
