Blog

Navigating the daily life of public service includes moments of being inspired and feeling challenged. What keeps me focused on the challenges are the inspirational moments, and there is nothing more moving than witnessing a person's willingness, effort and ability to change the lives of others in positive ways.

Eric Garcetti has been dedicated to making a difference in people's lives for as long as I have known him. I clearly remember meeting Eric the evening he arrived at Oxford University, where we both studied as Rhodes Scholars. Even in that remarkable setting, his personality and passion for the advancement of human rights stood out. Eric and I immediately became friends, inspired by a shared desire to bring about a more just world. Over the next year, we worked with our peers to bring about that change, advocating for human rights in southern Africa, championing immigrant rights in Britain and back in the United States - and we even had time for an occasional pint of beer together at the pub (well, I had Diet Coke), where we talked about our desire to bring positive change to the world around us.

Leaving Oxford, I never would have imagined that in a handful of years we would both run for office, and we would each win closely-contested city council races on opposite sides of the country. I have truly admired how quickly Eric built coalitions in his community that revitalized neighborhoods like Hollywood and brought about attractive and exciting places to work, live and invest in again. We are both driven to help people remove barriers, achieve their dreams, and make their contributions. Eric and I believe our cities - all cities - can be amongst the best places to raise families, educate our children and start thriving businesses. The American city can thrive again as an abundant gateway towards making American dreams real.

As the mayor of Newark, I have seen the potential of the American city reborn. That is why I am so excited to support Eric's candidacy to lead another great American city, Los Angeles.

Turning around our schools, making our streets safer and bringing economic prosperity to urban America is not easy work -- but Eric has turned the heart of Los Angeles around. The neighborhoods he represents are some of the most dynamic, creative, and resurgent communities in the nation. His work has built parks, opened new businesses and cleaned up the environment. Eric's work is the perfect representation of what real leadership can accomplish. A lot of politicians talk about projects and plans. A real leader produces results no matter what the obstacles may be. Simply put, Eric Garcetti has gotten the job done. Eric's passion and ability to build relationships across broad backgrounds based on a shared vision for his beloved city leave me no doubt that he is the right person to serve as the next Mayor of Los Angeles.

I know that progress takes sacrifice, dedication and vision - not just from one particular leader but from a larger community of supporters.  I hope you will join me as one of those supporters.  Change, as Dr. King said, "does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability," it must be carried in by those willing to contribute to it through work and sacrifice.

We all have many demands on our time and resources -- but I ask you to make room for Eric Garcetti's candidacy in all of that. Please ask yourself how you can help improve your community and engage today. Your contribution of $100, $250, $500 or the maximum of $1,300 will make a critical difference in electing Eric as Los Angeles' next Mayor.

Thank you,

MAYOR CORY BOOKER