Representatives we elect to office are supposed to represent and advocate for their people and their communities, but they don’t. When elected officials fail to engage with the communities they serve, then they are no longer representatives – but career politicians and party establishment “yes-men” who only act when it benefits them or when they can no longer delay action. At a minimum, our elected representatives should:
As long as we see these career politicians and establishment yes-people in office, we won’t see the big change that our people and communities need right now. Given the ever-increasing wealth gap between the haves and the have-nots, rising rent and costs of living, and prioritization of corporate and special interests over the people in the federal budget, which leaves only crumbs for the people, it’s even more important to elect representatives who will actually talk with us, hear us, and create new ideas and legislation together. That’s the kind of responsive representation we need here in California’s 34th congressional district, and all congressional districts of our country.
We must bring the power back to the people, and that means electing representatives who are truly community-based.
Community-based leadership is one where a leader seeks to always co-govern with their community, directly communicates and allows reliable open access to community members, and actively follows up with all necessary parties to ensure that their community members receive the benefits that they deserve.
The federal government was intended to be one that is of, for, and by the people. When our elected federal representatives aren’t co-governing, communicating and coordinating with our constituents, activists, community organizations and local leaders, but rather passively co-sponsoring and voting on bills when told to do so by the elite few, we don’t have a government that truly represents us and our communities. Instead, we have one that represents political parties and special interests.
It’s time to take our power back as a people and create a government that represents us and that starts with voting in 100% people-powered candidates who are sourced and rooted in the community, and who will co-govern, communicate and coordinate.
That is what I promise to do as your Congressperson.