All Hands on Deck - Episode 3

In this episode Host, Vanessa Calloway has open, candid, light hearted conversation with two of Richmond California local candidates.  Brandon Evans (Southside Son) running for City Council District 3 and Demnlus  Johnson III whose running for Mayor. 

You'll hear county vs city responsibilities. Their why for staying in Richmond and now hoping to gain constituency by being voted into office. 

Primary voting takes place June 2, 2026. 

In upcoming episodes you will hear from Council Member Soheila Bana, Supervisor John Gioia and Council Member Dr. Jamelia Brown.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

Hey y'all, welcome back. This is episode three of Social Abuse. Listen here, I have none other than Mr. Demnlus Johnson the third, our rich memorial candidate, and none other than the Southside son, Brandon Evans, our city council candidate. And so it's in the last episode, you all, I shared how excited I was for the both of you. And we're missing Dr. Jamila. Y'all know life happens, but she'll be in the next episode.

Speaker 4 0:30

There you go. That's right.

Speaker 1 0:31

Um, and I just shared how excited I was to have you all here because in this podcast, we talk about real stuff, right? And not just focused on Richmond, but this is Richmond, because it's real Richmond today. This real Richmond, we got Central, we got Fox. And so I want to preference this with I have invited other and reached out to other candidates, waiting on a response, but we're gonna do what we do today. They're gonna come after they say, and so you all know that social abuse don't just happen to our unhoused, it happens also to our service providers, right?

Speaker 4 1:17

Very much so.

Speaker 1 1:17

And so I want to start with a little story because I y'all know I take things personal when it comes to this work. And so I had a contract with the city of Richmond um some time ago, and Demnlus was on Demnlus , can you share um what your role was at that time?

Speaker 2 1:37

At that time, I believe I was an at-large count, just an at-large council member. I hadn't um become vice mayor just yet. Um, but I most definitely remember when the contract came up. Um, I remember advocating for you to get the contract because who else has been in the community doing this work for free as long as you have. And so, you know, for me, it was it was a no-brainer. I mean, why bringing somebody from out of town when you got somebody in town who know the people who are out there?

Speaker 1 2:08

So pause right there, because y'all, y'all know city government can be a little side-eyeing, and I'm I'm gonna pause this there, right? So there was issues time with like checks and just issues and concerns, and because I was green, like this green dress, when it came to like the business side of that, right? And so not understanding that they had already plotted that I wasn't gonna be successful, right? So in previous episodes, we talked about like if you don't have the right people in the right place, you really gonna drown.

Speaker 4 2:41

For sure.

Speaker 1 2:41

And so, although I didn't know Demnlus , like personally, personally, we we got a little more acquainted in 2017, 2018 when you were running and I was running for school board, yeah. But personally didn't know, but community, let me tell you, community, Mr. Johnson, and we'll get into it because I'm getting ahead of myself. So the story I was going to when no one else at City Council would answer my calls, they wouldn't respond to emails. I could reach out to Demnlus and say, Demnlus , this is what's going on. I would give him all the facts, and I would share even maybe where I may have erred or whatnot. Always honest. Demnlus would say, All right, Miss Vanessa, I can't make no promises, but let me see what I can do. Right? And so sometimes it was favorable, and sometimes he'd be like, Miss Vanessa, they ain't budgeting you're just gonna have to wait. And so, and that's what our community needs. We need constituents that are, we need those in position rather, that are real. Yeah, ain't no other way to put it. That's just real, right? That's not BSing, that's not gonna sugarcoat it, that's gonna come from experience and understand that it's some real stuff going on out there, right? And Demnlus , and Brandon, we'll get to you. I haven't forgot about you.

Speaker 4 4:01

Of course, of course.

Speaker 1 4:01

Demnlus , can you tell me why, Richmond? Why after so you've been in office before, right? Um, and you did an amazing job.

Speaker 2 4:10

Thank you.

Speaker 1 4:11

An amazing job. And I'll talk about more later. But can you tell me why? Why, why now? Why the mayor's seat? Why?

Speaker 2 4:22

Well, as you mentioned, I take this work very personal. Richmond is the only place in the world where as soon as I wake up, as soon as I touch down, I'm automatically surrounded by people who raise me. My family, my friends, um, is giving me so much that a debt is owed. I gotta pay it. Say that. If I wait on that debt, I mean, like, I mean, while I grew up on Fifth and Nevin, I've always told people I didn't know it was a poor neighborhood growing up because we were rich in so many other things. Um, but just being surrounded by people who poured into me. Um, even you know, I went to Brandon's grandma's daycare my entire life. So, you know, from being at home, being in a family that pours into me to going to a daycare that pours into me, to being in the community that's like you writing books, you going to school, like, you know, you gotta be better than us. You gotta, you know, you gotta go do something. Um, letting me know that I can be more, that I can do more, right? Like a lot of times society will tell us, especially young black men, that there's a glass, they're not even a glass ceiling, there's a it's a wooden ceiling, like cage, right? Forget a glass ceiling, you're in the middle cage. Um, that's all that they have for us. But to have other black men, um, some with an education background, some with a street background, yeah, who are just like, you if us, you gotta do better than us. You you are and and so for me, like them keeping me out of trouble, them making sure that I'm doing the right thing, and then my family just pouring into me, like morals, values, the importance of education. Um, I gotta give that back. I gotta give that back. Even my friends and their mamas, like, let me come over and eat at their house, eat their food up and stuff.

unknown 6:05

Okay.

Speaker 1 6:06

So I've been following you, and you posted something recently, and it stuck to me. And I'm gonna tell you why it's stuck. Um, Brandon posted something similar a couple of weeks ago, and I think that it's very important because sometimes we have, you know, a lot of times people want to say, well, this ain't about race.

Speaker 4 6:26

100%.

Speaker 1 6:27

But in some cases it is about race.

Speaker 4 6:29

Correct.

Speaker 1 6:29

Right, and it's not to say you're only for black people or you're only for this demographic, right? But race plays a part, and we've seen that in our community. Right. We we've we've seen it, but you all posted something um recently and it made my heart smile because y'all, I'm auntie, because I'm I'm older, right? You said you all Richmond. Yes. And those that are listening, you may be like, well, duh, but it's not duh.

Speaker 3 6:57

Right.

Speaker 1 6:57

Because if we look at our just nationwide governments, they're not just for all people, they're for a particular demographic, a different, a particular economic, right? And here in Richmond, unfortunately, we've experienced council members, mayors that are strictly for their people, whether it's their political party, yes, or whether it's their ethnicity, right? Sometimes both. Or sometimes both. And I'm not talking in what my listeners will tell you, but I'm not talking about just something that I heard or I've read, but I've actually sat in council meetings where there was the mayor's address for the year and the things that should have been highlighted within the host, like black people, Juneteenth was probably, if you blinked, you would have missed it, right? Yeah, but Cinco the Milo. Right, and so and again, I love all people, yeah. Right? I got relationships with all people, yes, and so as mayor of Richmond, because we're gonna speak those things that be not as though they were. As mayor of Richmond, what do you, when you say you for all people, can you let the listeners know what do that mean in your language?

Speaker 2 8:15

In my own language, I don't care which I care about your neighborhood and I care about you. But no matter the neighborhood you come from, um, the zip code you come from, socioeconomic background, level of education, um, race, ethnicity, uh, shade of color, uh, sexual orientation. I am your representative. I don't, even if you don't vote for me, I am here to represent you. Even those political parties that don't agree with me. I'm not here to put my foot on your neck and make it hard for you to breathe. I'm here so you can represent your people and have your voice be heard. That's what it that's what that means in my own words. Everybody has a shot, everybody is going to get opportunity, everybody's not gonna get the same thing because everybody don't need the same thing, right?

Speaker 1 9:04

But even within the bottom, you can't you can't rush past that. A lot of people they talk about equity and equality.

Speaker 2 9:12

Yeah, yeah, like they're synonymous, and they're not, they're not.

Speaker 1 9:17

So, can you elaborate a little bit?

Speaker 2 9:18

Yeah, uh, for example, people look at neighborhoods like Hilltop and Marina , like those neighborhoods got everything, but they need new late, new lighting and landscaping crews, right? So let's make sure they get that. Whereas Central and South Side, we need a crew period. Listen. Listen. What group? So we get one. You get what I'm saying? So it's like the degree of need is different, and sometimes they don't need what we need down here in the flats, right? I've been walking East Richmond Heights, they don't have as they have roads that need to be repaired, but not as many as when I was walking Coronado neighborhoods. You know what I'm saying? In the potholes, you get what I'm saying? Like they they, you know, certain neighborhoods, especially in the hill districts, they have to be concerned about wildfires.

Speaker 10:10

South Richmond and Central Richmond ain't gotta be concerned about wildfires.

Speaker 2 10:15

Never wild, we we we gotta never got a wildfire.

Speaker 1 10:19

And those wildfires are like our encampments, right? So we're gonna talk about that in the switch over to the to the son of the south side, Brandon Evans. Can I just say how proud of you I am?

Speaker 3 10:33

Right, like no, for real.

Speaker 1 10:36

And they know, but the kids say, No, Cap. They already know if I wasn't proud and this was just an interview, I would just be like, Okay, for stopping by and giving me some of your time. But I've seen you hit me streaks like none other. And what I appreciate too, you guys have been doing some fundraisers that will bring real rich men back to real rich. I'm paying attention. I am paying attention because Richmond is a family-oriented foundation, and I think sometimes people forget about that and think it's more political. But no, Richmond is built on family, no, for sure.

Speaker 4 11:14

Right?

Speaker 1 11:15

It's built on family. And so, Brandon, why Richmond?

Speaker 4 11:20

Oh, why Richmond? Why not Richmond? You know, um, we are in the middle of I like to refer to that as the universe, just here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why is Richmond still the ugly stepchild? Like, why why can't we be like our neighbors? San Francisco, the good parts of the bad parts of um Marine County, right? The richest zip code in the state of California. Why is it just Richmond?

Speaker 1 11:51

So can you elaborate on what is stepchild to you in your mind? Because that means different things to different people.

Speaker 4 11:57

Yeah, absolutely. So just a community that is just overlooked. Um, our regional reputation has not improved. People who live here, we see the change and the growth and the positive things that are happening here. But if you ask someone who doesn't live in Richmond, they'll still say, hey, Richmond is a ghetto, it's violent, you know, it's overrun with crime. You got poor people who live here, like that's still the regional reputation. Um, versus someone who lives here is like, no, Richmond is actually really very safe, right? Lowest number of homicides ever recorded last year. It's a great place to raise a family, it's a great place to start a business. Uh, we got a crazy city council, but you know, outside of that, Richmond is a great place. It's a place where uh a person my age um can still come and purchase a home.

Speaker 1 12:48

Okay, so for our listeners, they don't know your age. What's your age?

Speaker 4 12:51

Um I'll be 36 in eight days. Eight days.

Speaker 1 12:55

Happy early birthday.

Speaker 4 12:57

Thank you guys.

Speaker 1 12:58

So let's shift the conversation a little bit to our unhoused population. Um when you hear we have over a thousand people on the streets, right? And literally in Richmond, there's two shelters, yeah.

Speaker 4 13:19

Right three would you include Brookside, right?

Speaker 1 13:23

Um and all the shelters have been, and this this just baffled me. So I've been out of the contract since what 2024? Yeah, 2024. And at that time, the shelters were still at capacity, correct? 110% capacity. And so for the listeners, they may say, well, how is it 110? That's because we have some great people in Richmond.

Speaker 3 13:48

Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 1 13:48

So we have Mr. Um Ralph at Grip. At grip, yeah, and we have Pastor Dave Smith at the at BARM, the Bay Area Rescue Mission. And what I appreciate about them both, they've pulled out cots, and it's like it's like back in grandmama days. Richmond is Richmond, right? We gotta make a palette, earn you a coma, right? And so, and literally they've reached capacity beyond capacity.

Speaker 14:16

Correct, correct, right?

Speaker 1 14:17

And so when you hear that about your city, that we still, and this is for both of you, um, that we still have so many unhoused people living on a street. And here's the the caveat that I'm gonna throw in there, and I'm sure you both can remember about two years ago, maybe three, there was the thought for safe parking. Yes, that that was on it, that was on the body. That was okay, not in my backyard, not in my backyard.

Speaker 2 14:49

They're gonna rape us, they're gonna kill us, they're gonna do drugs. Right. Okay, before or after they go to work.

Speaker 1 14:55

Because and my listeners know. So we got so here's the thing. Let me set it up a little bit while y'all getting ready for y'all answer. With the unhouse, and those that listen and have been watching me for any particular time know that I I I feel like there it's not just in one box. Yeah, it's not right. So you have those, of course, that have mental illness, of course. You have those that have addiction problems, right? And then those who just simply suffer because we live in California and economics can't be different. Right? Like I know people exactly. I'm getting ready to say there's a story that I remember. There's a young lady, her and her daughter lived in her car because shelters are full. Yeah, she would go to the local McDonald's, they had towels, they would freshen up in the bathroom. Yeah, what she would drop her kid off at school and she would go to work, and then she would find some corner to park and sleep in for her and her kid. Yeah, she ain't on drugs, she don't have no mental illness. There's a single mother making it happen. But here's the thing what people don't realize when you start off homeless, you may not have a mental illness problem. But you stay there 30 days, you're gonna stay longer, you will develop. Come on, right? You're gonna need to stay. They're just gonna go get a drink or put it. That drink will keep them warm. Check this out.

Speaker 2 16:18

When you give people money, it's not up to you to decide how they spend it. Listen, you're not God at that little five dollars don't make you God.

Speaker 4 16:27

Hand them that money and listen. And he go about your business.

Speaker 1 16:30

So, what is your thoughts about the homeless epidemic, I'm assuming in the city of Richmond?

Speaker 4 16:38

No, and I think you know, uh this is a regional problem. Yes, this is a statewide problem. Yes, like the state has poured billions with a B. With a B. Billions into addressing homelessness. And we don't see a lot of improvement in really any of the outcomes, right? I mean, people being in transitional housing, people getting clean, people finding permanent housing, like every category is failing. They're failing horribly. So, you know, that just shows you you just can't throw money at a problem without having some vision and intentionality behind it. I think when we look here in the city of Richmond, and uh V, I'll touch on this because I was I was intimately involved um with ERF2 (Encampment Resolution Funds) um post-you kind of stepping away from that contract. And we spent the better part of a year just trying to close up right our contractual obligations and agreements with the city of Richmond and um way to love. So uh during that time, like I was I was managing right a lot of the conversations with um city staff, Jesus, with Lina, and it was challenging. It was challenging to get them to do their job.

Speaker 1 18:09

So would you say that helps you abuse?

Speaker 4 18:12

Absolutely, yeah. I love the title. It was very much, you know, um, you know, you got yourself into this problem and and and figure out a path forward, you know, and at the at the same time, nobody was helping the residents, like the residents who were being served by way to love and white.

Speaker 1 18:40

When Brandon is referring to residents, he is referring to formerly unhoused people that way to love organization had placed into housing that had come from encampments, so from the streets to a roof over their head.

Speaker 4 18:56

Correct. And um, you know, we we're going back and forth over the minutiae. Small stuff. Over the over over the very small things, things that should have, if things were done in in you know, in order, would have been taken care of. And I I saw people be evicted out of housing that they were provided through the ERF services. Um, there's a total breakdown in communication between the city of Richmond and again those those clients and those residents.

Speaker 1 19:28

And just can I challenge that?

Speaker 4 19:31

Yeah, for sure. 100%.

Speaker 1 19:33

And the reason I'm challenging it because even though I stepped away, I remember landlords. Yes, hundreds. I remember, I think I shared this with you, reaching out to me. We hadn't talked, you and I. They had reached out and said, Miss Vanessa, they ain't paying me. And the reason they reached out to me is because they knew Miss Vanessa was gonna get them their money.

Speaker 2 19:54

Yeah, yeah, you were and I had to say, That's not my money.

Speaker 1 20:01

And so I wouldn't tell the landlord, but I would ease over to Jesus and say, Hey, pay them people, pay them people, and it wasn't just to pay the people, the landlord, because again, I was concerned about them, but they wasn't top priority because even though I didn't have a title, I'm Richmond, yeah, right for sure, and so I said, You don't understand the trauma because people will begin to act a certain kind of way.

Speaker 2 20:27

Again, and you think after all of this, you're just in my face telling me that I'm about to be housed. If I did X, Y, and Z, you're gonna pay my rent for X amount of time, right? And I done gave up my space. That part, and that's what people don't understand.

Speaker 1 20:42

I done gave up my space outside because that they fight for them spaces, they do, they do. So hold that thought, Brandon. So, Demnlus , what is your thought? That same question on the homelessness in our city, yes.

Speaker 2 20:56

Um we're going at it alone. Yeah, Richmond is trying to uh trying to take on this big issue that first we are not tasked to take on. So unhoused is the county is tasked to handle the unhoused. So, what happens when the city takes on um a county task without state resources or without the without the backing and and the full force of the county or even coordination with the county? Yeah, I you don't even you like we let's say proper proper coordination with the county because on paper, on paper it looks like it. Okay, it looks like it. Oh yeah, oh yeah, okay, oh yeah, on the paper, everybody coordinated on paper, everybody's at the table on paper, but when you actually pick up the phone and try to see how to get uh uh unhoused resident in Richmond into county services, you be all home for so long they hang up.

Speaker 1 21:48

So y'all did listen opened up something. I wasn't gonna go here today, but we missed to go here because you said something. And Brandon, so just so you know, Brandon used to be my sounding board. Brandon was on the board. And when El Portal opened, so first of all, those of you that are listening, we got East County, we got West County. Yes. You heard, I think it was Brandon. Was it you that said who? You said we was the stepchild? Brandon said. Okay. So he said we the stepchild in California in the Bay Area. We're the stepchild when it comes to East County, West County as well. Say that. And what I mean by that, I'm not gonna ask the candidates to say it because it's too close to election. I'm gonna say it because I seen it. And here's the thing: if you're listening to me, I'm not just talking about secondhand information. I was in meetings. So we have a location here in Richmond that recently opened up in El Portal and it was for the unhoused, right? And it was nice, right? It was gonna be furnished. It was this, that, and the third, right? And talking in this meeting, so I'm like, oh, because mind you, I'm a project manager for ERF1. Shouldn't I be included in these conversations so the people that I'm serving can have the resources, the resources to at least get on the list.

Speaker 2 23:18

Yeah.

Speaker 1 23:18

I was told, oh, it's full.

Speaker 2 23:20

It's in everyone.

Speaker 1 23:22

I said it's full. Now we're talking 2023, 2020, late 2022, beginning of 2023. How is it full? It ain't even open yet.

Speaker 4 23:34

It didn't even open. They hadn't even had the who knew to go put their names on right.

Speaker 1 23:40

How did they get on the list? How did they get on the list? Right. So then, and this is the social abuse part. So then I was kind of like silent. Well, but kind of like you're asking too many questions. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. And what I end up finding is that there was a majority of our East County unhoused that was on that list.

Speaker 2 24:01

Well, see, I will say this as a former county employee, it's all about representation. Who do we have at the table representing for us? Yeah. Are they comfortable just sitting there knowing that they're gonna get back there? Or do they know, like in East County, let me produce because it's five other people ready to run against me in the primary and they have more representation out that way.

Speaker 4 24:23

They do.

Speaker 2 24:23

It's different when we only have one person representing West County where they have like two or three people. Yeah, you need to votes on the county board of supervisors to get something done. So if three of them is touching East County, you get what I'm saying? And so for us, I always tell people because I went to Pittsburgh High School, so I always say you go you go to Pittsburgh, you go to Antioch, and in certain parts, and it's like, ooh, pray for them. Um and y'all not gonna get two poor communities to fight over scraps when really Central and South County is getting all of the resources. Okay. Um it just so happens that East and West County, we carry all of the social programs in the county. And like I said, they got more, they got more action because our representative is not getting is not being a squeaky wheel on our behalf. Okay, so Mayor Johnson. Yeah, so I'm gonna speak it. Yeah, he could have to do his job with Mayor Johnson in office.

Speaker 1 25:20

What what do you see? How do you see the city of Richmond partnering with the county to help change some of the dynamic that we see here locally?

Speaker 2 25:31

Well, first of all, I most definitely want them to play a greater role um in these in the development of these new shelters that's taking place, especially like with the the hotel, they did it in Pittsburgh. I see that they just bought the quality in and Antioch. I'm not saying that those projects are perfect, but they have a formula, it works. Why are we trying to recreate the wheel? Why are we hiring completely new staff? Why are we bringing in completely new programming? Why are our residents paying twice? Because we pay into the county system, and then y'all asking us to pay into this one. Also, in the response to the encampments, the county responds quick. I work for Supervisor Glover, and anytime they had the train tracks, the county was out there the next few minutes. Um, you can even get city-specific teams so that way we're not dependent upon somebody coming all the way from Concord or Martinez or Antioch, and they can be right here in Richmond, ready to go. Also, more coordination with the health services. County health is really our only line of defense when it comes to drug abuse, mental health, because we don't have a John George here in Contra Costa County. So people have to go to County Health in that new facility that they just opened up over there. And so for me, we right now we don't even have access to it. Like you said, it's on paper, but we don't have access to it. I want it to be to the point where it's like, you a county worker, call the county. Like, don't city of Richmond employees not calling the county. You a county worker, call the county. This is county to county. This ain't city to county. Okay. City is stepping back. We're gonna help what we can. Okay, we're gonna do the permits, give y'all some incentives.

Speaker 1 27:12

Okay. Um now, with that, do you see that? Because I know our city staff, they're overwhelmed. They're not quit to work, do the job. The morale is low. Yeah. And so do you think shifting that narrative from city to county will help lift that load and then properly train those? Because you mentioned some of them aren't trained for the work that they're doing. Can you talk a little bit more about that?

Speaker 2 27:39

Yes, I think it would most definitely take a huge burden off of their shoulders. And then also, what do you get when you get people doing a job that they don't want to do? Forget not being not forget not being trained to do it. I don't want to do it.

Speaker 1 27:56

No, you get what we just did. You got quiet. You get you get what I'm saying? You're quiet.

Speaker 2 27:59

You get nothing.

Speaker 1 28:00

I'm sick, I ain't coming today.

Speaker 2 28:01

And I and look, I understand. I'm not I'm not coming down on them. Like I keep saying, I love our employees, but I also understand where people be coming from. If I came in saying that I, if I if I filled out my job application for the city of Richmond saying that I want to work in employment and training, five years down the line, y'all got me managing the unhoused situation with no extra pay, and I'm still doing employment and training. Oh man, I come to work tomorrow.

Speaker 1 28:30

And here's the thing, you don't have to give a disclaimer because my listeners know it's we're transparent around here, right? And nothing's like to take my stuff. And nothing's absolute. Let's hate the improvement. Um, we hold people accountable. You gotta feel that actually and when there's social abuse, there's no accountability. Exactly.

Speaker 2 28:52

And you know what? I wanted to say this Dr. West Bellamy, when he was the mayor of Charlottesville, we was at a young elected officials conference, and he said something that's stuck with me ever since. People often confuse and conflate public servant with indentured servant. That's good. I mean, you can tell by the way they talk to us. You think I'm your slave. I am literally volunteering out because my heart is leading me into this work. Listen. And you want to talk to me crazy and abuse verbally abuse me and emotionally and mentally abuse me? What other job does that fly on where the employer gets to talk to the employee that way?

Speaker 1 29:34

Nowhere. Exactly. So, Brandon, what is your thought on accountability? We're gonna stay there for a minute.

Speaker 2 29:43

Because we have to live there for the next four years.

Speaker 4 29:47

I'm sorry.

Speaker 29:49

Accountability. Let's talk about it.

Speaker 4 29:51

Yeah, no, uh, I mean, uh I think again, um Demnlus is is accurate that the county is responsible for providing the social safety net. So not only related to homelessness and homeless services, but uh housing in so many ways and uh health, right? So those are all primary county functions, right? They're getting all the they're getting the money from state. Oh sorry. You're telling me Richmond is not responsible for getting its own hospital? No, it's not. We're not. No. Well, we can talk about that too, right? We got existing existing funding that that still exists for West County Healthcare Services. But um yeah, I think that from our uh all of our experience, right? Um I think we've seen that the city of Richmond likes vision.

Speaker 1 30:40

We talk about um You mean we're not city of pride and purpose?

Speaker 4 30:44

I don't, I mean some of us got it.

Speaker 1 30:46

On paper.

Speaker 2 30:47

On paper. Some of us got it.

Speaker 1 30:48

Oh, yeah, when you say we lack vision, is it that we lack vision or is it back to what we spoke on earlier that though some of those, because I'm not gonna box everyone in, some of those that sit on council, maybe the mayor, current the current mayor, maybe they're not for all of Richmond. They're only for a small amount of Richmond. And when you only have that small skewed, that skewed part, right? The vision then becomes small.

Speaker 4 31:17

I'm gonna say it's both in, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's both in. No, I I would I would agree with that. Um I think when we talk about vision from the council, right? Uh uh first, the city of Richmond has a count a council manager system, right? Style of form of government. Please say that. Right. So city council is responsible for setting ordinances, and and ordinances are the are the laws, right? The policies. Uh policies. And after that, it's up to the city manager and the staff who she directs to really implementation and oversight.

Speaker 1 31:54

So it's now saying that there's, there we go again, a lot of accountability.

Speaker 4 31:59

100%.

Speaker 1 32:00

Right. And so with you on the council, what does that accountability look like? And to my listeners, let's be clear. Once Dimlins and Brandon get their seat, they're only one and two individuals. Yes. There are other people there. Because I think sometimes when we go to the polls, we say, Well, I voted for them and they ain't doing da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. And that's it, and it's a collaboration.

Speaker 3 32:28

Right?

Speaker 1 32:29

You gotta count everybody so they can say, I'm pushing for this, but if the other council members don't agree with that, they get outnumbered. Correct. So please educate yourself on that. And that was one of the reasons I wanted all three of you there because I really think that you all are in alignment with your um direction for Richmond and your priorities for Richmond. And so back to you.

Speaker 4 32:56

Yeah, so I think accountability looks different for Demnlus myself, and uh Dr. Brown is because there's a different type of accountability when you represent your family. Your family, right? I mean, yeah, your your community, right? The elders that you know poured into you, uh, the young people who are looking up to you, young people that we work with each and every day. Um, individuals coming home from incarceration, my working men and women of purpose. So, you know, I I think there's a different, there, there's just there's a different sense of responsibility. We're talking about accountability, but well, let's talk about responsibility, right? Right? When you're running to, you know, be an elected official. I like to refer to you know us as public servants, right? We are here to serve. Um, but we we we have to have accountability on the council and we have to have accountability in our organization.

Speaker 1 33:49

Okay, and so let's make this a little bit more personal. And I know you wasn't expecting that.

Speaker 4 33:53

No, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 1 33:54

So Brandon is a new dad. I mean, right.

Speaker 4 33:58

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 33:59

He has a three-year-old, so he's still new. And so when it comes to your family now, for sure, right? Absolutely. It was that part of the drive to make you put your name in the hat?

Speaker 4 34:13

Uh yes and no.

unknown 34:14

Okay.

Speaker 4 34:15

It was really uh, I think a culmination of experiences, right? Through several campaigns. Um, absolutely, uh, when I had the opportunity to join the supervisor, district five supervisors office under the late supervisor Federal Glover, and to see how uh people not only respected him, but he was adored. He got it done. He was adored by his constituents, he was respected by his peers, uh, a trailblazer in so many ways, first African-American person to serve on the County Board of Supervisors, of course, Supervisor Chanel skills president, first African-American woman, but he was the first. And um just to see, just to be able to learn from him. I only served with him six months. I received a dimless in that position.

Speaker 1 35:04

And um What did you take from him? What was one thing that stood out to you in that six months that you will take with you in your seat?

Speaker 4 35:13

Yeah, I would say um just like his quiet strength. All right, he didn't have to say a lot. Uh, and and some folks, some songs will characterize him as not being vocal. That was not the case. That was not the case. He knew how to be vocal. He knew when to be vocal. So he had this discernment. And um the the funniest, the part I enjoyed and miss about him is that we were sitting kiki about everything. The foolishness everything from you know things that we were, you know, we were interacting with that count in the county government, um, politically, things happening in the region. And um man, he he was just a star word.

Speaker 1 36:07

Like, you know, just so would you say that there were balance that were there was balance because he got a lot done. Oh, that's right. And so to hear you say, because from what I remember, I can't see him key keying.

Speaker 2 36:21

And so I'm telling you, the professionalism that involved around to hear you say, Oh my god, yes, we just be riding around listening to old school music, okay, living into blood stalls and and temptations, okay. You're like, what you know about this music? And just like just talking about the history of the county and how things came to be and how he got certain projects done, and and how he always always told me, take care of the people, take care of the people, nothing else. All of them other interest groups, right? Answer their calls, yeah, be friendly with them, but take care of the people. That's what you're in there for. Take care of the people.

Speaker 1 37:00

And let me say, I feel like you both have been taking care of the people. Um, and I don't say that lightly before the podcast began. Um, I shared with Demnlus just some thoughts because you know it's election time and different things, and unfortunately, as small as Richmond is, politics is so big, right? And you have some people that show up that we don't see in non-election season, right? Or they may show up to a council meeting here and there, but they're not vocal, right? They're not saying much. You don't see them pulling up their sleeves, they're not in the trenches. Um, and again, this is no not to anyone.

Speaker 2 37:43

It is for me.

Speaker 1 37:43

Okay. It is for me. Okay, because I dare you. Okay, no self-respect. And so, and I said what I said to Demnlus was before there was election, before 2017, I didn't know him personally, but I knew him. Yeah, and you may say, What you mean by that? Because there was this skinny, short, young African-American man in the city of Richmond at Richmond High School with NAAC, going to the council meetings. You would see him. Then you had Brandon.

Speaker 2 38:24

He was in it before I was in it.

Speaker 1 38:26

Brandon is everywhere, right? He's not just called the son of the south side just because it's a catchy name, right? He's literally the son of the south side.

Speaker 3 38:37

Thank you. Right, thank you.

Speaker 1 38:39

Like family business on the south side, right? Just the life.

Speaker 2 38:44

Yeah, these aren't monitoring. Right.

Speaker 1 38:46

Um, Brandon didn't know me prior to 2017. He saw me running the school board, not knowing a lick of politics, but felt like something's out of gear. Right. Brandon stepped in and became my campaign manager. And somebody said, You shouldn't say that in the podcast. Well, we're gonna be honest here. Because that's what he was, and didn't charge me the time.

Speaker 39:08

Well, you need help. I was about to say, we need them. We listened, we were gonna both.

Speaker 4 39:17

And that was my first campaign. Let's get into it.

Speaker 39:20

I was in the middle of the day.

Speaker 4 39:22

That was my first two campaigns.

Speaker 1 39:23

And look, I didn't find that out till later, right? But here's the thing Brandon didn't know me, but he knew me. He knew the work I had done. Same with Demnlus, because I've shared in previous episodes, I've been doing this work for 30 years, right? Without a title. And so that's what Richmond is. What you see right here, what you hear right here, you Demnlus Johnson III, you got Brandon Evans. Like we've always stepped in and went into the trenches and pulled up our sleeves. We've always vocalized. And when we say trenches, we ain't talking no cutesy nothing. We talk in railroad tracks. We talking um, how we just give this mom with the baby some food. We're talking about all these different traumatic situations that take place in our little city. Yes, that has always been a concern of the these two prior to becoming interested in politics.

Speaker 2 40:20

Yeah, I always tell people we only as strong as our weakest neighborhood, and people are only doing as good as our worst-off resident. So say that again for the people. I don't think they heard that. The city is only as strong as our weakest neighborhood, and we are only doing as and people are only doing as well as our worst-off resident. That's that's my measuring stick. If the most destitute person in Richmond can get opportunity and make it up out of that, then we're doing good. If if if if the community that has had the most disinvestment, um, the most shade thrown towards it is now looking like Shangri-La, then we did something.

Speaker 1 41:00

Okay, yeah. So we're almost coming to an end, but my question for both of you um I'm big on thinking and feeling that everyone needs to have a seat at the table from local government, community, um, as well as service providers and those that are being served. Um, the question is is that important to you? And if so, the why, granted.

Speaker 4 41:29

Yeah, absolutely. Important, uh, I think that that's the most important thing is when you center people. Um, as you've already said, right? That is what we've done. That's what we continue to do. Um and you know, I think when you come from a direct service background, you know, you usually hit that point where it's like, damn, I cannot do this by myself. We cannot service our way out of this issue. And and for me, you know, making a decision to run for city council was again a culmination of experiences, but also me just saying, like, damn, sometimes you gotta meet the moment. Did I want to be a public elected official? Not necessarily. I enjoyed my private life as a person.

Speaker 1 42:18

Let me tell you, I remember that phone conversation that we had about three years ago. And so when you said you would, I was like, oh.

Speaker 4 42:24

This was not, yeah, we're gonna have to talk to Nimm. It wasn't my dream, but it was um a part of a larger vision to serve this community. Something Demnlus and I from the beginning always says is is bigger than us, right? Demnlus and I we're already success stories. We we we we you know we we lived it and um could be anywhere, could be anywhere working, successful, making an impact, but we chose Richmond.

Speaker 1 43:01

Why did you choose to stay?

Speaker 2 43:02

Hmm, because Richmond chose us in so many ways.

Speaker 4 43:10

Um just a young person of color in this community, rich Richmond was not a place for us to be able where we felt safe. And I'm happy you said that that's why I asked you that question.

Speaker 1 43:22

Why did you choose to say because unfortunately our black men in Richmond don't get the support, for sure, the push-up that they need.

Speaker 4 43:33

Yeah, right.

Speaker 1 43:34

In most cases, in most cases, in most cases, right. Nothing's absolute. No, in most cases, nothing's absolute, for sure. And so you growing up in a time and I'm gonna just say a time. A time what made you stay?

Speaker 4 43:49

Um I I don't think it was it was, you know, just one moment. I think I just I found myself, you know, had graduated, uh finished my undergrad. Degree had gotten involved with the community-based organization that I would bring them listen to. Um that launched both of our careers, you know, professional careers here. And you know, I really this this um I was really moved really by the spirit and realized this is my responsibility. That's it. This this community is my responsibility. I can run from it, I can um, you know, shy away, um, or I can I can step up and and and serve. So it for us, we both started with working with young people. Like that was the entry, even though we had been we're in college finishing our undergraduate degrees, we were just here serving as mentors. So young people.

Speaker 2 44:52

No, right. We was we was taking that from our pal and packing it with Richmond, with students from Richmond, California, and driving them to San Francisco alive in Free Academy every Tuesday and Thursday night. Yes.

Speaker 1 45:06

I know, Dr. Larson. Yeah, yeah, I know every night. And we ain't talking about the outskirts of family.

Speaker 4 45:16

And that was it. There was a time where I was finishing my degree. Yes, he was full of school. They would drop me off at school. Yes. Go to the class. I'm not going to roll it to pick me up.

Speaker 1 45:28

So it is safe to say that you started rolling up your sleeves.

Speaker 4 45:34

Yeah.

Speaker 1 45:35

And you're continuing to roll them up and lace up your boots.

Speaker 4 45:38

No, for sure. For sure.

Speaker 1 45:39

Because you're serious about the work.

Speaker 4 45:40

100%.

Speaker 1 45:41

And you're serious about the work, and I don't want to put words in your mouth because you're serious about people.

Speaker 2 45:48

Absolutely. Okay. Then I well, I was actually part of, I would say my Richmond story is like a real Richmond story. Like we were part of that migration out of Richmond into East County. As I mentioned, I went to Pittsburgh High School. And after going to Pittsburgh High School with the same race college of California, end up transferring to Howard University. And I always tell people that's where I really learned myself. Okay. People are just like, Howard is a party school. No, Howard is where you go where you want to learn who you are in this world. And that's what's exactly what I was able to do. And I realized that like I can't be on this earth without giving back. And so I found myself giving back in Detroit, Highland Park, Michigan, PG County, Maryland, Southeast DC. Well, the whole time I had friends in Richmond being killed. And they have been being killed since I was, you know, in high school. And so to a certain extent, I felt survivor's remorse. And it was like, I'm over here living. And people are literally like dying.

Speaker 1 47:01

Never heard that story.

Speaker 2 47:02

Okay. And so for me, um, I graduated Howard University School of Communications. Um, just quick background, I interned at BET Networks in Los Angeles. Um, even got offered a job to come back after graduation. There was another small production company in DC that had another office in Atlanta. They was like, you want to stay in DC, you want to go to Atlanta, what you want to do? I said, I'm going back home to Richmond.

Speaker 1 47:27

Thank you.

Speaker 2 47:27

I said I've been giving so much to all of these other cities, and I'm gonna go to Atlanta, and Atlanta's still gonna be Atlanta. I'm gonna go to DC, DC still gonna be DC, and the same with LA. How about I go to Richmond and make Richmond what I know Richmond can be? Um, and so that's what it was for me. And plus, it was like, who else is gonna do it? When I came home, one of the reasons like Brandon had really the line that really convinced me when Brandon was convinced, he was telling me to run for office when he said then was it ain't gonna be nobody else.

Speaker 1 47:58

That sounds like him.

Speaker 2 47:59

It ain't gonna be nobody. You keep and I know he was tired of me complaining because he would always have to hear me complain every night about different things that was going on in the city. He was like, You know what's going on because you from here, like us, and ain't nobody up there from where we're from and been through what we've been through. It ain't gonna be nobody else. And so here we are today. Here we are today.

Speaker 1 48:19

And so we hear experience is the best teacher, and you both have had some amazing experience here in Richmond. So the last question before we close is in the next where would you where do you want to see Richmond in four years? Through the work that you both do.

Speaker 2 48:36

In four years, I want to see Richmond in a position to take advantage of all of the things that people have been talking about. Um, I know we talk about like all of the different housing projects, all of the different business corridors and manufacturing coming back to Richmond and social life and nightlife coming back to Richmond. In four years, I want to see sticks coming out the ground. I want to see ribbon cuttings, I want to see people actually moving. I want to see the city actually moving towards those things and doing those things because for too long we've just been talking about it.

Speaker 1 49:09

And so, how can we move from talking to what you want to see?

Speaker 2 49:13

Elect Demnlus Johnson and Brandon Evans. We need four of us to get it done with Dr. Brown already up there. We can finagle one more vote. You get what I'm saying? And we can actually do something real for the city of Richmond. You mentioned candidates who only come around during election time. Well, what about I always tell people show me where they campaign at and I'll show you where they care, especially during the primary. And you don't see too many of my opponents in the neighborhoods that I'm in. You know, I mean, I also go to the neighborhoods that they go to because you for all people, and they deepen those neighborhoods, they deepen those, but then you come to the neighborhoods that they purport to be down for, and it's like, y'all ain't seen them, y'all ain't heard from them ever yet. Never knocked this door, like so. So for me, it's like elect real people, right? Okay, elect real people that do real things. That's it.

Speaker 1 50:06

Okay.

Speaker 2 50:06

That's it.

Speaker 1 50:07

Brandon, same question. What where do you see Richmond in four years?

Speaker 4 50:11

Yeah, and in four years, I want to see a city that is serving its people. Um, I want to see opportunities for every young person that is interested in, you know, pursuing a higher education, um, work entering the workforce, wanting to complete a career training or certification program. I want to see opportunities for our seniors who are too often just an afterthought. Um they need to be honored. They still have so much to contribute. I want to see employment opportunities for our seniors because we understand people are living longer. Sociality is not what it used to be. No, that's a fixed income. People need to make money. That's that's something I I continue to hear along this campaign is that I need to work, right? I don't want to handout. Yeah, I want to work, I want an opportunity to be employed. Um, and you know, we need to fix Richmond's regional reputation. Like we we need to be able to say Richmond is open for business. We are welcome, uh, well, a welcoming city. Um, and then we want to we want to see a right to return for everybody who was displaced from Richmond to East County, to Sacramento, to Stockton. We need to create opportunities for those people to come back.

Speaker 1 51:26

I like that. A right to return. Yeah, absolutely. So, what I'm hearing, and you both can correct me if I'm wrong, where you both want to see us in four years, it's gonna take not just the work of the both of you, but the community at everybody, yeah.

Speaker 2 51:40

Right, all hands on deck, all hands, feet, toes. Y'all get ready. Roll y'all sleeves up. Well, y'all want to see it, don't you?

Speaker 4 51:48

Put your gloves on. Is this oh no, I think that's an important point because it too often we think somebody's gonna get into an unlikely personality, and you know, they got they they have all the answers. And that's just that's unrealistic. That's an unreal, unrealistic expectation to put on somebody. I had that expectation. You missed that experience, and it it really is uh this is our community, yes. Just as vocal as y'all need me to be from the diets, I need y'all to be vocal at the microphone during public comment. Like we have to demand. We're past action. We have to demand.

Speaker 2 52:26

We are past action. This is you know, I I say this is all like child. You don't put nobody, you don't you don't leave the responsibility up to nobody else to raise and advocate for your child. So please help me. Richmond Richmond is ours, let's call parent effectively because just like I'm up here and I'm saying that the community wants to see X, Y, and Z, like Brendan said, we need the community to actually come in and be like, they're not lying. That's actually what we told them we want to see.

Speaker 1 52:56

And so um once in office, I know you guys are hitting the ground, like, whoo, I've been seen y'all someplace. I'm like, how'd I get up there? I'm about to say, I'm gonna go in somewhere after will we still see you? Will you still be showing up to the events? Will you still be out in the community and not just in your office and in the city call council chambers?

Speaker 2 53:17

Of course. I one thing that I keep telling people, and I'll and I'm standing by this, I'm gonna have uh community um office hours. I'm in the community centers, but then while also while I'm just in the community, I'm going grocery shopping at Foodsco on Saturday at two o'clock. Catch me in the aisles. If you can't make it to the city hall, you gotta come to the grocery store anyway.

Speaker 1 53:38

Love it.

Speaker 2 53:38

I'll be at the check cash in place getting some money orders. I love it. I ain't cash in no check if I'm gonna give me some money orders for a dollar. Meet me down here while they line along, and we can have some. I'm going down to the pharmacy at Kaiser later on. If y'all need to talk to them, you meet me there. Just in the community, constantly making myself accessible. Yeah, um, because I know everybody not coming down to City Hall. There, for some people, it's in a neighborhood. Some of our government buildings are in neighborhoods that other people just will never go to. Yeah, right. And as somebody that's from Richmond, I'm not gonna try to force you to come down here when I know you don't feel safe coming down here for some very valid reasons. So I'm coming to you and I'll be at Eastshore Park, I'll be at Nevin Park, I'll be at Shields Reed, I'll be at Dr. Martin Luther King Park at JFK Park, Crescent Park. You get what I'm saying? In Crescent Park, in Crescent Park, and in all of these places because that's where the people are. And I can't, and and one thing that messed me up during my first time in office was COVID. Yeah, and I wasn't, and this was something that I mentioned last night in the forum. I had planned to continue to do door knocking and town halls and stuff like that, but COVID really messed me up. And when we had transitioned into Zoom, I'll keep telling people Zoom didn't become established until later on. We're trying to figure out if it was Web Apps, it was a FaceTime early days. But we would still Google me, like we're still trying to figure it out. But as the mayor, I am most definitely going to stay in y'all face, stay in y'all communities. I'm not expecting y'all to come to me because you know I'm gonna hold you accountable. I expect everybody to hold because if anything, I'm the training ground for how you treat a politician. We can be cool, but ultimately use me as a tool to get what you need and stop looking at politicians like they're supposed to be invited to your wedding and your cookout.

Speaker 1 55:28

Okay, so we're gonna end there.

Speaker 2 55:31

I don't mind coming. I'll come.

Speaker 55:33

I'll use us.

Speaker 1 55:36

I love it. I love it. I want to thank Brandon Evans, Demnlus was Johnson the third for your time on today. This has been amazing. I look forward to a part two of this. And of course, we can cover everything. Um and Dr. Jamila will be with us during that time. And so thank you so much. You all, June 2nd. Yes, June 2nd, mark your calendars. The mail um ballots have already been sent out. And so if you have questions, y'all go to the internet for everything else, google it. KQED website has some snippets of you know our governor um candidates and things of that nature, and then look up Demnlus . Look up Brandon, look up and think we have other candidates like Claudia and Ahmad Anderson Victoria and Ahmad Anderson. Look them up.

Speaker 4 56:33

Well, look at Mark Wassberg, too, y'all. You know, be informed. I'll be listening to the community. Be informed of all the candidates, okay? Look up all the candidates, look up all the candidates.

Speaker 1 56:43

Look up all the candidates. Your vote, your vote matters, and people say if you don't vote, you ain't got a voice. You do, but you ain't you looked at that, you looked that sideways. You looked that sideways, and so you may not have the money to donate to the people that you're supporting, but show up.

Speaker 3 56:58

Your face matters.

Speaker 1 57:00

Fill out that ballot, fill out that ballot June 2nd, and you don't have to wait till June 2nd if you have your ballot to go drop it up. So June 2nd is the last day, and so this has been social abuse podcasts. Remember, stay informed, stay in your communities, and learn how to ask the right questions.

Speaker 3 57:23

What's the name?

Speaker 1 57:24

Learn how to ask the right questions. This has been your another episode of social abuse until next time.