wayne.liebman@gmail.com

Public Democracy LA

On December 8, 2022, Public Access Democracy sponsored Public Democracy LA, “What if the People Governed?” an interactive online introduction to citizens’ assemblies and how they can empower breakthroughs in local democracy. Co-hosted by the Berggruen Institute, Healthy Democracy, The American Public Trust, Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, Abundant Housing LA, and Public Access Democracy, this 90-minute online teach-in brought together advocates …

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Represent California

Represent California is Public Access Democracy’s call for a constitutional assembly in California with delegates selected by lot.  Written in 1879, California’s unwieldy constitution does not provide tools adequate to solve modern problems of housing, water, recall, districts, initiatives, commissions, budget, and taxation. An assembly with delegates selected by lot would incorporate a richness of …

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Citizens’ Initiative Review in California?

PAD is currently campaigning to bring the Oregon Citizens’ Initiative Review process to California. In recent years big financial interests have used the initiative process to get propositions passed that were not in the voter and taxpayer interest. The flood of special interest, partisan advertising, while purporting to educate voters, in many cases misinforms the …

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Repairing Broken Policymaking

Rebuilding democracy starts from the bottom up. Elections are subject to a highly problematic political process. Local panels and commissions are appointed and not representative. Civic engagement in the form of public comment is usually limited to a minute or two per person. Public polling represents spur of the moment opinion, not considered judgment. Randomly …

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