Former adviser to outgoing Columbia Mayor Benjamin: Thank you

I don’t remember if it was 2011 or 2012 or what time it was.

I do remember that it was National Night Out and we were working with Mayor Steve Benjamin and as he went from neighborhood to neighborhood across the city joining as many events as possible. I remember we were running behind schedule headed to the Bellfield Center in Booker-Washington Heights and I remember it was raining.

I remember being glad that the walkway to the center’s front door was covered. I remember the rush to get inside and then realizing that Mayor Benjamin wasn’t with us.

Assuming he was still in the car (probably on the phone), we went back outside and found him standing on the small walkway. It looked like he was talking to the hedges but, looking closer, we saw the boy standing there behind the bushes taking shelter from the storm.

He was probably about 8 years old, absolutely drenched, and the Mayor was telling him to come under the walkway roof and out of the rain. He did and, after some careful prodding with his most fatherly manner, Mayor Benjamin got him to explain that he’d come to the event earlier, but he’d gotten into an argument with another boy. Insults flew…then fists…and they’d both been kicked out.

The other boy had run home when the rain started. He hadn’t. Maybe nobody was home because his parents were both working. Maybe home was so bad that standing behind a bush in the rain with nothing but an empty belly for company was better. I don’t know. All I knew was this boy was here because he had nowhere else to go.

Then Mayor Benjamin showed up.

“Come with me,” the mayor said, beginning to walk back to the door.

“But they kicked me out,” the boy explained. “I can’t go back in.”

Mayor Benjamin looked him directly in the eyes and asked, “Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, sir,” the boy answered.

“Then come with me,” he said again.

The center’s director wasn’t thrilled to see the boy walking back in with us. Rules are rules after all. Mayor Benjamin agreed, but explained that the boy had something to say. Then, in one of the most honest displays of regret I’ve seen, the boy apologized.

“Go get something to eat,” she said and the boy ran off toward the hot dogs yelling “Thank you!” behind him.

The director explained that the mayor couldn’t make a habit of doing this kind of thing, that the rules are there for a reason. He listened carefully, agreeing with everything she said. Then, when she was done, he wrote his personal mobile number on the back of a business card and handed it to her.

“If you have any more problems with him, if he gets into another fight, if his grades start dropping, if you’re worried about his friends, anything at all, call me.”

From millions in economic investment and new jobs created, to improved infrastructure, increased public safety budgets, the development of Bull Street to the rebirth of Main Street, we have many reasons to be thankful for Mayor Benjamin’s leadership.

But I remember that night the most.

I like to think I’m pretty observant. I like to think that I care about the public good and social justice. I like to think that I know right from wrong and that I choose right at least most of the time.

But, on that night, I walked right past that boy standing in the rain. I just didn’t see him, but Mayor Benjamin did. He was always looking for that person he could help in some way.

I don’t remember a lot about that night, but I remember how I watched Mayor Benjamin’s example and promised myself to never walk past that boy again. I remember promising to be better because he was.

Thank you for that, Mayor Benjamin. Thank you for everything.

Michael Wukela is a Democratic strategist and owner of Wukela Communications. He lives in Columbia and served as Mayor Benjamin’s Strategic Policy Adviser and campaign Communications Director.