Hi there,

On the eve of the election, I want to tell you what’s on my mind: hope and fear. 

I’m hopeful because change is coming. From Greta Thunberg to Black Lives Matter, activism is on the rise. Issues that have been ignored for decades are seizing the national consciousness. 

Thousands of Berkeley residents I’ve spoken to want change. Not just because their own lives have been hurt by politics as usual – though that is certainly true. (So many families are suffering from the cost of living, street violence, and the gnawing sense that the institutions around them aren’t serving the interests of ordinary people.) No, people want change because Berkeley has always led with its progressive values. And, on issues like homelessness and climate change, our people want us to lead again. 

This gives me tremendous hope.

But I’m also afraid. Our conflict-driven media has brought out the worst in our society. From conspiracy theories to political insults, our culture has been choking on something more dangerous than greenhouse gases: distrust.

Tech giants feed on our anxieties and fears. They profit from this, as conflict drives clicks and advertising. Politicians, too, have adopted these tactics, and now use inflammatory attacks to wield a certain sort of power. But that power comes at a steep cost: faltering trust in our democracy, and in one another. 

That is why this has always been about more than just winning the election. Win or lose, our values are what really matter. This campaign is about reigniting compassion. Addressing homelessness. Keeping our community safe (from police misconduct and from crime). Accelerating the fight against climate change. These goals are at the heart of this campaign, not traditional politics. 

The election will not determine whether we achieve these goals. It is just a test of the grassroots power we’ve built. The vote is a thermometer, not an engine. The true engine is our grassroots movement. 

That’s why my final ask is not for your vote. It is to share your hope for the future. Hope that we will seize this moment. Hope that out of crisis will come opportunity. Hope that we will overcome fear and distrust, and build a better Berkeley together. 

Tomorrow is the final day of voting. It will be my first time on the ballot, and I hope that Berkeley votes for change. A victory that will shake the establishment. It will send a message to every politician in the Bay Area: the people want bold change. 

But real change starts with you.

If our hope can outshine our fears, Nov. 3 will be the beginning of a transformation in Berkeley. I know it can be done. Tomorrow, we will find out if the rest of Berkeley sees the same hope that we do. I believe they will.

Thank you for everything,

Wayne