Dean Preston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dean Preston
Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the 5th district
In office December 16, 2019 – January 8, 2025
Preceded by	Vallie Brown
Succeeded by	Bilal Mahmood
Personal details
Born	1969 (age 55–56) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Democratic Socialists of America
Residences	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Bowdoin College UC Hastings (J.D.)
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Website	Board of Supervisors District 5 website

Dean E. Preston (born in 1969) is an American lawyer and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This group helps run the city of San Francisco. In November 2019, Preston won a special election to join the Board. He was re-elected in 2020 but lost his seat in 2024 to Bilal Mahmood.

Dean Preston grew up in New York City. He studied at Bowdoin College and then moved to San Francisco. He became a lawyer after studying at UC Hastings College of the Law. For many years, he worked to help people keep their homes. He also started an organization called Tenants Together, which helps people who rent homes. Preston is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Early Life and Education

Dean Preston was born in New York City. His family had a co-operative apartment in Greenwich Village. His father and grandparents came to the U.S. as refugees from Nazi Germany during World War II.

Preston went to Horace Mann School and then to Bowdoin College. He graduated in 1991 with degrees in anthropology and economics. After college, he moved to San Francisco in 1993. He studied law at UC Hastings College of the Law and earned his law degree in 1996. During law school, he also studied international human rights law.

Early Career Helping Others

After law school, Preston worked for a law firm that helped victims of police unfairness. In 2000, he joined a non-profit group called the Tenderloin Housing Clinic. Here, he started helping people with their housing rights. He represented tenants (people who rent homes) who were facing eviction. He often helped those affected by California’s Ellis Act. This law lets landlords evict all tenants to take a building off the rental market.

In 2008, Preston started Tenants Together. This group brings together over 50 local organizations that help tenants in California. As its leader, Preston worked to create state laws and local groups to support rent control and other rights for tenants.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Preston at an election night event in 2019

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is like a city council. Its members make important decisions for the city.

Elections for Supervisor

Preston first ran for the Board of Supervisors in 2016 but did not win. In 2018, he decided to run again for the District 5 Supervisor seat. This seat became open when London Breed became mayor. Preston ran as a democratic socialist. This means he believes in using government programs to help people and make society fairer. He won the election by a small number of votes. He became the first democratic socialist on the board since 1993. Preston officially started his job on December 16, 2019.

He ran for re-election in November 2020 and won again. In 2024, he ran for another term but was defeated by Bilal Mahmood.

What He Did as Supervisor

Helping Tenants and Preventing Evictions

Preston worked hard to protect tenants. In 2018, he helped create Proposition F in San Francisco. This rule says that tenants facing eviction should get free legal help. This program helps people keep their homes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Preston introduced a rule to stop landlords from evicting tenants who couldn't pay rent because of the pandemic. This rule also stopped extra fees. The Board of Supervisors approved it. He also worked to extend these protections later on. In 2021, he helped pass a rule to temporarily stop "no-fault evictions." These are evictions where the tenant hasn't done anything wrong.

Preston also started a campaign to teach people about their rights. He helped pass a rule that requires landlords to give tenants a 10-day warning before trying to evict them. In 2022, he helped stop the eviction of several Black residents in the Western Addition neighborhood.

Helping People Without Homes

Preston worked to help people experiencing homelessness. In 2020, he helped create a plan to get hotel rooms for homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also helped set up "safe sleeping sites." These are places where people can sleep safely with access to food and bathrooms.

He also supported buying hotels to turn them into permanent supportive housing for people without homes.

Views on Housing and City Planning

Preston believes that the free market alone cannot solve housing problems. He thinks that "uncontrolled capitalism" causes homelessness. He supports rent control, which limits how much landlords can raise rent.

He has worked on several plans to create more affordable housing. In 2020, he introduced two ballot measures that voters approved. Proposition I raised taxes on expensive property sales to fund affordable housing. Proposition K allows San Francisco to build or buy up to 10,000 affordable homes. He has also worked to use these funds for rent relief and to help non-profit groups buy apartment buildings.

In 2022, Preston suggested a new tax on vacant homes in San Francisco. This tax would apply to buildings with three or more units that have been empty for over six months. The money from this tax would help low-income seniors with rent and buy properties for affordable housing. Voters approved this measure.

Public Bank Idea

In 2021, Preston helped start the process of creating a public bank in San Francisco. A public bank is owned by the city, not private companies. It could help the city manage its money and invest in local projects. The Board of Supervisors approved his plan to study how to create this bank.

Public Transportation

Preston has worked to make public transportation better and more affordable. He opposed plans to raise bus and train fares in San Francisco. He also supported a short-term program to make public transportation free for everyone. He also proposed ending street parking at about 1,000 bus stops to make bus service faster.

Other City Issues

In 2022, Preston introduced a ballot measure called Proposition H. This measure moved local elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. The goal was to have more people vote, as more people vote in presidential election years. This measure passed with over 70% of the votes.

Personal Life

Dean Preston is married. He and his wife live in a house in the Alamo Square neighborhood of San Francisco. He has been involved in his neighborhood. In the early 2000s, he worked to prevent fast-food restaurants from opening in Alamo Square.

See also

• List of Democratic Socialists of America members who have held office in the United States