Means for Democracy (Tools for Better Self-Governance)

Rigged Elections!

Learn more about the
problem and solutions.

2017 CDP Press Conference from Robert Means on Vimeo.
CDP calls on DNC to fight voter suppression and rigged vote-counting machines.

Milpitas is a great place to live, and our City functions well in providing the safety and infrastructure upon which our daily lives depend. However, in some important areas, our current Council is weak.

Primary Areas Where Milpitas Can Do Better

Jobs - Create "green energy" jobs that upgrade homes and buildings with water-saving, energy-efficiency and energy-generating features. The Milpitas Post called for such a program in 2010 after the School District contracted for solar panels on school property. Now is the time for PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy), a fancy name for low-interest, secured loans. Interested property owners, including businesses, can get 100% financing for their projects, and repay through a small property tax assessment over the next 20 years. This program eliminates upfront costs for the property owner, and provides low-cost long-term financing. Already implemented in 21 states, results indicate both lower prices for energy and lower mortgage default rates.

Local Mobility - Build an advanced transit pilot project. Then, extend it into a BART circulator loop that helps people get to/from the BART station, which will reduce traffic all around the transit area. As we add loops, a city-wide automated transit network (ATN) will emerge that saves residents gas money, traffic frustration, and time that is currently spent driving non-driving family members around. At the commons level (the level for which we create governments), it would help clean our air, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. The numbers make a strong argument, and so does our timing - if we begin now!

3-mins. about Milpitas PRT Pilot Project
(from Public Forum at May 20, 2014 Council meeting)

Democracy - Many ills that Milpitas residents endure result from policies made by others - policies designed to aid the wealthy. To restore a democracy that serves the 99%, we must join with hundreds of other communities calling for a 28th Constitutional Amendment. Like Prop. 49 on your November ballot, we declare that 1) money is not speech and can be regulated, and 2) makes clear that the rights protected by the United States Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. Only when a 28th Amendment overrules the Supreme Court can we take our democracy back from big-money interests, and reform our campaign finance rules.

Over the next several years, our city, nation and world will face financial, environmental and social challenges. It won't be "business as usual". These times will call forth from us new levels of creativity, flexibility and vision to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

protecting our hillsides from development

ensuring our libraries are adequately funded

helping our schools maintain their facilities

opposing faulty development plans that would hurt our community

The City Council team is responsible for choosing the strategies and policies that will guide us through the next challenging years. Wise choices by Council that support broad prosperity and mutual responsibility will help us all do better for ourselves, our families and our community.

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights. That our destinies are bound together. That a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense." - Barack Obama acceptance speech, 2012.

Contact Webmaster Rob Means at 408-262-8975, Rob@MeansForDemocracy.org
1421 Yellowstone Avenue, Milpitas, CA 95035