FLORIDA - In March 2017, I was asked to assume leadership of the grassroots organization Florida Fair and Open Primaries (FFAOP). The organization was created by Duane Pike, of Tampa, FL in 2012 under another name, but the mission was always to advocate for Florida’s adoption of a top-two open primary. At that time, a couple of events intersected that provided a prime opportunity to build on what Duane had created.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) is calling for the censure of President Trump following his Helsinki News Conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kansas City Star is taking on the need for primary election reform in the state. One of the state's most popular newspapers says if the state is going to continue to have closed primary elections -- the private political parties should pay for them.

I was on a roll. As the Green Party congressional candidate for District 21 in upstate New York (NY-21), I participated in five congressional candidate debates or forums between April and June 2018. The forums originally focused on the June primary with seven then six then five people competing to be the Democratic candidate in the November election. I was already on the Green Party line on the November ballot, yet organizers of the five forums invited me so audiences could hear more points of view.

San Francisco, CA. - San Francisco is now the first city in California to allow non-citizens to vote in elections.

In the November 2016 election, San Francisco voters passed Proposition N, the Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections measure by a vote of 54% to 46%. It was enacted by the Board of Supervisors in May.

San Diego, CA. - By a vote of 6-3, the San Diego City Council passed a regulation plan for short-term vacation rentals, an issue that had vexed city leaders for at least 11 years.

The endorsed plan was put forward by Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry and councilmember Lorie Zapf. It's a primary-residence only solution to what had become a controversial practice of short-term rentals within city limits. Under their plan, primary residents may use their residence for a limited time so it retains its residential use.

Nearing the two year mark since the shocking 2016 presidential election result devastated both the Democratic and Republican Party power structures, liberal mainstream media journalists are still stuck in the denial stage of the Kübler-Ross model of grief.

Maine became the first state in the nation to use ranked choice voting in statewide elections in June. The historic moment has boosted interest in alternative voting methods that offer better election results and an improved system for choosing elected officials.

ALSO READ: Independents Made the Difference in Maine’s Ranked Choice Voting

We are having a big argument within the country -- about culture and norms. But mostly about power.

I’m intimately familiar with power struggles, changing cultures and norms. I grew up between two worlds and two families. My weekday family with my step-father was a “his way or else” culture -- he had the power. My weekend family had boundaries to provide structure, and supported creativity--we played Monopoly by different rules so no one would lose. I had two families, two sets of norms and two cultures.

Chargers super fan Dan Jauregui, who has played the role of unofficial mascot Boltman for more than 22 years, has announced his retirement and intent to auction off the character with half the proceeds benefiting charity.

You can bid on his costume on ebay, the auction link is below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/292639094154?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649