GrowSF Blocks Journalist Over Contested "Moderate" Label for Supervisor Bilal Mahmood

San Francisco, CA – Veteran journalist Susan Dyer Reynolds, editorial director of The Voice of San Francisco, claims she was blocked by the political organization GrowSF for asserting that newly elected District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is a "far left progressive" rather than a moderate. Reynolds stated in a recent tweet, "Remember when GrowSF blocked me for saying @bilalmahmood was not a moderate but rather a far left progressive? Yea, me too 🙄." This social media exchange highlights ongoing tensions and definitional disputes within San Francisco's political landscape. GrowSF, a prominent political group in San Francisco, identifies itself as a moderate organization focused on issues such as housing, public safety, and governmental efficiency. The group actively works to elect candidates aligned with its pragmatic agenda and played a significant role in the 2024 elections, including endorsing Bilal Mahmood in his successful bid for the District 5 supervisorial seat. GrowSF positioned Mahmood as a moderate alternative to the incumbent, Dean Preston, a self-described democratic socialist. Bilal Mahmood campaigned on a platform emphasizing streamlined housing approvals, addressing the city's fentanyl crisis, and supporting small businesses. He defeated Preston in the November 2024 election, a victory that many, including GrowSF, heralded as a shift towards more moderate leadership in the city. Mahmood, a former policy analyst in the Obama administration, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, became the first South Asian and Muslim-American elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. However, Reynolds, known for her critical reporting on San Francisco politics, has challenged Mahmood's "moderate" branding. She points to specific policy positions and actions, such as his refusal to endorse District Attorney Brooke Jenkins—a figure often aligned with moderate factions—and his opposition to Proposition 36, a measure supported by GrowSF that sought to increase penalties for repeat theft and certain drug offenses. Reynolds has explicitly labeled Mahmood as a "progressive in moderate's clothing" and "left of progressive," citing his support for figures like Lateefah Simon. This incident underscores the fluid and often contentious nature of political labels in San Francisco, where the terms "moderate" and "progressive" can be interpreted differently depending on the issue and the observer. Reynolds has a history of clashing with political figures on social media, having previously sued former Supervisor Dean Preston for blocking her from his Twitter account. The blocking by GrowSF suggests a strong disagreement with Reynolds's characterization of Mahmood, further illustrating the deep ideological divides present in the city's political discourse.