I realize I'm late for a party, and he walks me to my car. They all assure him he'll have their vote. The doctor insists she and her husband will put checks in the mail tomorrow. As we say goodbye a black family comes up and greets him, and a white couple stop their car in the middle of the street and jump out to have their picture taken. White people in their 20s mill around in a communal kitchen making an organic vegetarian dinner.
White volunteers stuff white envelopes at a table nearby.
The only two people of color in the place are two old black ladies in hats, one of them blind, who came in to volunteer. He takes me into his office, where we start our sparring again. This city has no shortage of plans. It needs someone to galvanize people to solve their own problems. Oakland doesn't need any more plans.