I think I'm at the point where I'm realizing elected and candidates take advantage of their volunteers, donors, and staff for their betterment and I'm feeling really gross about it.

Like I don't want to discourage people to contribute to progressive campaigns, but candidates really need to realize and recognize how much their volunteers and donors are doing to prop them up.

We desperately need these progressive voices, but they have to find ways to pay it back or recognize the efforts of the circle that got them the office, and often.

When I managed a large team, one of the things I sent out when I joined the team was a survey asking "how do you want to be recognized?"

You need to meet people where they are.

For me, I don't care to be recognized. I want to see real, tangible evidence of positive change in our community as a result of my effort to elect this person to advocate on my behalf.

I want to see houseless housed and find belonging, I want transit to be accessible, I want EPS to be present when there's a rash of petty crime.

Maybe I'm not always seeing that, but I know the alternative is absolutely not a safe human who I actively feel threatened by.