Member of property owner’s group eyes challenge to SF’s Dean Preston

San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston’s political future may hinge on the drug-filled Tenderloin and the pending challenge from a member of a property owners group there.

The most progressive member of the Board of Supervisors tossed his hat in the ring this week to seek reelection to the seat representing his redrawn district, but he’s being challenged by a Tenderloin business leader, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Preston, an avowed Democratic Socialist who represents District 5, announced his candidacy and ongoing advocacy for affordable housing, tenants’ rights and curbing the power of police.

But he already faces a challenge  from a “Dump Dean” political action committee that has wrangled hundreds of thousands of dollars to take him down.

Now a potential candidate to challenge Preston has emerged from the grittiest part of his district.

Rene Colorado, founder of the Tenderloin Merchants and Property Owners Association, said he plans to challenge Preston.

Colorado and other Tenderloin business owners say they’re frustrated about Preston’s refusal to push for more cops. And they’re at wit’s end about his stance that arresting drug dealers is a waste of time and resources. 

Colorado told the Chronicle that Preston’s office has been responsive — but he doesn’t believe his policies for the Tenderloin will improve its ills.

“Sometimes good intentions are not enough,” Colorado told the newspaper. “I’m running because the support we’re getting is not enough.

“We need more ambassadors in the Tenderloin and focus on street cleanliness and drugs, but that hasn’t materialized. I’m not seeing (Preston) putting in the resources and changes we need.”

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Preston has faced staunch opposition to his progressive policies from moderates and conservatives since he first won election in 2019 against Vallie Brown, a Breed ally. Preston beat Brown again in a 2020 rematch, as an incumbent by a 10-point margin, according to the Chronicle.

Now the former tenant rights attorney must campaign in the Tenderloin and convince voters frustrated by open-air drug sales that drug rehabilitation, supervised drug using sites and police work-arounds will turn around the troubled neighborhood.

“The Tenderloin is where I started my tenant rights career many years ago helping low-income people facing evictions or helping people get repairs done in their apartments,” Preston said. “The neighborhood has a lot of longstanding problems, but we have been making sure folks know who I am and the kind of work we’ve been doing.”

— Dana Bartholomew