Sen. Laphonza Butler spoke to her Bay Area constituents at a San Francisco open house Saturday afternoon. Butler, who has around ten months left in office representing California in the United States Senate, talked with attendees about her focus on reaching out to youth and addressing their concerns about government.
This was one of Butler's first public events in the Bay Area since she was appointed to the seat by Governor Gavin Newsom in October following the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein. Butler, a former labor leader, is not looking for votes, she decided back in October that she will not run to keep her seat.
"I may not be here for a long time, but I invite you to be here with me for a good time," she said to attendees.
At Butler's event on Saturday, around 100 people filled the gymnasium of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco's Don Fisher Clubhouse. Earlier that day, Butler spoke at a roundtable that included Boys & Girls Clubs members and recent graduates of the program, making it clear that reaching out to young people and getting them involved in government is a priority for her.
"There are those who believe that the biggest threat to our democracy is happening in November," Butler told the people gathered on Saturday.
"I think the biggest threat to our democracy is happening in our high schools and college campuses right now. That threat being: their cynicism about the effectiveness of government," she continued.
Butler and her team also informed attendees about the things her office can do for the public, such as writing letters to federal agencies or helping to process student visa applications.
This town hall event is the fourth Butler has hosted across the state and the first in the Bay Area. At the town hall, Butler answered questions from young people in the Bay Area and at the end of the town hall asked those in attendance for feedback on what she could have done better.
Her approach seemed to resonate with the young people in attendance, including representatives from San Jose State University's student government.
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"I haven’t gotten to see a lot of what Senator Butler has done so far, but I think she is really personal to everyone in this community and I feel like seeing someone talk to the people who live [here] and, who she represents is just amazing," said Katelyn Gambarin, a San Jose State University student and director of internal affairs for SJSU student government.
Many people in attendance said they'd never had the opportunity to interact up close with a public official like that before. Butler lingered after the event to take photos with those who attended.
"Now we are so deep into technology and social media that we don’t get to speak face to face with these representatives, so having the opportunity to come here and connect with her and see the personable side of her, beyond the work that she’s doing for the youth in America, I think that’s beautiful," said Sarab Multani, who serves as student body president at San Jose State University.
Butler told NBC Bay Area that when it comes to whoever her successor is in the Senate, she looks forward to seeing who voters select.
"I don’t have any intention of endorsing in the Senate race in California, I think Californians have three great choices in front of them, and those candidates are working to earn not only the vote but the trust of the California people," Butler said.
“What I hope that I am doing with this office is to empower Californians all over the state, is that — no matter who’s in this seat — that the seat truly belongs to them," Butler continued.
Butler said the young people she spoke with in San Francisco told her that issues important to them include abortion rights, youth mental health, addressing climate change, and economic opportunity.
She ended the town hall in San Francisco urging constituents to not let this be the last time they talk.
