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sllewgh t1_ixzjsr4 wrote

Reply to comment by 2468975 in Pension for Baltimore City council members by 2468975

You need to collect a lot of signatures. This will require a lot of time, help, dedication, organization, money. It is not a small task. If you're serious, research organizations behind successful ballot initiatives and ask them.

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2468975 OP t1_ixzkb4x wrote

Thank you! This is the type of response I was hoping for. How individuals can realistically take action. Thanks again.

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sllewgh t1_ixzlv82 wrote

Individuals cannot realistically take action. Only unified groups can do anything. Also, the fight isn't going to be over when the ballot initiative is passed. If that's all you're organized to do, and everyone goes home afterwards, you've done nothing. My organization led the way for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to be passed via ballot initiative. A year went by and the city hadn't put any money in the fund despite it passsing, so we had to gear up to fight again. Then we had to fight to make sure the money was used correctly.

In summary, individuals can't do shit. If you want the city to do something the city does not want to do, you need a committed group organized for the long term for a cause, not an individual policy.

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2468975 OP t1_ixzussl wrote

I plan on researching organizations with successful ballot changes. Maybe I can volunteer and be part of a group to make change. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience.

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sllewgh t1_ixzxz6v wrote

Any time! Making these changes is absolutely possible, it happens all the time... but it takes a lot of work. It's very good to get off the sidelines- win or lose, if you participate you'll learn a lot about how power and our government really function.

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