At UCCA’s July 2019 meeting, Bridger Langfur announced that he was leaving Councilmember Barbara Bry’s office to pursue an advanced degree at UCSD. Barry Bernstein, Chris Nielsen, and Ruth DeSantis, representing UCCA, UCPG, and UCCF, thanked Bridger and presented him with a gift in appreciation for his service to University City.
Bridger Langfur shares his future plans: It has been a unique privilege to serve your community. When I began my position in Councilmember Bry’s office, I did not know exactly what to expect from community representative work. I took the job out of both respect to Councilmember Bry and because I believe we have a moral obligation to serve our greater community. Growing up in the United States I have watched politics become toxic. I watched political disparity become so prevalent that our union fractured and the very subject of politics became taboo at the dinner table. This struck me as terrible and odd, for I believe that politics make up the social contract that binds us together. It is a dedication to serving each other, it is an admission that we are not only individuals, but a collective of beings committed to the common good.
What I found working in service to University City was a community committed to this creed. A community full of driven volunteers and activists that recognized that their influence expanded beyond their property line. These individuals devoted time they could have spent on their families or themselves, working to improve the lives of others. They organized 4th of July celebrations; public discussions on controversial topics, fundraisers for schools, hikes to help us appreciate nature; they planted trees, they improved safety conditions on our streets, they spoke up, they worked hard, they persisted, they made positive change in their community.
My favorite part of working in service to University City was that we did not always agree on how to create this positive change. The most profound moments were those where I could listen to voices full of passion in opposition to my own opinion. These moments were opportunities to gain insight, to recognize the diversity of perspective that makes us human and in this recognition to put ourselves in the shoes of others. Thank you to all of you who challenged me to see beyond my own perspective.
My next pursuit is an advanced degree at UCSD. I will bring with me the wealth of lessons that you all taught me. For this I am deeply grateful. Thank you for your patience, your passion, and your commitment to the common good. It is a bittersweet goodbye. Justine Murray will be taking over my post at Councilmember Bry’s office. You may contact her at JRMurray@sandiego.gov. She is excellent.
We who volunteer for UCCA and all who live and work in University City wish you well, Bridger. To quote Dr. Seuss in his last published work, Oh, The Places You Will Go!: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
