Preston, Mahmood joust over police funding, housing in contentious debate
Bilal Mahmood, an entrepreneur and District 5 supervisor candidate, repeatedly picked fights with incumbent Dean Preston at a Wednesday night debate, scolding the incumbent for saying he would defund the police, and for criticizing national policies around police funding. “You are sending a message to police officers that their work is ‘pointless’ and that is why we are unable to hire staff and we are unable to arrest fentanyl dealers today,” Mahmood said. Preston shot back. “If you want a politician who is just going to, every budget season, write a blank check to this police department of $50 million to $100 million extra, with no accountability on how that’s being spent — if you want that kind of person — maybe he’s [sitting] to my right.” “He is,” Mahmood agreed “So you’re a rubber stamp for police budgets?” Preston said incredulously at the UC […]
