John,

At this point in our campaign, on a Saturday like this, we would be hosting a big field mobilization at our office. After some coffee and a rallying speech we’d hit the streets to knock on the doors of our neighbors and visit farmers’ markets to build grassroots support for our campaign. 

The thing is: we haven’t had a usual Saturday in a long while.

Today, some campaigns will hold in-person field events. They’ll enter our most vulnerable communities to hand out campaign materials and in the process, block public right-of-ways like sidewalks and force residents into the street. If you’ve been out in the Western Addition/Fillmore at all in the last couple of weeks, you’ve seen what I’m talking about. It’s the same sort of double-take you might experience while watching TV recently, “Gee, why is no one wearing a mask?”

As the City and nonprofits work to raise awareness of and compliance to the health order, no campaign should hypocritically flout these rules and the health of our communities of color in the name of politics.  

I can’t, with a clear conscience, put anyone in harm's way to win a political race — not our volunteers, not our neighbors. But that doesn’t mean we won’t fight and win in November.

These times call for a new, safer approach to campaigning that protects the health and safety of volunteers and neighbors alike, by limiting in-person activities and contact.

In short, our campaign will take these measures: 

• We will not block public space with campaign activities.
• We will not have a campaign office. 
• Staff and volunteers will work from home.
• Until it is determined these activities can be conducted safely, we will not knock on doors, pass out campaign materials at farmers’ markets, or try to engage in other community spaces.
• Everyone associated with our campaign will be educated about and required to follow health directives and orders from County, State, and Federal officials.
• We will provide contactless delivery of campaign signs, and always wearing a mask while in the proximity of campaign signs in storage or being delivered, and require frequent hand washing.
• And critically, our campaign will always support the community organizations doing important work throughout District 5 in any way possible.

I hope you’ll join us in this campaign knowing that your safety and the safety of our neighbors is my highest priority. There’s a lot at stake in this election and we need your help. Our next phonebank will be held online tomorrow at 11AM.

Thank you,