Exclusive: Social Abuse - The Cost of Public Service

In this episode,  Council Member Dr. Jamelia Brown gets personal.   She shares at this point Richmond isn't a city of pride and purpose we're a city of pain and poverty. She's clear on her thoughts regarding the Housing First method. 

Dr. Brown, serves on the Richmond City Council representing a city whose history is inseparable from questions of race, industry, labor, and survival. As a sitting elected official,  a Black woman, and a mother of four, she navigates the intersection of policy and lived experience every single day.  This episode centers  her voice, not just as a public servant, but as a whole person shaped by and bearing witness to social abuse on all its forms. 

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

Welcome to the Social Abuse Podcast where we talk about community care and contracts. Councilmember Jamelia, Dr. Jamelia, let me get it correct. Dr. Jamelia Brown serves on the Richmond City Council, representing a city whose history is inseparable from questions of race, industry, labor, and survival. As a sitting elected official, a black woman, and a mom of four, she navigates the intersection of policy and lived experience every single day. This episode centers her voice, not mine, her voice, not just as a public servant, but as a whole person shaped by and bearing witness to social abuse in all its forms. What does it mean to live in a city that was built on your labor? Because our ancestors built Richmond, right? But never built for you. Doing the work, but never benefiting from the work that has been done on your behalf. Today on social abuse, we're going to go deep into Richmond, California, a city with one of the most complex, complicated, and courageous stories in the Bay Area. We're talking about housing first. The Housing First method, you know, the one that got all the controversy. Y'all done heard about it, right? The model that says stable housing is not a reward for sobriety or employment. It is a human right that comes first. We're talking about what social abuse looks like when it's baked into policy, policing, into who gets a seat at the table and who gets pushed out. Because look, I know what it looks like to get pushed out, but we ain't talking about that today. And we're talking about what it costs a black woman, a mother of four, to show up for her community every single day. Because she gets no days off, y'all, in an elected role while navigating the same systems she's trying to change. Y'all, my guest today is none other than Dr. Jamelia Brown. Because I say doctor, yeah, she's on our council, but she was a doctor, Jamila Brown, before she was ever council Jamelia Brown. How are you today? Thank you so much, Miss Vanessa. I'm pleasant today. I'm feeling good. Okay. You're pleasant today. Yeah. You know, I pay attention. What that means today. What that means. Yeah, I mean the weather's good. Um, I'm always great on Wednesdays. Oh, okay. Um, Wednesdays are really good for me. Okay. It's after a council meeting. Got it. Once you get over, once you get finished sparring and get out that ring, okay, you're good. Okay. I can breathe. I could, I could breathe, I could breathe, I can go on another day. Okay. Okay. So for the listeners who don't know, Richmond, California. Absolutely. How do you describe the city? Not what the headlines say, but real Richmond. Richmond. So Richmond is coined um Richmond, California, the city of pride and purpose. I've always identified Richmond, California, the city of pain and poverty. Wow. Okay. And that that's it's deeply rooted. It's not the the it's not the murals that they want to put up. It's it's the people, it's the embedded trauma, it's the um unresolved issues that could be resolved, but people refuse to actually, you know, um make make the change that we want to see like in our communities, um, materialize within our communities. So um it's not pride and purpose. It's like that's what we, it's like that's the aspiration. That's what we all hope for. We all hope for the pride and purpose. Um, I do think at certain points we do have pride. I'm I'm I'm excited all the time to represent Richmond, California, wherever I go. Um but if I'm being honest, it's it's pain and it's poverty.

Speaker 4:25

Wow.

Speaker 1 4:26

So I wasn't gonna ask you this. I asked Demnlus and Brandon this last week. And so because you said that, and that's my first time hearing you, and actually anyone speak of it like that, but that hit a nerve. So why Richmond? Why you ran for Richmond City Council and you won the seat and you've been hitting the ground ever since, right? So why? Why? Um, ooh, we coming in, hi Miss Vanessa. Okay, I thought we was about to do a little girl.

Speaker 5:02

I talked a little talk.

Speaker 1 5:06

But no, um, why Richmond? I I ran for Richmond, uh, but I ran from Richmond first. Talk more about that. I ran from Richmond. Um I was I had the privilege and honor to be educated by the Sims family uh throughout my high school years. I felt like that was foundational years for me. Um, they allowed me to see myself and instilled values um in me alongside my mom um that I could do more and that I could see more than Richmond. And so, you know, I left Richmond to go to college. I arrived at Langston University in Oklahoma, where um it was a huge cultural shock. And being there, you know, for a couple years and then my mom taking ill and having to come back to California because I'm an only child. So I have to make sure that my mom's good. Um, and I, you know, graduated um at Cal State East Bay. Um, so I ran from Richmond trying to trying to understand that there was more because I grew up right here uh down in the Barrett Apartments. And so I would always, Nas has this song called Project Windows. And I would always look out my project window, always look out the window of the Barretts while I'm listening to that song, trying to convince myself that there is more outside for me to uh to see than bloodshed, than my family, friends lying on the ground, suffering from gunshot wounds, being airlifted from across the street at Kaiser. So I would always try to convince myself that it was more to it. So before I ran for Richmond, I ran from Richmond. Um, but when I did run to obtain all of these degrees and credentials, there was no other place that I wanted to be besides to run back to Richmond to pour all of the things that I have learned, everything that I acquired, I wanted to give back to my city. Um before taking the position to even thinking about running. I was working my highest paid salary position in Marin County. They they was giving your girl a nook coin over there in Marin County. But I would drive past, I would drive past the you know, First Street Park, Richmond Rescue Mission, and you know, they say Bay Area Rescue Mission, but Richmond. Richmond Rescue Mission and go and get on the freeway and go to Marin County, and everything over there will be just pristine, pleasant, beautiful, just no worries. Um, meanwhile, so just doing that commute like every day. I was like, why are you bypassing all of the conditions, all of the problems that you said that you were gonna help address? Um and so that's what just prompt me. Um what you call it survivor's guilt as survivors remorse. Remorse. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Absolutely. I would definitely point it as that. I I still carry that. Okay. I carry that. I carry um all sorts of like regret of like making it, so to speak, versus other people. People say I've changed people, you know, just because I can't do the same things that, you know, we probably used to do when we were growing up. Like, I mean, come on now, it's the time we're gonna be able to do it. It's supposed to change, right? We ain't doing nothing if we ain't changing. Hello. So I just so that just all of that, and then I think the last straw for me was that incident that happened with the young people in um the St. John apartments where it was a 50-block chase with another car chasing a group of young people shooting at them from Richmond all the way into El Cerrito. And when that El Cerrito police chief um said that it was the wrong place at the wrong time, I don't think that he had like um any sort of ill intent when saying that. Um, I just really that struck a nerve in me that was like, no, we have to change the narrative when it comes to saying that just because it's project housing or project base, that our kids are at the wrong place at the wrong time because they're not, they're at home. Hello. And so we have to start uplifting those communities because they're at home and we have to make it homely or whatever they it's not the hood, it's not the ghetto, it's not the place where you come shoot your music video, but then you go all off into all these other, you know, Vacaville, whatever. You don't come here to do your dirt and all your trash, and then you go off to wherever you go. Like, let's make our project housing a place where kids can feel um great to come to and to and to leave. So, what you just described, would you consider that a form of social abuse? Um, in a sense, okay. Yeah, what do you love most about our community? I love most about our community, that the diversity, um how it's changed. Um not in its totality. Uh, I do think that we have some poverty pimps that um that saw a weak link, which is Richmond, came into our community and infiltrated our systems and now have heavily exploited our community. Social abuse. Absolutely. Social abuse. And we're gonna go a little bit deeper into that, but can you, in your own words, describe what social abuse and I'll you know, to the listeners, last week you um, Brandon and Demnlus did a content creator day that was so amazing. And so I had the opportunity to talk with you briefly at the end, and we were talking about the upcoming podcast and social abuse, and you were talking about how that stuck with you. And I wish the camera was rolling then, but can you share when you hear social abuse, what does that mean to you? So, thank you for that title of this podcast. Because when I first heard the title when I was listening, I was like, social abuse, oh my gosh, this is onto something. Like, that is such a form of abuse that exists that no one actually talks about. I've never heard it being spoken about in this capacity. Um, but what that means to me is a variety of things. But I would like really zero in and say that it's like it's manipulative behavior um in the social constructions that people are able to navigate is limiting, it's isolating, um, it can be violent sometimes. It's you know, it's it's perpetuated. Sometimes it can be perpetuated as help. And can you elaborate on that? Yeah, because sometimes we we talk about all of these great things that we're doing, but it's like, do we actually want to solve the problem? Pause. Let's put a pin there. Yeah, we y'all know last week I completely went off script. We fixed the, we're gonna dig a little bit deeper right there because as you know, I had a contract with the city of Richmond. And, you know, for years growing up, I grew up right in Easter Hill, right? And so you and as you grow up and you might find your way in the city and you talk to different people, and you start to assume and spectate, right? Like, I bet they're doing this, that, and the third. And then I had the opportunity to get behind the curtain. Don't get behind them curtains because I'm behind them curtains. I got behind the curtains, and not only was what I suspected taking place, but there were things that was like, wait a minute, y'all doing what? Mm-hmm. Right. And so it's and what I found too is that there's a lot of good things on paper. Oh, we're doing this, that, and the third, right? But are we doing it? Is my question. Are we are we doing it, but we're not, right? There are certain people, we don't want to talk about this mayor, but the mayor prior had a special special place for a special organization. And I won't call them out here because I believe their method is fine, but the accountability is lacking. The management of the finance is is lacking, right? And so when we talk about social abuse and how it impacts your day-to-day work as an elected official, um, how does that show up for you? So I really connected again with the title when we first saw each other. Um, and I was like, social abuse. I was like, oh my God, I'm experiencing that. Like one thing when I realized, well, when it when the when the polls closed, um my opponent had so much support, so much, just like this, you know, this political machine, we're gonna say what it is, the RPA. Yeah, this political machine behind him, Ace, um, RPA, just a number of uh big time folks who, when we say big time, we don't mean that they're actually big time, but they're actually strategic and they're devoted and committed to this mission to really take over the council, infiltrate the boards and commissions. So I was aware of that, but I knew that I had ran a really great race. I knew I had given everything that I could give uh that cycle. Um, and it was above me uh at that point. But what that showed me was real people power and what we could actually do. And I remember an article with Richmond Side when he sat down and he was like, So, what is your expectation? Like, what do you want going into this position? And I said that I am completely aware of the relationships on and off the council that my opponent has with the current council members, but all I'm asking for is to come in and get get a fair shot just for them to just it was a fair race. Obviously, he had he had outfunded me like a hundred times full, so that wasn't the case. So it was a fair race, but I just wanted a fair shot. Um, and I can tell you, starting at the swearing-in ceremony, I knew I was in for an uphill battle. Can you let the listeners know why? Yeah, like when I first approached the bench, um even our current vice mayor, Doria Robinson, didn't even bother to like acknowledge that I was there or anything like that. And I was so taken aback by that momentarily, but I was in the I was so like high in the spirit of like this accomplishment and all my family and friends, and like City have like the the room was so packed, like it they had to go into the hallways and stuff. And so I was just so consumed by that, but I did kind of like notice like the like the side eyeing and like I mean, you know, black girl to black girl, like we we kind of know when to five is all and so um that took place and like didn't even bother to like turn around and acknowledge and say congratulations or anything like that. Um so that initially threw me off because this was a person that I had seen throughout the community, throughout our work, bypass and has always been like, you know, okay, in a cool situation whenever we've uh made contact. But that was like initially the start of it. And then like after the swearing-in ceremony, um, you know, I was excited again, still still thinking like neutral grounds. I was excited, like, you know, to be up there with another black woman who I've seen like do things in our community. Like she was um working doing gardening in the back of Lincoln Elementary School with my now 20-year-old daughter, uh, when she was in third grade, so you can tell how long that's been. Um, so I was just excited that we're all up here like Richmond change agents, change makers. Like, I'm excited. So when you go in with that pure intention of excitement and like authenticness of wanting to change systems that you know are corrupt, and then you are met with like resistance, met with resistance, and then I was, you know, other folks was excited to see me, but then I would speed up to like going into my office. Um, sitting in my office, this is like maybe I think like maybe the first council meeting, or maybe second or third council meeting uh of the start of my term, and like Doria and Claudia, they'll like literally walk past my office and be like, Oh, Melvin, we miss you. And so for the listeners, Melvin was Dr. Brown's opponent, yeah. And he had the seat and he was trying to get re-elected, yeah. Just to give a little background, yeah. So with that, Jamelia, though, when it comes because a lot of times people said, well, we always make it about race, right? But race is important because it's who we are, it's a factor. And then they say, Well, it really shouldn't be this is my belief, the Democrats, the RPA, it because once you have that seat, it should be nonpartisan, nonpartisan. Say it again, it should be nonpartisan, it shouldn't be aside. Um, and I think that even with myself, it's never about me, my personal beliefs, my religion, what I like, what I don't like. It's about the Richmond residents. When I walk into those chambers, it is no Jamelia, it is the district one representative, the Richmond representative, what represents the best interest of the community. Both um and let's let's let's take it back before the chambers. When you're in community in different capacities as doctor, council member Jamelia Brown, you're representing the people, you're welcoming, you're and it's not based on whether they voted on you for you or not. And so that's one of the things I respect a lot about you. We don't talk often, but I see you. Um, and so for the listeners, is this your first political role? Because sometimes people may feel like, oh, she all she's been in politics. Yeah, no, this is my first like political role in in this capacity. Like I was um high school class president. Um I was um I was the director of college letters, arts and social sciences at Cal State East Bay. So I've been in like political role capacities and advocating roles, but to like in a on a municipal level, like this is my first time at a seat uh on a on a body such as this. So where do you see social abuse most clearly in Richmond right now? Where I can see it most clearly again, I would go back to my role as a council member and I would just see the uh the barriers that um that were created before I even got there. And I name a couple, yeah. I mean, like I can mention the instances with myself, Doria Robinson, myself, and Claudia Jimenez. I could tell you about an incident that I never told it. You getting all of the Well, give me the date. Listen, because there was a particular situation. So Claudia and I have so let me just tell you being on the council, the only folks to reach out to me was Caesar Zapeda and Soheila Bana. Those were the only two individuals that reached out. Caesar like went above and beyond, I think, what he even had to do, but just trying to engage with me to learn yes, you're a newcomer, but you're not alone. And anything that I could do to help and support you, you know, transition into this role, I'll help you. So like in true Caesar fashion. In true Caesar fashion. He is just meek when you talk about the quality of a person. Um, and others just created like these unnecessary barriers, you know, um, telling staff not to work with me, um, just being nice, nasty, not speaking, like literally, I didn't even meet the mayor until like have a sit-down conversation with the mayor until maybe like a month into office. Maybe like, yeah, I had set like for like two, three council meetings, and looking at this man that I've never had a conversation with. And so, like, all of this was just like, it was weird. Um, but I can recall an incident where Claudia Jimenez and I, it was our first time ever having a sit-down. Um, she asked to meet with me. I was excited. I'm like, sure. You know, like these are like the people that've been there already. So you're like looking to learn, you're gleaning to like get some insight and some valuable information to help you succeed in your role because there was no Melvin to say, hey, here's the transitional piece. This is what I've been working on for our district. This is what you can continue to pick up and and run on and see what the end is gonna look like. It was none of that. Um, it's literally a role that you're elected into. And I'm assuming everybody around just thinks that you know what you're supposed to do, but they send you over to like um a three-day conference where you're given like a crash course and you're cut and you're brought back and you're supposed to just know how to help run a city. Um, so it was a lot of things that I had to like cut off with, like cut my hours with work, uh, remove myself from certain contracts because I had to learn this role to keep up. Um, but then I would again go back to this incident where I had my first time ever meeting with Claudia Jimenez and she had a conversation with me about um a couple policy decisions. And so I'm like, okay, cool. Like, okay, must be my first, you know, stab at it. Um, but she wanted me to bring forth an item to wanted me to bring forth an item to um, she said she will back me. So you bring it forth, we're gonna back you, so forth and so on, to get rid of our current city manager and the director of employment and uh training, uh Tamara Walker. And I'm looking at her like, what are me? Like, I guess I'm a newcomer. I don't know if this is an initiation thing or whatever. But what she told me in that moment, and she was like, it's gonna look basically it's gonna look crazy if I do it, but you're a black woman and these are black women, so if you do it, it's good. And I really I looked at her and I was like, I would never go against a black woman in that capacity. Like, why would you think I would do something like that? Like, it just didn't make sense. And after me telling her that, she never talked to me again. Oh wow, and this is the person that wants to be mayor? Absolutely. Okay, absolutely never, but see, these are the things that I've never so I'm I'm saying this now because we're the election is June 2nd. Yes, so now I can say these things, but these are things that I held in. I have so many more stories, but these are things that I held in because Demnlus and Brandon are somehow attached to me in capacity in different capacities, and so I never felt the need that I need to say any of these things because it's gonna look political, it's gonna look like you're trying to take a jab at this person. And it's like, no, these people are complete monsters behind closed doors. These are people that I would never invite to my birthday party. I told my mom, if I were to die today in the capacity of a single city council member, the only council members that are on that body right now that's allowed in my service is Caesar and Soheila. Wow, to that extent. Jamelia, I wasn't expecting all of this from you today. Oh, see me fall dead. Oh my. Oh my. I wasn't expecting No. Those people are complete monsters. So, in true fashion of just who I am, how do you who supports you as the council woman that represents District One? How do you find resolve to keep pushing past the social abuse? Because this podcast is not only to get information out to the listeners, but it's also to educate our community. It's also to help people understand that, like we mentioned last week, you need four people in alignment with each other for a vote to pass or be denied when voting is taking place during city council, right? So it's not just on the hedge of one person. Um, but also for people to understand and maybe take a step back a little bit that our political officials, our elected officials such as yourself, are real people before you're an elected official. For sure. And you're carrying a lot. So how do you, what do you do? Because I would call it a mask, right? Haven't we being transparent? And when I say a mask, because a lot of times black women, women of color, we're told to suck it up, push through it. That's what we're supposed to do. And so we accept social abuse on so many different levels. But you have a daughter, a 20-year-old. Yes, she's watching you. Your other three children are watching you. And if we're going to uh uproot and undo what has been done, what are you doing for Jamelia? Because for the listeners, what you all don't know, doctor isn't like medical doctor, she's into mental health. Lord help her. Yeah, that and that's what's keeping that's what has kept me sane. Okay, tell us more. Um, being in this field, I exercise a lot of like interventions, breathing techniques across the board, knowing I'm so anxious, like leading up to a council meeting, because I know I have to go sit in spaces, closed spaces with these people who I know, who I have witnessed do some unfavorable things. And it's who can you go talk to? And I think that's where the the social abuse starts to really set in because you now have to deal and carry that. Because who can you go talk to? There's absolutely when you're talking about someone on the council who has the super, who has the majority vote, you don't the likelihood of you going to tap on somebody's door and say, This person's done this or this person's doing this to me, you might as well go tell that person. Because they sure are not gonna hold it. They're gonna go tell that person what you said, and that's even more a greater um form of isolation. And it is a lonely, it's it's lonely out there on that island when you're when you have integrity and when you stand up for the people of Richmond. And I just want to say thank you because I know that you've stood up. You voice some things that I didn't think that you would voice before. And so I say thank you. And so back, so the mask I was getting ready to talk about. So people on the outside looking, and those that have been at some of these past events that you've been the life of the party of, and that beautiful smile is reflective, and it's like it's a math in a sense, but it's genuine, right? Because it's a math in the sense of I gotta put this smile on, I gotta push through because we've been told I gotta fight through it, I gotta do this, I gotta, I gotta show up, I gotta, my lip gloss gotta be popping, my hair gotta be together, right? Um, but the in depthness of the pain that social abuse, the damage that it does. Oh God. And so do you think had you not had the training of mental health that you would be able to smile through, press through? Absolutely not. That is a hazing process down there at City Hall for me. I told you, from the moment being sworn in to the maybe like the first two months of them jokingly calling another council member, calling council member Sue Wilson, Sue Willis to mention Melvin again and everybody's laughing. And I'm like, okay, okay. And it became it became it happened so often, it became a running joke. Okay. And I'm just like, at this point, I don't think it's funny. It's so disrespectful, it's rude. Um, to having encounters like Claudia Jimenez asking me to um, you know, throw two black women under the bus because I'm a black woman and I guess I just look like I could do that. Um, to just various encounters of just being pushed out, barriers, not being included, learning of information on the dias in real time along with the other residents, instead of folks giving me my respect and giving me information ahead of time. Collaboration. Yeah. Um, emails that don't get to me, but said, Oh, you were included on an email. And I'm like, um, but where? Um, just all of these things being told, oh my gosh, being told the wrong date and time for the raising of the freedom flag, I think was the most hurtful thing. Um, so it's just it's just all of that. And so, yes, being in mental health has allowed me uh to survive the the torment that's going on. This is the worst job that I've ever had. And the only thing that keeps me going is the is the residence of Richmond. Because when I go down there and I face the abuse that I receive and I get back in the community, and it's love and it's thank you, it's it's um, we hear you, uh, you, you know, you know, you're not alone. So that that's what kind of like refills my cup. That's what puts the gas in is hang for me to show back up. Okay. Because I go home like it's above me. It's with Jesus himself. I'm not going back down there. They can have that because the credentials go with me. Like, I don't need like council member is not that job pays very minimal. Everybody knows our our salaries are public records, public for public consumption. And they know that we probably get about like $2,500 a month from that position, which is a drop in the bucket to what I could be making if I um dived in a little bit. If I took that time that I spend as a council member and put it full-blown into my profession and what I've been doing.

unknown 32:48

Okay.

Speaker 1 32:48

So we're gonna shift it a little bit because we're gonna come back to personal. But housing first um is something that is so controversy. Housing First model is rooted in the idea that providing stable permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness without preconditions like sobriety, employment, or treatment compliance is both the most humane and most cost-effective approach, right? This method began on the East Coast in New York by Dr. Sam. I can't pronounce his last name, so I don't want to butcher it. And it was a nonprofit called Pathway to Housing. Now I understand the heart behind Housing First. And having a contract with the city of Richmond with that grant and the housing first, you know, I'm kind of literal and very, okay, we we we can check that because we took them from the encampment, we put them in a hotel, there was no requirement, right? But I feel as a community member first that there needs to be some structure. So and I know that's above local policy that has to be state and all the things. What is your thoughts on housing first? And I'll talk a little bit about mine. So I I totally agree with what you said. I understand the heart of wanting to, you know, housing first, because the intent is to say that if someone has housing first, they could then start to address the other circumstances in their life. On both on both a professional and personal stance, I don't agree with that at all. How the housing first model has just never been something that I just bought into because it's not a blanket solution when we're talking about substance use, when we're talking about mental health, when we're talking about homelessness. It's not a blanket solution that one remedy uh can apply to everyone. And so, yeah, I just never, I never bought into that. I believe that we that a person individually needs to be assessed. And those needs from that assessment, that's what needs to be first. I I don't understand if if a person is in psychosis, why will you put them in a home? Okay, we so we're gonna live there for a minute. So, because the thing with that is, and we talked earlier in the episode about learning things behind that I that I suspected, that I thought, right? This was one of those things because the city of Richmond have received so much money and funding for our unhouse. Um, even with all three of our um shelters being at full capacity, 110% capacity, right? Um, but the solution, not the solution, the um what I came to was if they resolve the problem, there's no more funding, right? So why would they solve a problem that would eliminate them from being able to apply for grant after grant after grant? So, and I know Housing First isn't a Richmond-rooted thing, but they on the tail coat of it, right? And so there's other things and other things play uh policies and there's other methods that they could put in place that would help resolve the problem. Because, like you said, it's not a cookie cut, it's not just blanket. We got economic reasons why people, we got mental health issues, and we have addiction issues. And so if you don't want to address those issues, then you want them to remain homeless. Because I can put them in a place, I can go talk to somebody because I'm a people person, I can go talk to a landlord and say, hey, we got the I did it. Yeah, I was gonna say you have the landlord's role in lining up. I did it. Yes, you did, right? However, because there was pushback, well, Vanessa, you can't random, you can't do random drug tests. Why? A random drug test to me says, I love you and I want to help you. It doesn't, and so there were conversations and it's on record of me saying, just because your tests come back dirty, don't mean we putting you out the program. Yeah, but I'm gonna give you an option you can do in treatment or outpatient treatment, right? But the goal is if you really want help, because and we're not talking about people that's coming off a high. We're talking about people that's sober, yeah, but know that they have an addiction, right? But there's this push, this pull and tug, right? No, but it's the no because if we talk about tiny homes that's being built right around the corner, and we won't dive into that because I feel some kind, you're gonna have to come back because I feel some kind of way, right? Because if we love Richmond, if we want better for the people in Richmond, we can't hide behind a housing first method when we know that it's not solving the problem, right? Right? We have to be transparent, we have to talk about we we doing this because we need more money, and not because we need more money for the unhouse, we need more money for us. And you weren't on counsel when this took place, and they picked me because I was green as this backdrop right here, and they didn't think that it was gonna be successful, right? From the top on down. So they lowballed me in areas and ignorance. There's a cost for ignorance, and not ignorance in a in a degrading way, but when you just don't know some things, you're gonna pay a cost for that. And I I paid it and I'm still paying it, right? And so there were things when we had to spend money down because there's deadlines of different things. Right. There was money that was spent and paid for salaries within the city of Richmond. And I start asking questions. Isn't that against the law? Aren't don't your money come out of the the general budget? This is a state grant. What are we doing? And it's Vanessa, no, it it's it's it's more complicated than that. No, one plus one is two all day, right? And so it's the social abuse of you brought me to the table, yeah, but you brought me as a face because you too scared to go to Castro, you too scared to show up, you don't really care about what's going on, but let's put the girl who's been in the street serving the community for all the let's just put her out there. She ain't gonna do it anyway. They know who she is, they know who she is, right? And so when it comes to, we don't even have to answer these other questions to this housing first because you said what you said, and I respect that. So, what do you feel is there was one thing that you could see done different as it pertains to our unhoused enrichment? What would that be? For the people who are responsible for providing them services, actually provide them the services. Y'all heard it, accountability. Yeah. Um, when you mentioned the part about ignorance, it's not as a degrading thing, but it's a running joke down at City Hall that if you don't ask, don't tell. So if I don't ask the question, don't tell me. Even if I'm hinting around something and you know that you can just be forthcoming, don't tell her. Because I'm too was green as this uh backdrop when I first got there. Um, I'm I'm about lime green now. But you more, you you good, but I'm learning and it it's it takes us to actually do like that step by step where we just have to go research and get the information for ourselves because people are unwilling to give us the real answers and really tell us because they know that we're that we really have a heart for the people that we really want to make a change. And it's like, hold on, we want to make a we want to look like we're making the change. We don't actually want the change to occur because then the funding stops and then the supportive services, that whole model breaks down. And so we have to be honest. Do we really want this to stop? And I'll give you a more recent example. That Motel 6, right across from Taco Bill, keep going, 48 units, 28 million dollars later. 28 million, baby. I would have started building for if the price tag was 28 million. I would have gone right on the Home Depot, got me a couple little plowers and got the building. But but I say that jokingly because we I talked about this when we were approving um the additional funding that was needed. I was like, unless we require sober living, that is gonna be New Jack City. Absolutely, because that's what it was before they start tearing it down. Come on, right? Um, the things that they brushed under the rug, even while there. Um, and so I know, and let me pause here because there was a listener that reached out and was like, you know, you keep hinting at what happened with you. It's coming. Y'all just keep listening about the full train because there's just some things. But um where thank you too for talking about you because that's it, that's lived experience. That's me being able to have a conversation with you where to one person's ears it may seem foreign, but to yours, it seems spot on because we have those lived experiences that we've had to overcome and still going through with this, you know, with this city. And the commonalities you mentioned earlier, like who can you talk to about some of the things that you were going? And as a service provider, that was one of probably the most hurtful things, right? Because I had people that cared, I had people that loved me, but they couldn't grasp the in-depthness of the pain, right? And at the time, I didn't know to call it social abuse. Um, I will say this, my therapist said something to me as I was getting ready to exit from the contract. She said, because it was so hurtful for me, because I call them my brothers and sisters, Deion House, right? And I was like, this is so hard. I'm like, and that new agency that they're bringing in, they're not gonna do da da da da da da. And she stopped me. She said, You do realize that you're in a domestic violent relationship. With the city of Richmond. It was a gut punch because I had never grasped it like that. She said, for the last two years, they've been manipulating you. And she just listed, and it and and I came to myself, right? And it was like, okay, I deserve better. Right. And so those moments, as you mentioned, become lonely because one, the integrity that you carry. We don't just go around throwing people under the bus because I could have been said a whole bunch of bunch of, right? And um, and so the same goes for you for some of the things that you see in closed chambers and you see different things. And so I'm not an elected official, but I'm a service provider. I'm a community member. I love the city. Yeah. And so that pain that we carry, it has to be worked through. Because if we continue to allow social abuse to have this grip on us, Richmond will continue to be what you called it at the beginning of this episode. Say it again. Richmond, California, the city of pain and poverty. Pain and poverty. Because, and then that every generation, every generation you'll never see the legacy of wealth. You'll never see the legacy of pride and purpose. You'll never even understand and realize you have purpose when you're from a dark place of pain and poverty. And so that's one of the reasons we have this podcast to talk about the social abuse. So we're coming to an end, but I want to talk about you as a mom. My favorite role. Your favorite role. It's a competing interest. Because I'm an only child, so I love my mom. And so you mentioned earlier that you take care of yourself using the methods that you learn through mental health. Is there any other ways? Because here's the thing: how do you want people to understand the personal costs of a public servant? Right? Like, how does that impact your children? Not just you, but your children. Well, one, a therapist needs a therapist. So I'm actually, I have a supervising um therapist that I see as well. Um, also, this service is such a sacrificial role. It's such a sacrificial role. You forfeit birthday parties, you forfeit um, you know, different promotional engagements that your friends have been associated with, your children. Um, you know, that time that I would spend always taking my mom to lunch every day, or just calling her in between, you know, clients and grabbing her. Um slow down. She felt the shift in that in my availability. Um, my kids, because I'm a mom, I don't miss PTA meetings, I don't miss back to school nights, I don't miss bake sales, no, that's right. Uh parade walks, um, assemblies, any of those things. So I'm I was such a hands-on mom. This role put like a halt in a lot of that because, and when I mentioned sacrificial, it's not only um the social part of the sacrifice, but it's also the financial sacrifice that you make where you literally see your funds, uh, you know, your monthly income slashed because of this role. Um, they say it's a part-time position. I said in a council meeting last night from three o'clock to 11 o'clock PM, that was just one council meeting. We have three council meetings a month. Can I add that we're only one of three cities that still have three meetings? Every other city in the state of California, in the state of California have two meetings. They're able to get their city business done in two meetings for whatever reason. We're different. Um, but um that again, like you know, um my son was recently honored at the um African-American Student of Honors award. Second year, he was there last year, too. Well, he's been there since he's been. Well, talk about it. We become brush over that. Congratulations, son. Yeah, as Madden is a scholar, like ever since he's been able to get letter grades and never drops below a B. So I've never had any problems with him. But it that the last ceremony that happened was on a Tuesday night, and I was sitting in council meeting and I couldn't be there with him. Um, that was a sacrifice because I've never missed one of those. Um, it's amazing to see not only my son, but other youth taking pride in their in academic excellence. So that was a sacrifice. Um, and just you know, overall, just the time, you know, we are uh like my kids and I, you know. Y'all tight. We are tight. Y'all tight. Y'all tight. And that's so everywhere together. So, like, you know, we can't like plan because it's a council meeting. And I can't I keep telling people not only that there's a council meeting, but you are not a council meet a council member of today. So when you're elected, you may be talking about things that happened five years ago, 10 years ago, 15 years ago. And I'm I'm 39 years old. So there are some things that we were talking about when I was in high school, and now I gotta, you know, brush myself up, I gotta make phone calls, talk to staff, all of these things to kind of bring myself up to speed. And so these council meetings, so long council meetings, and then the preparation that it takes to prepare to sit up there, because when you sit up there, you don't want to just be voting anything, you want to make an informed decision and informed votes. An informed vote means I have to read, I have to research, I have to make send emails and talk about these things. And that's what I appreciate about you. You ain't just up there yapping. You you you got the receipts to back it up. Yeah, I just got the receipts. I only want to say what what I don't know, I hold back because I want to listen and I want to learn. And so that is like the the fine dance. And it's like all of that, I'm so imagine just being stressed out, you know, been there, getting to those meetings, and you know, and even if you have an item that you're bringing forth onto the council, you need four votes. Right. So your children are watching you. What do you want them to learn from seeing their mother do this work? Especially when it's hard, when the system pushes back and when the abuse is there. So you have young adults that are they coming into their own. What are you hoping that they learn from watching their mother in all these different facets? I knew you were gonna get me with the mommy question.

Speaker 51:20

If I'm being completely honest, I would not want my kids to work in a role like this.

Speaker 1 51:28

So, do you guys have that conversation? Well, my daughter, she's on the track of she's on the psychology track, so she wants to become a psychologist, so that's one thing. But I don't want her to work in a role of service. We are the least paid, require the most from. We are neglected in so many areas. We're ostracized in these areas. So for them to be young and being able to be in a point in their lives where they can make any decision, I wouldn't say go and you know, because I'm sacrificing a lot of this for me. Thank you. Um working service, this will take from you, and I can only think about the people who've come before me who have made sacrifices, professional sacrifices, working in roles that they know they don't have to work in to continue to show up. So that to me is a level, like I want my kids to, I think the overarching, the bigger picture here is me wanting my kids to live a fulfilled life where they can enjoy their children, where they can enjoy vacations, where they can enjoy just being free, the freedom. If my daughter wanted to go play a guitar in the Berkeley park somewhere, I want to be there and be like, baby, you need some more strings. Whatever you need for your guitar, I want you to be the best guitar player in Berkeley. So it's those things where I just want them to have the option. Now, so now if they see something in their mom or they see something in uh other figures that you know where they feel compelled to do this work, then I'll support. But if if it's me trying to advocate for my kids to take a role of like service where there's infinite sacrifice, there's so much pool, there's so like a mental health challenge struggle, like having a relationship is not conducive to this work, like there's so many things that are not conducive to this work because it's it's really taxing. But if you have a government that are made up of people who really want to move the city forward, like how our budget um theme is moving Richmond forward is this year's theme. If we really have a body that's made up of that actually wants to move the city forward, it becomes less resistant, it becomes less taxing because now we're showing up and we are excited to do the work for Richmond residents. We're not excited to kind of like do some backdoor scamming stuff, we're not excited to do some underhanded backflip, whatever you're trying to do. Like that that type of mentality disrupts the work. I want to say thank you. But you represent Richmond, the Richmond single mom, the the Richmond um mom that works her butt off and um feels like sometimes nobody sees it but continues to ask for more. I see you. So when I say I see you, Jamelia, I don't want you to think that, oh, she just saying that. No, I actually see you. No, thank you. Right? Um, I had the short time of watching you serve some of our unhoused um brothers and sisters, and I was mad at you when you left. Let me just be clear. I was very upset with you. Oh my gosh, I was so upset with you, but I got over it. But I see you, I see the full you that you put into everything that you do. And so, although them folks down there may not appreciate you, I appreciate you. And I and I thank you because so many would have walked away a long time ago. Yeah, and you didn't. And so, last question for the people that are listening that want to get involved with Richmond, just say to fight against social abuse, to advocate for the housing, um, that even may want to dibble into local government. Yeah. What would you tell them? I would say, please, please consider it. I mean, it's one thing to say I wouldn't want my kids, but then I would ask for other people too. Um I'm not trying to say, like, you know, this or that, but I'm just saying that if people are like I mentioned before, if my kids were interested, I would support. So if you are interested, I would support. Um, because real people are needed in these spaces. And when I say real people, I mean people with the heart of the like people that are like have the heart for the city, um, regardless of how Richmond feels to them. It feels burdensome, it feels painful, it feels a lot of things for me. Um, and that just depends on how long you've been here, too. Um, so I would just tell people if if that's what your interest is, I would say get involved because you are needed. Your voice, your voices are needed at the table. Um how would they so? And I guess it's the educator in me. When people say get involved, that's such a blanket statement. How, what do you feel is their next step? Or because I know we've been we've been sitting here for a while. Um, is it okay to have will you share your handles and I can share it in the transcript where if they want to reach out to you, you can direct them, or do you just want them to go to the city of Richmond website? As much as they say the City of Richmond website is easy to navigate, some people may get lost. However, you can reach me on IG at Brown for City Council, common spelling throughout. Um getting involved is a blanket statement, but I say it in no in terms that it's so many different areas. You don't have to initially be an elected official. Um, there are so many boards, commissions, uh organizations throughout the city. Um, you can start your own organization and partner with the city. Like there's so many different capacities in which you can get involved. I figure if you want to get involved, figure out what your purpose is, what what gaps, what service gaps do you feel that you want to fill and get involved and start there. Um, so again, there's so many things. If you have any questions, I'm always um, you know, connecting with folks and shooting them the information based on what they require, based on what will help move them forward. And she responds. She responded, she responds. I'm gonna just say that. I'm very responsible. You are, and so council member Dr. Jamelia Brown, thank you. Thank you for the courage to speak up today. Thank you for the emotion because a lot of times we suck it up and be like, I ain't just gonna let them see me chill. Oh my god, you got me. It's the second day in the row I've been got. Well, last night it was at the council meeting with uh honoring um uh Abigail Sims Evelyn, who was my uh instructor, who's my educator, um, to now be a you know, as a city council member, honoring her, was you know, was moving. And then today, just like you know, mentioning my kids and talking about the sacrifices that I make. I didn't really, I mean, we're moving around so often, so we don't get a chance to sit in one spot and to just reflect. Um, so thank you for that space. And thank you for holding it for me. You're so welcome. And so, you all, that has been the social abuse podcast. Ask the right questions, get involved in your community, and let's end social abuse. Remember, the light has to be shed in order for it to be disseminated, diminished. That is um, this episode. I look forward to talking with you all more again, ladies and gentlemen. None other than Dr. Council Women Jamelia Brown. This has been social abuse.