Here’s the latest in our “Meet the Candidates” series for District 5, in which 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.
This week, we’re talking about racism, after one District 5 resident received racist, threatening packages on his doorstep twice in recent weeks — blatant examples of the hate that still exists, at times in the open, but often in the undercurrents of our society.
We asked the candidates: What can you, as supervisor, do to address race issues, in a city like San Francisco that brands itself as progressive, and in a district that has seen plenty of racial tensions over the years?
Since we posed the question last week, Preston introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors this week, calling on city departments to prioritize and the FBI to investigate the incidents; candidate Bilal Mahmood also announced a draft resolution to the San Francisco Democratic Party to declare racism and hate crimes a public health crisis. While it remains to be seen what these resolutions may achieve, other candidates offered little in the way of ideas or solutions.
Note: I will be at Cafe International at 508 Haight St., on Thursday, May 16, at noon. Come say hi.
Bilal Mahmood
- Job: Founder of private and philanthropic organizations
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since May 2023
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: B.S. from Stanford, M.Phil from University of Cambridge
- Languages: English, Urdu
The racist harassment Terry Williams has received has no place in San Francisco. It was encouraging and heartwarming to attend the community gathering in his support this weekend in Alamo Square (community fundraiser here). Such community support for survivors can provide a model for addressing hate.
Through my work at 13 Fund, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of investments in bystander training, and we should explore increasing our city budget allocations for bystander training, language access and accessibility in public safety programs, and health support for survivors. Racism is an epidemic, and it’s time we start treating it as one.
Endorsed by: State Senator Scott Wiener and DCCC Chair Honey Mahogany.
Dean Preston
- Job: Incumbent, tenant attorney
- Age: 54
- Residency: Homeowner, in District 5 since 1996
- Transportation: Public transit
- Education: Bowdoin College and J.D. from UC Law San Francisco
- Languages: English
The horrific, racist threats delivered to Terry’s home are acts of racial terror, and should never be tolerated. I’ve known Terry for years; I’ll do everything I can to support him. I’m in regular touch with Terry and the police, emphasized urgency to find the perpetrator, requested additional police visibility on the block, and joined the rally of support. This week, I’m introducing a resolution at the Board.
Confronting the legacy of anti-Black racism requires bold action. I’ll continue to center racial justice in my work including reparations, anti-displacement and reducing racial disparities in health, housing, employment, policing and education.
Endorsed by: Bernie Sanders, United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco Tenants Union, National Union of Healthcare Workers.
Allen Jones
- Job: Activist
- Age: 67
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since November 2021
- Transportation: Wheelchair
- Education: Teaching Bible studies at juvenile hall
- Languages: English
This city taught this Black man (me) to respect. Nevertheless, even though we have a Black mayor, this city is racist. And there is enough evidence from San Francisco politics to suggest San Francisco has turned “I have a dream” into, dream on.
The call for monetary reparations for some Black residents is an unrealistic progressive political gimmick. Another gimmick: this year’s SF Board of Supervisors “apology” resolution for past racist acts against Blacks, juxtaposed with the four White males trying to oust our Black female mayor in the same year? You don’t sober up by drinking denial juice.
Autumn Looijen
- Job: School board recall co-founder
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since December 2020, landowner
- Transportation: Public transit
- Education: B.S. from California Institute of Technology
- Languages: English
I was horrified to hear about this. Racism of any kind is unacceptable in San Francisco.
I’m glad our police are working to protect Terry Williams and solve this crime.
Black people belong in Alamo Square — and in NoPa, in Lower Haight, in Haight Ashbury, in Japantown, and in every neighborhood across San Francisco.
I’m heartened to see San Francisco standing with Terry during this chilling experience. Black families deserve to feel safe and welcomed in EVERY one of our neighborhoods.
Money raised and spent in the District 5 supervisor race
For
Money spent
Against
Dean Preston
$10,530
$301,458
$26,174
$156,791
Bilal Mahmood
$6,846
$63,387
Allen Jones
$0
Autumn Looijen
$0
$0
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
Money spent
For
Against
Dean Preston
$10,530
$301,458
$26,174
$156,791
Bilal Mahmood
$63,387
$6,846
Allen Jones
$0
Autumn Looijen
$0
$0
$100K
$200K
$300K
$400K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
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.
This article was updated with details about Dean Preston’s resolution that was introduced after publishing.
We need competency in city government. Currently we lack that at city hall.
Carpet bagger candidate#1 who pretends to live in the Tenderloin: How will you address racism?
“ I and ‘my team’ will attend rallies and post pictures on Twitter/X and social media.
Carpet bagger candidate #2 recently arrived from Los Altos:
“I will remain horrified and will encourage the police to protect Black people as I work to crush and dismantle our public schools.”
How will you address racism?
How telling that neither of the carpet bagging candidates (Bilal Mahmood or Autumn Looijen) said one peep about the very important issue of Reparations for Black and African American San Franciscans. Equally sad that Allen Jones, the only Black candidate, describes Reparations as “a gimick”; I’m guessing that he did not read the Reparations Committee’s report. The candidate from Los Altos didn’t mention a single action she would take to fight racism. Remember too: both candidates Mahmood and Loony Looijen took campaign money from scary Garry “die slow” Tan and neither has denounced the death threats Tan made to 7 democratically elected supervisors or the frightening messages that were delivered to their family homes. Racial terrorism and death threats must be investigated and called out. ALWAYS.
Autumn: I have an excellent background in this. I moved to San Francisco with the express intention of recalling an African American, a Latina, and a Pacific Islander school board member. I really know how to make racism work. I mean, ….