Press Releases

Will Swafford Will Swafford

Supervisor Preston to Introduce Resolution Calling on Safeway to Reverse Plan to Close Fillmore Grocery Store in March

Supervisor Dean Preston is introducing a resolution today demanding Safeway reconsider and reverse its plan to close the Fillmore’s only full service grocery store in March. Safeway announced the closure last Thursday, shocking and outraging the Fillmore and Japantown communities that rely on this store for food, the pharmacy, and the banking services on site. The resolution also calls for Safeway to work with residents and city leaders to develop a plan for the site that centers the needs of the community.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Tenderloin Community Wins $8 Million Safe Streets and Roadways Grant from US Department of Transportation

Earlier today, the Federal Department of Transportation announced that the SFMTA has been awarded an $8 million federal grant from the Safe Streets 4 All program for the Tenderloin Community Safe Streets Project . These funds will help address pedestrian safety issues in the Tenderloin, where pedestrians are 10 times more likely to be injured or killed by a car than elsewhere in the city.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

After Announcing Closure of Lower Haight Location, CVS Reverses Course, Will Remain Open

Earlier today, Supervisor Dean Preston called for a hearing on artificial intelligence in elections. With the growth of AI, including AI companies in San Francisco, and growing concerns about its role in elections by advocates, federal lawmakers, state legislatures, and the FEC, Preston’s hearing will focus on whether San Francisco law adequately addresses concerns about false and misleading AI-generated election material and whether the city needs to adopt new policies to address AI’s role in San Francisco elections.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approves Preston’s Request to Audit City’s Street Cleaning Operation

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston’s request to audit the City’s street cleaning operations. The approval comes as street cleanliness continues to be a concern for San Franciscans, with more than half of respondents to the 2023 City Survey sharing their impressions that street cleanliness has worsened in 2023. “Street cleanliness” was also the lowest rated category on the survey.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Tenderloin Veterans Honored as Supervisor Preston Introduces Resolution to Rename Mural-Filled Neighborhood Street “Veterans Alley”

For over a decade, a small Tenderloin alley decorated in murals painted by U.S. military veterans has been informally known as Veterans Alley, and today Supervisor Dean Preston has taken the first step toward making the street name official. Since the Tenderloin was redistricted into District 5 last year, Supervisor Preston’s office has been working alongside Veterans Alley co-founder, Amos Gregory, on commemorating the project.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

After Pledging to Start Affordable Housing Project in Hayes Valley in August, Mayor Breed Breaks Promise and Now Refuses to Commit to Timeline

Despite a two decade delay, advocates were encouraged earlier this year when the Mayor’s office committed to starting predevelopment in August of a long-promised affordable project in Hayes Valley. Those promises appear to have again been broken, as Mayor Breed refused to commit to a timeline for affordable housing at Parcel K at a Board of Supervisors hearing today.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Proposal to Eliminate 70% of Hayes Valley Shared Streets Program Heads for Vote Today at SFMTA Board

The SFMTA Board of Directors will vote today on a recommendation to gut the Hayes Valley Shared Streets program by eliminating two days of the three-day weekend closure to private vehicle traffic. In place since August 2020, the street closure has been a key aspect of the neighborhood’s economic recovery. Yesterday, Supervisor Dean Preston sent a letter to the SFMTA Board objecting to the proposal, and demanding the Board reinstate the three-day closure, or alternatively continue the item to allow time to develop a plan with community leaders to preserve the car-free space. The seven-member SFMTA Board will vote today on the future of the program.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Supervisors Approve Limitations to Security Guard Use of Guns in Response to Banko Brown Killing

In response to the tragic murder of Banko Brown, the Board of Supervisors has passed the legislation brought forth by Supervisor Dean Preston to ban private security guards from drawing guns to stop shoplifting, a move that will bring San Francisco law into conformity with existing state training regulations on the use of weapons by security guards. This legislation aims to prevent more senseless killings of community members and to better reflect California state law.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Fake News Site Founded By Disgraced Silicon Valley Tech Founder Falsely Reports Supervisor Dean Preston's Resignation

Fake news site “BNN News” on Saturday falsely reportedthat District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston had resigned “[a]mid [c]ontroversy [s]tirred by Elon Musk.” BNN News was founded by disgraced serial tech founder Gurbaksh Chahal, who was once called “ Silicon Valley’s Most Self-Destructive Founder.” The story was then reposted on MSN , where the fabricated story remained for over 24 hours despite requests from Preston’s office that the baseless story be removed and retracted.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Supervisor Preston and Transportation Safety Advocates Move to Ban Right Turns on Red

Today, at the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Dean Preston will introduce a Resolution calling for the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) to ban right turns on red. Once implemented, San Francisco would follow New York City’s lead and become the second largest city in the country to ban these turns. Several other large cities like DC and Seattle have begun implementing bans to varying degrees as well.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Board of Supervisors Unanimously Calls on Administration to Fill 500 Vacant Supportive Housing Units, Move People Immediately from Homelessness to Housing

500 units of Permanent Supportive Housing may soon have new residents, if the Administration complies with the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous resolution urging the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to fill at least half of the vacant Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units within 90 days.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Supervisor Preston Introduces Legislation to Immediately House At Least 500 People Experiencing Homelessness Within 90 Days 

Amid rising tensions in the City over a lack of shelter for people experiencing street homelessness, Supervisor Preston introduced legislation today calling on the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (“HSH”) to fill at least half of its vacant Permanent Supportive Housing (“PSH”) portfolio within 90 days.

Read More
Dean Preston Dean Preston

Supervisors Demand Clarity on UN Plaza Activation Project and Support for the Heart of The City Farmers’ Market

Following an opaque process to activate UN Plaza in a manner that is displacing the Heart of the City Farmers’ Market, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston and Board President Aaron Peskin introduced a Resolution today expressing the Board of Supervisors’ concern over the process, urging the Recreation and Parks Department to adopt mitigations requested by the Farmers’ Market and calling for the department to provide clarity to the Board and community on the UN Plaza activation “pilot.”

Read More