Serena Oberstein, she/her

Nonprofit Exec. Ethical leader. Operations Guru. Changemaker. Fierce Momma and Wife

[Serena Oberstein, she/her @SJOberstein]

🚨Huge news 🚨 The LA Times just endorsed our campaign citing their belief in our vision for the future of #CD12 and lambasting our opponent’s failed leadership. Read the whole piece: https://t.co/exW8bWbjaj

[LASHY BILLS @LASHYBILLS]

A Louisville eighth grader’s graduation speech is going viral after he called his school “f***ing ridiculous” on stage.

Daniel Mattingly, a student council member at Stuart Academy, was selected to speak at his eighth-grade graduation Thursday morning. After teachers reportedly rejected his original speech which focused on personal trauma, oppression, and encouraging students to stand up for themselves as too negative, he took the podium anyway.

In a surprise moment, the 8th grader told the crowd the school was “built on racism, sexism and homophobia,” adding, “This school is f***ing ridiculous. I encourage everyone here today to stand up for yourselves, even if it makes a scene.”
Mattingly later said he wanted to speak from the heart and inspire his peers. The unfiltered remarks have sparked widespread debate online.

[(((𝙹𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚒𝚗))) @JeremyOberstein]

The real loser of tonight’s @NBCLA mayoral debate? Angelenos. We are not served by this format and our politics will continue to devolve when we reward finger pointing & ad hominem attacks and leave unchallenged how leaders will actually address core priorities.

[Michael Trujillo @mikehtrujillo]

LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano calls the debate for @AVillaraigosa

[Nikki Laurenzo @NikkiLaurenzo]

In other CA gov race news today, a Super PAC for Antonio Villaraigosa is out with a new statewide ad targeting Latino voters.

The buy is a $1 million plus, according to @mikehtrujillo.

[Eleni Kounalakis @EleniForCA]

Californians deserve leaders who meet the highest standards of integrity. The allegations against Congressman Eric Swalwell are deeply troubling, and I commend the women who have come forward for their courage. For the good of the state, I believe he should withdraw from the race for California Governor.

[Analisa Swan🪷🏳️‍🌈#DemForce🇺🇦⚖️💛🐝🇺🇸💙😍🌊 @Analisa_Swan]

Eric Swalwell must DROP OUT OF THE RACE FOR CA Governor! Thank you CA DNC Member Michael Kapp @michaelkapp for preparing this letter. I am a signatory to the letter.

Statement from Members of California’s Democratic National Committee Delegation

We are deeply disturbed by the serious sexual harassment and assault allegations reported against Congressman Eric Swalwell. The severity of these allegations demands accountability, and our state must hold the highest standards of leadership. We must ensure the trust of women and safety of staff and the public.

For the good of that trust -- and the integrity of our party and the Office of the Governor -- we call on Congressman Swalwell to withdraw from the race for Governor.

Michael Kapp, Los Angeles
David Atkins, Santa Barbara
Sandra Lowe, Sonoma
Garry Shay, Los Angeles
Christine Pelosi, San Francisco
Carolyn Fowler, Los Angeles
Laurence Zakson, Los Angeles
Harini Krishnan, San Mateo
Analisa Swan, Los Angeles
Keith Umemoto, Sacramento
Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik, Orange
Jason Park, Santa Clara
Andrew Lachman, Los Angeles

Copy of the letter, DNC CA Member names continuing to be added: https://t.co/vHKmwGkVDw.

[Robert Garcia @RobertGarcia]

There is no place in our country or the Democratic Party for those who abuse women and girls. I stand with the courageous survivor who shared her story. Congressman Swalwell must leave the Governor’s race immediately.

[Andrew Kaczynski @KFILE]

CNN is reporting four women who described sexual misconduct by Eric Swalwell, including a former staffer who says he raped her
https://t.co/6LezPxLipA

[Ted Lieu @tedlieu]

In light of the recent allegations against Representative Eric Swalwell, I am withdrawing my endorsement of his campaign for Governor.

[Adam Schiff @AdamSchiff]

I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations. This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously.

I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.

[Michael Trujillo @mikehtrujillo]

To all reporters trying to make Katie Porter happen, folks there are more tapes. Chill out.

[Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner]

Another detail on Pelosi's statement pushing Swalwell to drop out: she spoke with him on the phone within the last hour or so.

[SEIU California @seiucalifornia]

SEIU CA has suspended our campaign activities and expenditures following extremely troubling allegations of sexual misconduct by Eric Swalwell. Our leaders will be meeting and will proceed on next steps through the democratic process laid out in our bylaws.

[Serena Oberstein, she/her @SJOberstein]

@HenMazzig Thanks for calling this out @HenMazzig and for your moral clarity on this. I know how hard it is to speak out when so many see things in black and white and want to demonize Jews universally.

It’s been devastating to see Palestinian pograms in the West Bank ignite.

[Serena Oberstein, she/her @SJOberstein]

“When the world feels so divisive, our inclination is to turn inward,” Oberstein said. “Pico Union is this place where we’re reaching outward and we’re building community and we’re holding each other up.”

[The LA Local @the_lalocal]

Nonprofit Pico Union Project gets new leadership as co-founders step down https://t.co/O4Hw2bizux

[Nithya Raman @nithyavraman]

We're spending so much more on homelessness than ever before, but there is no single department or individual in city government who is charged with overseeing it. I am running for mayor because Angelenos deserve urgency AND oversight in the fight against homelessness.

[Lee Edwards @terronk]

@DanielLurie Relevant information:

Trades says the group self-identified as @DSA_SF.

This is the party of @JackieFielder_ who also opposes your reforms and has yet to distance herself or condemn the antisemitic chants.

[Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 @DanielLurie]

At an event this afternoon, a group of individuals that were chanting "tax the rich" began to shout "tax the Jews." This was an event I put on with Supervisor Mahmood, labor leaders, and dozens of workers to announce a plan that creates more jobs for those workers and housing for San Franciscans.

Suggesting that Jews are wealthy is a tired trope, and targeting our community at an event focused on creating economic opportunity for San Franciscans is decidedly antisemitic. I will never accept hate directed at the Jewish community or any community in our city. Those are not San Francisco values—we’re better than that.

[Jonah Platt @JonahPlatt]

That any person, let alone THE PRESIDENT, would post a video mocking any Black person, let alone A PRESIDENT & his wife, with one of the most blatant & repeated anti-Black racist tropes is so disgusting on so many levels, it’s hard to articulate- not that it’s new behavior for him.

I don’t care what he says he “meant” to do. Hate is about impact, not intention (though of course he knew what was he doing) and OBVIOUSLY, that video caused enormous hurt to millions of our fellow Americans. That he refused to apologize is only a twist of the knife.

As a Jew, it’s easy to imagine what a video with us as the target might look like, and exactly how that would feel.

To our brothers and sisters in the Black community, we see your hurt. We understand it. And we are here.