The debate—hosted by the Black Action Alliance and made possible through the leadership of Theo Ellington, Executive Director of the Ruth Williams Opera House—was more than a forum. It was a test of whether California’s would-be governors could speak honestly inside a community that has learned to listen carefully for what is not said.

Ellington, who was instrumental in securing the Opera House as the venue, understands that symbolism matters. He is not only a cultural steward but also a declared candidate for San Francisco’s District 10 Board of Supervisors in November 2026. The building he protects has become a civic commons—a place where power is invited in, but not deferred to.

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