Hi there,

Leonard Powell is a Berkeley stalwart and a retired military vet. He worked at the postal office, served as a crossing guard, raised 6 kids in our city and has owned his home for 45 years. Yet in 2017, the city of Berkeley forced him out of his home, on the grounds of “code violations.” His home was given to a “receiver” -- a legal entity that would take over possession of the home to make the necessary improvements. Powell was subsequently hit with a $600,000+ bill to get his home back. By all accounts, the receiver intentionally racked up large bills for renovations, with the intent to sell the home (and make a hefty profit) when Mr. Powell failed to pay his fees -- which would leave Mr. Powell without a place to live. 

Thankfully, the community that he spent decades supporting stepped up. The neighborhood group Friends of Adeline organized a viral fundraising campaign that secured the money he needed to secure a mortgage on his loans. Activists protested and went to the  media, forcing a response from the city. But despite promises by the City Council -- and the Mayor himself -- that Mr. Powell would get support, to this day no support from the city has come.

I know this story because I represented Mr. Powell in a hearing a few months ago, and quickly realized that he was still being victimized by an unjust political process. I had attended as a community member to show support for one of my neighbors, but was soon drafted to serve as counsel to represent. A team of activists worked tirelessly to find Mr. Powell's new counsel, securing some of the world’s best at a firm called Gibson Dunn. Now the fight for Mr. Powell’s home and future will finally be a fair fight. 

I am running for Mayor, with a grassroots and community base, because these things can and must change. We want to revise our regulatory code to ensure working class folks don’t get trapped in the labyrinth of legal complexity. 

If you believe in the power of community, change, and social justice, I hope you will vote for me in November. Work with us to create the lasting change this city desperately needs. I believe that in the face of crisis, opportunities can arise. And if we come together to meet this moment, we can make a better Berkeley for everyone. Can we count on your support?

- Wayne