Increasing Democracy and Equity

In 2012 California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 1234, creating the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, which will set up low-risk individual retirement accounts on the private market for an estimated 6.3 million private-sector California workers, most of whom are women, low- and middle-wage workers, and people of color.

Both the Mayor and a leading mayoral candidate have strongly opposed mandatory paid sick leave, but labor unions and activists succeeded in reaching a deal that could eventually require businesses with a minimum of 15 employees to give full-time workers 5 compensated days off a year when they are ill.

The Associated Press updated its style guide, removing the term “illegal” when reporting on immigrants. An AP Executive said: “The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term “illegal immigrant” or the use of “illegal” to describe a person.

In the November 2012 election, San Jose voters increased the minimum wage from $8 to $10 per hour when they passed Measure D. The measure was born in a San Jose State University social action class led by Professor Scott Myers-Lipton. Students in the class created a draft of the measure then collected enough signatures to place it on the ballot.

At the end of February 2013, a group of advocates gathered at the steps of City Hall in San Antonio, Texas to call for basic wage and work-hour protections for domestic workers (nannies, caretakers, house cleaners, etc.).

City council leaders In Richmond voted 5-2 on Tuesday night to put a special soda tax proposal on the November 6 ballot. The soda tax would add a one cent per ounce surcharge to soda and other sugary fruit drinks that contain less than ten percent juice.

In February of 2006, FRESC and the coalition members of the Campaign for Responsible Development secured a set of Community Benefit Achievements at the site of the former Gates Rubber Factory.These achievements were the result of more than three years of research, advocacy, organizing, leadership from the city and elected officials, and a process of dialogue with the private developer.

The UK government wants all local authority areas to use participatory budgeting by 2012 based on their National PB Strategy.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (LGPIH), but it's generally known as the Local Government Act. Received royal assent in 2007 with a series of deadlines for implementation beginning with it's assent in 2007 through to dates in 2009.

The Local Government Act contains many changes for local authorities to implement but the key elements within the context of PB are:

* Local Strategic Partnerships
* Local Area Agreements

Baltimore Green Currency Association
Local Money, Making Change

Local currency, also called complimentary currency, is money that is designed to be used within a community, town, or city. Dollars are universal, but they don’t have the same power that local currencies have, to promote and grow a local economy, in ways that benefit the people and not banks. The BNote is Baltimore's growing local currency. As of Friday August 19th, over 13,200 BNotes are in circulation across the city of Baltimore.

Recommendations on the Establishment, Structure and Functioning of the Detroit Food Policy Council

Unanimously approved by the Detroit City Council
on February 17, 2009

Preamble