2024 is ending, Republicans will take over nationally in January – how do we Democrats find hope and courage locally?

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Just weeks after the November election, I arrived at the NewDEAL Leaders conference in Washington, D.C., exhausted and questioning the direction that our country is headed. I felt depleted, uncertain of what to say to people in our community who looked to me as a city councilmember and asked, “What do we do next?”

I returned from the conference with renewed hope, and a strong sense of purpose for changes we can make locally.  

The annual conference brings together more than 200 state and local Democratic leaders to figure out how we drive meaningful change at the local level. The unwavering commitment and resolve of my colleagues fortified me and now, I want to share some of that energy with you, particularly if you feel frustrated by the recent election results and unsure of how to respond. 

The conference reminded me to focus on the accomplishments in place right now, none of which are going away with this new administration. In Santa Cruz, we all can be proud of the strides we have made this year on housing and homelessness. We are among 6% of jurisdictions in California to meet our state-mandated housing goals. That’s something we can be proud of. 

We’ve also seen a 38% decrease in homelessness and have forged state partnerships to support our progress. The shift might feel small, not yet visible enough to some, but the change is real and shows the process is working. 

We’re also making significant strides in securing our coastline and planning for resilience, and we’ve boosted investments in children and youth through innovative policies like the Children’s Fund. 

And, let’s not forget that in November, we as a community beat Big Soda by passing Measure Z, the sugar-sweetened beverage measure.

That is huge. That’s real change. That’s hope in action.

 

I also met inspirational leaders in other communities, many of whom are serving in red or purple states. I’m inspired by their continued resolve to fight for their values and protect their communities in the face of the promise of mass deportations and the reduction of reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. I know many of us in Santa Cruz are worried about these same rights. I encourage you to seek support and ways to help with our local organizations.

On a national level, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg blew my mind. He is witty, personable and an inspiring speaker. I guess that’s why he’s so often the one who goes on Fox News to represent the Democrats.

As he spoke, I copied some of his words. “We cannot be mesmerized by the worst things we see happening,” he told the crowd. “We need to move very quickly through the shock to identify what has to be done.” 

He also reminded me of work that Democrats have accomplished that can’t be undone under the next administration. 

Over the past four years, the U.S. has invested more than $1 trillion in clean energy. Solar energy has boomed. The government has approved over 66,000 transportation projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with 14,000 already completed. These are cathedral projects, as Buttigieg called them — projects that will outlast all of us and serve our communities for generations to come. 

At the conference, I also learned from Democratic leaders who live in red states and who have become adept at compromise, at reaching across the aisle and listening. The conference inspired me to do more of that in Santa Cruz. 

On Election Day, 20.7% of Santa Cruz County voted for Trump. Let’s think about why. 

Let’s talk more to people we disagree with, let’s be more open to hearing them and their ideas, especially in Santa Cruz, where we so often live in a liberal bubble. 

I’m writing this because I was moved and inspired by others, and as a public servant I want to bring this inspiration and message of hope and community action back to you. 

The challenges we face are daunting and will intensify in the coming years. But I believe our solution lies in both deeply listening to others’ perspectives and in local action. I can’t tell you what that local action is for you. For me, it’s been serving on the Santa Cruz City Council and working daily to understand and address some of our community’s problems. 

As we close out 2024, I invite you to ask yourself what you want to do to make our community better. We have local organizations that could use your support. How can you get engaged with them? What action can you take that will start the sort of positive change you want to see? 

At the conference, Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington offered a quote by the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who said, “Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that together, we can make the world better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one.” 

In this moment, as we prepare for a Republican administration, I choose hope, and I believe that hope — paired with action — is the key to moving our community and country forward. To my fellow Santa Cruzans, I invite you to identify what courageous actions will help you find hope.

Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson is Santa Cruz City vice mayor and the council’s District 3 representative.