UU Values Go to Sacramento

 UU Values Go to Sacramento 
by Brian Kougl

On April 28, I joined a delegation of members from SDOP (the San Diego Organizing Project) on a trip to Sacramento to lobby our representatives on several important upcoming bills that are key in supporting our UU values. In Sacramento, we were joined by about 600 members of our statewide organization, PICO, who came from other local faith-based organizations across the state. It was a fun, informative, and productive whirlwind of a trip, flying out in the morning and returning in the evening. This was a new experience for me and I did learn a lot. The line to get into the office building was long, the line for the elevators was long as the building was packed with people from various organizations. The excitement was palpable. Our SDOP group divided into several smaller groups to meet with our respective lawmakers. My group met with legislative aides for Assembly member Chris Ward, Assembly member David Alvarez (who stopped by personally to greet us) and Senator Akilah Weber-Peterson. We were welcomed by each of them. We discussed with them our support of AB1157, a rent control measure, AB 736, and affordable housing bond, and AB 1231, a bill that offers measures providing resources and support to low-level offenders. In each of our sessions, we received very positive responses. They took notes on our comments and we felt heard. Not only did we express our support for these measures, we asked mindful questions designed to hold representatives accountable, and they gave us thoughtful realistic guidance about how to achieve our goals. One piece of information that I found especially valuable was that whenever we meet with staff in the local field offices, what we say does matter, and that input gets to the lawmakers. After our meetings, there was a press conference and then a march through the streets supporting affordable housing. It was a long, tiring day, but in the end a very productive one. For me, it was a very rewarding experience that I feel privileged to have been a part of!

Brian Kougl is a member of First UU, the San Diego Organizing Project, First UU's Social Justice Executive Team, and a fixture at the South Bay Food Pantry.

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