Appointment with Rep. Sara Jacobs Really Means Meeting with Her Staff

By Barrett Holman Leak

WASHINGTON D.C. — I saw a Latina woman, shorter than 5 feet tall, leave a building and be thrown to the ground in San Diego by three huge Caucasian men wearing masks and ICE vests. They scraped her across the concrete ground, ignored her screams, hog-tied her and dragged her away. She was here legally and I  later learned she was released with a tracking device put on her leg even though she had legal status and no criminal record.  I shared this traumatizing story on Monday morning as part of a lobbying visit I made to the office of Sara Jacobs, who represents CA-51, my district, where it occurred.

The culmination of the last few days at the Consultation on Conscience was to meet with our elected officials. Hundreds of us studied four issues/legislative proposals, and practiced our speeches. Then, we went to see our states’ senators and representatives, scheduled by RAC to meet with them for 30 minutes.

I rose early, packed my bags and grabbed some breakfast, then boarded a bus to Capitol Hill, where we walked to the Hart Building to meet with California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. We are able to share how our Jewish values shape what we want to see happen on Israel, immigration and ICE, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the clean bill extending the Affordable Health Care Act.

I have not been in Washington D.C. often. My father took us when I was in elementary school and we arrived at night. I remember standing at the Lincoln Memorial. In 2017 during a family reunion, we chartered a bus and visited the Smithsonian Institution’s African American History and Culture Museum and took a mini tour. Now, on a grey, cold quiet day, I worked my way around Capitol Hill and walked over to the Rayburn Building to see my representative, Sara Jacobs.

The decor is sterile, but the energy of the people rushing through the halls was vibrant. At 12 p.m.,  I entered Room 2348. The receptionist noted my pre-arranged appointment and I waited. I had to leave at 1:00 to catch my flight back to San Diego. At 12:35p.m., a staffer came out to greet me and tell me that she had until 12:50 to meet with me, and we went into Jacobs’ office.

Sitting at the meeting table at the end of the office, I asked where my representative was, and the staffer told me that Jacobs is only there when she has to vote. I know many constituents who have not been able to meet with her at her district office in San Diego (they, too, could meet with a staffer). I did wonder when exactly my representative meets with constituents when it is not a press release photo op, But I pushed that thought from my mind and focused on the matter at hand.  Her staff said later that Mondays for Jacobs are usually a travel day from San Diego to Washington D.C.

In rapid-fire speed, allotted 15 minutes I was able to share the immigration story about that woman who was assaulted by ICE in CA-51 and what we want for change. I also shared the position we take in the Union for Reform Judaism, as Jews, about legislation on settler violence in Israel, the extension of the Affordable Health Care Act and the long awaited John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore teeth to the Voting Rights Act at a time when voting rights have been stripped away.

Walking briskly in the frigid air, I made my bus and my flight back to San Diego. I am exhausted, but I think I made a difference. I did and said something to try to effect justice and serve my kindred CA-51 constituents as well as all Americans. Putting in the effort to make a difference if what counts. I wish and hope for everyone to do the same.
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Barrett Homan Leak is a freelance writer based in San Diego.