Jeff Schwartz - Love and Liberty!
Do You Want Housing Projects Here?
Government has built housing projects for the poor for more than 80 years, but this has failed to solve homelessness and has made matters worse. Instead of repeating past mistakes, can we instead come up with some completely different and fresh ideas?
Question Project Homekey?
Should we re-evaluate Thousand Oaks’ plan to partner with Sacramento to bring permanent, San Francisco-style homeless policies to our city? They’re giving “free” permanent housing in T.O. to anyone who claims to be homeless, at taxpayer cost of $350,000 per unit. Does this approach incentivize and institutionalize poverty? Is it counterproductive? Are there better alternatives possible? Check my YouTube videos for some fresh ideas.
Defend the Bill of Rights
The 2nd Amendment is the Founding Fathers’ recipe for securing safety in a free nation. Do you think that the T.O. Council should draft a resolution advising our Chief of Police that we strongly affirm and support the 2nd Amendment?
Jeff Schwartz - Love and Liberty!
Stimulate Private Charity
What would happen if the City of T.O. awarded our residents tax credits based upon how much money each resident donates to a local private charity or non-profit of his or her choice? This would create a tremendous incentive for our residents to donate generously to local private charities.
Reforming Our Elections
About 15 states, and many U.S. cities, including San Francisco, New York City, Berkeley, Palm Desert, and Minneapolis, have already adopted a positive reform called “Ranked Choice Voting,” a.k.a. “Instant Runoff Voting.” Should we tell Sacramento that we want our residents to have the freedom to debate and vote upon possible reforms to our system?
Treat 18 Year-Olds Like Adults
Is it time to stop treating 18-year-olds like children? Age 18 is already considered old enough to vote, serve on a jury, and join the military. Let’s start a conversation about whether or not it might be time to re-instate full legal rights to 18-year-olds as adults under the law.
Jeff Schwartz - Love and Liberty!
De-Regulate Adult Cannabis
Decriminalize Adult Drug Possession
Government should never promote drug use. Nevertheless, drug decriminalization has actually reduced drug abuse rates in places like Portugal, where responsible drug possession is now legal. T.O. City Council should tell our Police Chief that we consider enforcement of adult drug possession laws to be a low priority. In contrast, DUI’s or any other criminal acts while under the influence, as well as sales to minors, should continue to be punishable crimes.
Cut Local Cannabis Tax in Half
Government should never promote cannabis use. However, high taxes on cannabis cause harm. There is a booming black market in cannabis, selling product that can be impure or even dangerous. Thousand Oaks can put a dent in the black market by cutting the local cannabis tax in half, from 10% to 5%. The City of Berkeley did this in 2018, with overwhelmingly positive results. Reducing local taxes on cannabis will also help improve our local economy.
Jeff Schwartz - Love and Liberty!
Slash Property Taxes
In 1978, California enacted Proposition 13, which has saved taxpayers billions of dollars in taxes. Let’s expand Prop 13 so that ALL property owners get their property taxes lowered to the same low tax levels currently enjoyed by neighbors who have kept property in their families since 1978. This will create massively lower tax bills, stimulate new housing, super-charge our local economy, and pressure landlords to lower rents.
Slash Sales Taxes
We can super-charge our local economy by reducing or eliminating local sales tax. If Thousand Oaks can set its sales tax rate lower than that of surrounding communities, out-of-town shoppers will flock to our city in droves to make purchases of big-ticket items like cars, trucks, appliances, and furniture. These increased sales will stimulate our businesses and create more jobs.
Slash Local Income Taxes
California has one of the highest income taxes in the county. Let’s stimulate our local economy by reducing reckless or unnecessary spending by the City of T.O. By saving money, we can justify reducing local income taxes. That will make us all better off and more prosperous.
The Love and Liberty Philosophy
Jeff holds a viewpoint that is as American as apple pie and resonates with the majority of Americans. He cares about EVERYBODY’S rights and freedoms. Jeff supports individual liberty and personal responsibility on all issues, 100% of the time. Jeff says, “No More Jokes On Thousand Oaks!”
