Instructions:
1. There are 10 sections to this questionnaire. Each section
corresponds with the 10 Key Values of the Green Party.
2. Each section begins with a written question and ends with several
multiple-choice questions. Please don't skip the written question.
3. The multiple-choice questions are answered by checking the box in the
appropriate column to indicate which is closest to your position:
+ = Support / Agree / Yes
- = Oppose / Disagree / No
: = Undecided / Don't know / No opinion
4. The world is too complex to always break down neatly into
yes/no/maybe choices, so feel free to clarify any answers to multiple
choice questions with a few words.
Candidate Name: Dean Preston
Phone Number: 415) 741-3828
Web site: www.votedean.com
E-mail: votedean2019@gmail.com
Name of Campaign Manager: Jen Snyder
Are you receiving public financing: Yes
Signed voluntary spending limit: My campaign is bound by the Individual
Expenditure Ceiling because of participation in the public financing program
2nd, 3rd endorsements in District: I have not made a formal second or third place endorsement.
Major Endorsements:
Full list at www.votedean.com
Organizations:
SAN FRANCISCO TENANTS UNION - sole endorsement
SIERRA CLUB - sole
NATIONAL UNION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS - #1 endorsement
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA SF - sole
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA (National) - sole
HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB - sole
SAN FRANCISCO LATINO DEMOCRATIC CLUB - sole
SF RISING ACTION FUND - sole
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA, CALIFORNIA - sole
SAN FRANCISCO BERNIECRATS - sole
BROWNIE MARY DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF SF
FORMER AND CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS
Aaron Peskin - District 3 Supervisor
Gordon Mar - District 4 Supervisor
Matt Haney - District 6 Supervisor
Rafael Mandelman - District 8 Supervisor
Hillary Ronen - District 9 Supervisor
Tom Temprano - City College of San Francisco Trustee
John Rizzo - City College of San Francisco Trustee
David Campos - Chair of the Democratic Party
Pramila Jayapal - Congresswoman WA 7th Congressional District
Art Agnos - Former Mayor
Mark Leno - Former State Senator
Tom Ammiano - Former Assemblymember
John Avalos - Former Supervisor
Harry Britt - Former District 5 Supervisor
Matt Gonzalez - Former District 5 Supervisor & President of the Board of
Supervisors
Jane Kim - Former District 6 Supervisor
Eric Mar - Former District 1 Supervisor
Christina Olague - Former District 5 Supervisor
Incumbent Supervisor whose votes most reflect your values: It has depended
on the vote but I most closely align with those Supervisors who have
endorsed me for Supervisor: Supervisors Peskin, Ronen, Haney, Mar and
Mandelman.
Incumbent whose votes least reflect your values: Supervisors Safai,
Stefani, Brown.
If the election were held today, who would you support as Board President:
One of the supervisors listed above who most reflects my values.
Who would be your second and third choices:
One of the supervisors listed above who most reflects my values.
Who did you endorse for Mayor in 2018 (all 3 choices, if applicable):
Dual endorsed Jane Kim and Mark Leno
Who did you endorse for Mayor in 2015 (all 3 choices, if applicable):
The challengers to Mayor Lee.
Who did you endorse for Sheriff in 2015:
No endorsement.
1) Grassroots Democracy: What are your thoughts on Instant Runoff Voting,
and District Elections? How have they worked to date? What would you change
in the future?
I support both Instant Runoff Voting and District Elections. Generally,
instant runoff works, though there is a great need for education on it, and
I greatly appreciate the hard work of Fair Vote and others who work to
educate voters about using ranked choice voting. I think instant runoff
works less well in races with a big field of candidates in which the top
candidate gets a very low percentage (like 15%). I would like to see
additional efforts, like making Election Day a holiday for a week, having
everyone get a mail-in ballot automatically, encouraging same day voter
registration, and getting lobbyist and special interest money out of
elections.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Sub-government such as Neighborhood Assemblies, Networks
or District Councils
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Some commissions should be democratically elected
[ ] [ x ] [ ] The Mayor should appoint all commissioners
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Voters' right to recall elected officials
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Ethics Commission should be disbanded
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Ethics Commission meetings should be televised
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Ethics Commission should prioritize investigating
violations from well-funded campaigns
[ ] [ x ] [ ] My campaign accepts corporate contributions
[ ] [ x ] [ ] My campaign accepts contributions from paid lobbyists or
related entities having any interest in City and County of San Francisco
2) Ecological Wisdom: Please outline your view of the major environmental
and ecological issues facing San Francisco and your proposed policies to
address them.
Climate change is the most pressing environmental issue facing the nation, city, and District 5. We need a Green New Deal for San Francisco that centers public transportation, freedom from fossil fuels, municipalizing PG&E, and launching a robust Green Jobs program. We must lead the nation on these issues.
In District 5 specifically, transportation and development are pressing environmental issues. "Rideshares" like Lyft and UBER are dominating our streets, creating massive congestion, excessive emissions, and dangerous conditions for environmentally friendly modes of transit. Uber's stated goal is to take people off public transit and into their private vehicles. Meanwhile, MUNI fails to meet the needs of riders, while continuing to increase fares. Until we get serious about being a transit-first city, we will see more of the same. Adding development without addressing transportation only exacerbates this. San Francisco should have a goal of free and fast MUNI (and a robust regional bus system) that competes with, and to the greatest extent possible replaces, cars that rely on fossil fuels. At the same time, we must rush pedestrian and bike improvements, not just to save lives, but to promote biking and walking along with riding public transit as the primary future modes of transportation in our city.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Phasing out all diesel buses (e.g., Muni, tour, shuttles)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Public Power
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Install local/regional clean energy, efficiency, and
battery storage to supply 50% of our electricity by 2030
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Reducing or eliminating parking minimums in new housing
and commercial developments
[ x ] [ ] [ ] As in Bayview, halt all US Navy Treasure Island
transfers of lands tested by Tetra Tech, to private developers
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Natural Areas Program
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Tree Removals
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Use of Tier One herbicides in public parks
[ ] [ ] [ x ] Addition of SF Groundwater to City's potable supply
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Artificial turf on City-owned athletic fields
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Managed retreat and Coastal Zone protection in response
to Global Warming
3) Social Justice:
A) What is your assessment of homelessness in San Francisco, and what
solutions do you propose?
We need to do everything we can to implement Prop C, which is something I fought hard for on the 2018 ballot. I support navigation centers in every district, including District 5 where many of those who are homeless are youth. I oppose sweeps.
The number one priority right now for all city officials needs to be solving homelessness. It is our city's greatest shame that we leave sick and sometimes dying people on our streets without services.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Project Homeless Connect
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Care Not Cash
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Community courts
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Healthy SF
[ x ] [ ] [ ] SF's sick leave requirements
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Law against sitting down on SF sidewalks
[ x ] [ ] [ ] I support more homeless navigation centers in my district
B) What are your views on housing affordability, what public sector strategies have worked, which have failed, and what are your proposals?
I have been a tenant attorney and affordable housing advocate for 20 years and it's work I will continue to do for the rest of my career. We will ensure full implementation of Prop. F, the right to counsel measure I wrote and passed last year; create 10,000 units of affordable housing using an innovative social housing model; and hold developers accountable as I've done for years to ensure we maximize affordable housing, not just luxury condos in this town.
The private sector will not meet our housing needs on its own; I support expanding municipally owned and controlled housing, including major investments in social housing.
+ - ?
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Building more market rate housing will lower housing
costs for current SF residents
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Impacts of all new development should be paid for in
advance by fees on developers
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Community Land Trusts
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Rent Control is too strong
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Elected Rent Board
[ x ] [ ] [ ] HOME-SF (density bonus program)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Social Housing (similar to
https://www.sfcommunityhousingact.com/)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Ban on Airbnb and other short term rentals
I believe short term rentals should be carefully regulated. They are fine
for hotels, for example, but totally different for rent control housing.
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Require full disclosure of all corporate/speculative
interests in parties purchasing/developing property
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Vacancy tax on empty homes
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Pied-a-terre Tax on residential property owners who do
not reside in SF
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Condo conversion is currently too difficult
4) Nonviolence: What are your solutions for SFPD accountability while
making the streets safer?
Police reform is a key part of making our streets safer and I support major reform. I started my legal career as a civil rights attorney representing victims of police misconduct. I rallied with the Mario Woods/Alex Nieto Coalitions for months and called for Chief Suhr's ouster. Our city needs to get serious about police reform with deescalation policies and body cameras, and have independent oversight to ensure accountability for police misconduct. I also believe that we can make streets safer through models of community engagement and presence that are run outside SFPD.
+ - ?
[ ] [ x] [ ] Prioritize SFPD enforcement of moving violations
[ ] [ ] [ x ] Support expansion of foot patrols. I support moving
officers from cars to foot patrols, but not expanding overall policing in
any way.
[ x] [ ] [ ] Demand stricter accountability in future MOUs with the
SFPD
[x ] [ ] [ ] The Board of Supervisors should be able to set policies
and priorities for the SFPD through legislation
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Support a public safety program modeled after NYC's
"Stop and Frisk"
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Prosecution of SFPD Officers involved in fatal shooting
deaths of San Francisco residents
5) Decentralization: What are your thoughts on the Kaufman Charter
of 1996? Does it need revisiting?
I'm concerned about excessive concentration of power in the Mayor, and I support oversight wherever possible. The new Charter brought some positive changes to the City/County, however I don't support the placement of so much authority under the Mayor.. I would support the return of that proposition and split appointments for other boards and commissions. I supported the four ballot measures in 2016 that were a check on mayoral power.
+ - ?
[ ] [ ] [ x ] Bring the Housing Authority under the Board of
Supervisors
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Will you create formal district councils to advise you?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Charter amendment allowing voters to choose the
replacement of an elected official being recalled on the same ballot as the
recall vote
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Immediately implement open-source voting system on the
local level
6) Community Based Economics: What economic policies, including taxation and land use, would you propose that would drive capital into our communities and keep that capital here for residents?
I support improving public services through creating new revenues, including taxing those who have benefited most from our economy, and helping to pass bond measures, and a public bank to reinvest in housing and our communities. I believe we need to increase transit impact fees for developers, and that the City should create a special tax for pied-a-terres, and discourage the practice of using our limited housing supply as simply an investment opportunity for rich investors. I also believe, and have fought for, increasing the inclusionary requirements for developers. In addition, I served on the steering committee for the campaign to pass Proposition G, the anti-speculator tax, in San Francisco.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Legislation limiting formula retail outlets/chain stores
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Conditional Use permit required for big box stores
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Municipal broadband as a public utility
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Neighborhood cooperatives prioritized as a local supply
chain for legalized marijuana
[ x ] [ ] [ ] I support recreational marijuana stores opening in my
district
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Local hiring requirements should be enforced and
expanded to include private projects
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Conversion of some golf courses into soccer fields
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Prop 13 limits on tax increases should apply only to
residential properties
Prop. 13 shouldn't apply at all to commercial, and that reform is needed on
residential properties as well
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Commercial Rent Control
7) Feminism: Do you believe women are underrepresented in city government?
If so, why do you believe this is the case? Is this a bad thing, and if so,
what would you do to remedy the situation?
In San Francisco, we have made great strides with the mayor and strong women on the Board of Supervisors and Department heads being female--but we still need to do much more. I'm a feminist. I believe women are underrepresented in positions of power city government. This is a systemic problem. Leaders must prioritize nurturing new leaders, particularly women and women of color. As Supervisor I will prioritize creating leadership opportunities for leaders in unrepresented communities and work to create better gender balance in City Hall. Our campaign reflects these values: 80% women, 60% women of color. Our prop F campaign had two staffers: both women (one trans woman). The nonprofit I founded and ran has 50% of the board women, majority of staff women, and I helped recruit a woman of color to replace me as ED recently.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] The City should help SFUSD provide child care for
children of working parents
[ x ] [ ] [ ] The DPH should provide reproductive health services
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Require parental consent for minors seeking an abortion
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Require parental notification for minors seeking an
abortion
8) Respect for Diversity: Tell us what you believe are the best and the worst aspects of San Francisco's diversity. How would you try to protect the best while trying to change the worst?
I'm deeply concerned about the displacement from San Francisco, an epidemic that has hit African American and Latino communities particularly hard. Much of my work over the past 20 years as a tenant rights advocate has been trying to stop that displacement in individual cases and systemically. We are always up against the real estate industry, and my opponent is backed by that industry and carry out its agenda. San Francisco must be a place where low income and working class people can live and prosper. As the least affordable city in the country, we are in danger of becoming a virtual gated city for only the rich, with communities of color pushed out. Nothing less than the future of this city is at stake. We must make San Francisco a truly diverse city for generations to come. I will do everything in my power as Supervisor to maintain our economic and racial diversity.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Multilingual government and public education
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Undocumented immigrants should have equal access to
education and health care
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Non-citizen residents should be able to vote in all
local elections
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Full rights for transgender persons
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Boards and commissions now reflect the ethnic diversity
of San Francisco
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Boards and commissions now reflect the political
diversity of San Francisco
[ x ] [ ] [ ] My campaign reflects the diversity of San Francisco
9) Global and Personal Responsibility:
A) What are your thoughts on the Board of Supervisors taking positions on
state, national and international issues?
Local officials can and should take stands on issues of conscience at the state, national, and international level. I believe the world must be viewed through a lens of intersectionality, and that includes the lens of issues of international importance playing out on a local level.
+ - ?
[ ] [ x ] [ ] City government cooperating with the PATRIOT Act
[ ] [ x ] [ ] City government cooperating with ICE/Secure Communities
[ ] [ x ] [ ] City government should boycott Israel until it complies
with UN resolutions
[ x ] [ ] [ ] SF supervisors should take a position on offshore oil
drilling outside CA
B) Please describe how you make your political decisions. What is the main
basis for your decision making (e.g., consultation with your constituents,
political consultants, colleagues, unions, businesses, donors, or your gut
feelings)?
Grassroots, bottom-up decision making has been the hallmark of my
organizing work and my campaign. Consulting with labor, constituents,
community leaders, staff and my colleagues will influence my
decision-making.
+ - ?
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Fleet Week and the Blue Angels flyover
[ ] [ x ] [ ] In a severe recession, environmental regulations should
be suspended to create jobs
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Business taxes are too high
10) Sustainability: What does the Transit First City Charter provision mean
to you? How has Transit First fared in recent years, and how would you
enforce that Charter Provision if elected?
For over 20 years, I have commuted daily by public transportation in San Francisco. Despite calling ourselves a "transit first" city, the reality is far from it. That's why I will prioritize making San Francisco a city with a world-class transportation system, and I will champion a Prop C for MUNI. We need to fight for big ideas like Free MUNI, 30 minute public transit trips, and a network of car-free streets.
One of my top priorities if elected, is to champion a Prop C for MUNI. Let's take back some of the tax breaks the biggest corporations got from Donald Trump to fix our struggling transportation system. As with last year's successful Prop. C for homelessness, our plan raises revenue by collecting a small revenue tax on corporations earning over $50 million per year.
My plan will generate over $300 million annually for transit, with half going to MUNI infrastructure, operators, and service, $100 million to fare reduction, and $50 million for bike and pedestrian safety. This will dramatically improve public transit, lower fares as we work to achieve Free MUNI, and fund crucial pedestrian and bike safety projects.
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Muni should be funded sufficiently to replace most car
use, and be free to the rider
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Downtown Transit Assessment Tax to support Muni
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Citywide Transit Assessment Tax to support Muni
[ ] [ ] [ x ] More weekend closures of streets in/near my district
to cars (e.g., Car-Free GGP)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] State law change that lets bicycles treat stop signs as
yield signs and red lights as stop signs
[ x ] [ ] [ ] I ride Muni, bicycle and/or walk instead of driving on a
regular basis
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Bus Rapid Transit expanded to all major transit
corridors in SF
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Car hailing services like Uber and Lyft should be
regulated as taxis, or banned
[ ] [ ] [ x ] Scooter/similar vehicle rentals should be required to
store vehicles on private property
Private companies should with the city to create safe docking areas rather
than encourage customers to take up space on the sidewalk.
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Allow residents to park on the sidewalk without getting
a ticket, unless their neighbors complain
[ ] [ ] [ x ] Congestion pricing for parking -
If done correctly
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Power more City vehicles using biofuels (e.g.,
corn-based ethanol)
[ ] [ ] [x] Residents should be allowed to park in the street in
front of their own driveway for free
[ ] [ ] [ x ] Support expanding parking meter hours to include later
evening hours and weekends
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Remove parking spots and car lanes to create dedicated
bike and bus lanes or wider sidewalks
Your positions (at the time) on selected current and past Propositions:
+ - ?
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2019 Uber/Lyft tax
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Nov 2019 Vaping regulations
[ x ] [ ] [ ] June 2018 Prop F (Eviction Defense)
[ ] [x ] [ ] June 2018 Prop H (Tasers for SFPD)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop D (Vacancy appointments)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop F (16-17 y.o. voting, local elections)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop N (Non-citizen voting, school board)
[ ] [ x ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop Q (Prohibiting tents on public sidewalks)
[ ] [ ] [x ] Nov 2016 Prop R (Neighborhood crime units)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop 62 (Ending Death Penalty)
[ ] [ ] [ x ] June 2016 Prop B (Rec and Park legislation)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] 2015 Prop F (Short Term Rental Regulation)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] 2015 Prop I (Mission Luxury Housing Moratorium)
[ x ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2014 Prop H (Natural Grass in Parks)
I voted to require grass, not turf. I believe that was the Yes on H
position.
[ x ] [ ] [ ] June 2014 Prop B (Waterfront Height Limits)
[ ] [ ] [ x ] 2011 Prop C (Mayor's Pension measure)
[ ] [ ] [ x ] 2011 Prop D (Adachi's Pension measure)
I can't remember but I voted with Labor.
[ ] [ x ] [ ] 2010 Prop L (Ban on Sitting on Sidewalks)
[ ] [ ] [ x ] 2010 Prop M (Foot Patrols)
Due Date: Tues, Aug 13, 11:59 pm.
Please submit by email to cc@sfgreens.org. For more information, call
Erika McDonald at 415-337-1499. Please return your answers in plain
text (not HTML, PDF, or Word format), so that we can post all
candidates' answers in the same format.
The SF Green Party will invite all candidates who return completed
questionnaires on time to speak and answer questions at our Mayor/Supe
candidate forum and endorsement meeting on August 28 (scheduled for
Wed, Aug 28 from 7-9 pm). If you need to schedule a particular time
slot, or if you are unable to make the meeting, please be in touch
with us at cc@sfgreens.org. Otherwise, we'll interview candidates as
you arrive. Our forum and endorsement meeting will take place in our
office in the Redstone Building, Room 301. The Redstone is located at
2940 16th Street (between Mission and South Van Ness, 1 block from
16th St BART).
Completed questionnaires will be posted on our website,
http://sfgreenparty.org.