BANK FEES - MANDATORY LIMIT OF $5.00
Today an overdraft fee is $25.00.  A courtesy pay fee is $25.00.  The list of fees that banks assess their customers goes on and on.  More importantly, they are quick to assess them.  Personally, it is my opinion that bank fees have become outrageous and unnecessary.  Moreover, they are only assessed on the poor and the financially disadvantaged.

Too, why are banks assessing fees when they are using your money to make money?  Did I authorize the bank to invest my money and keep all the proceeds?

In days of yore, while working for a bank in the foreign currency exchange department, we would exchange currencies with other banks that often resulted in considerable profits being made on each and every transaction.  By the end of the day, the bank had made millions.  However, the bank paid less than 1% of that income to its customers.  However, in 2008 those same banks managed to almost go bankrupt.  Yet, despite the billions of dollars we gave them to help bail them out, what did we get in return?  Too, I don't remember banks having to pay any penalties and/or fees.  Too, no one even went to jail.  Instead, just more bank fees.  What frustrates me most is that we don't even have "fee-free" checking accounts for members of our armed forces.  Wells Fargo is one of the culprits who will not provide free checking and/or savings accounts to our veterans.  However, Bank of the West does provide our veterans with fee-free checking;  they have been my bank for years.  They also remember me every time I walk into their branch.  Wells Fargo employees don't.

When I am elected Governor of California, I will strive to pass laws that make it illegal for any bank to charge California residents any fee in excess of $5.00 for any check related charge, and any fee in excess of $0.50 for any ATM related transaction.  I would also seek to ensure stronger regulation of any other fees these banks charge too.

CONCERTS - WEEKLY
California has been extremely blessed with an abundance of musically talented artists living in our great State of California.  So why can't they help give back to the great state they call home?  These artists could single-handedly help raise millions of dollars to help us help the financially disadvantaged citizens of our state, and more importantly, our homeless veterans.  Look how many millions were raised by William and Harry in honor of their mother, Princess Diana!

When I am elected Governor of California, I intend to cultivate a process of having concerts held on a weekly basis in at least two (2) or three (3) locations throughout the State of California.  Each artist would be asked to appear only once a year at one of these events.  The net proceeds from these events would be placed in an account that would be used solely to meet the needs of our disadvantaged citizens and our homeless veterans, without having to raise taxes.  If we could also televise these events, we could raise even more for those of our beloved State of California.  This alone could help raise upwards of $24 million dollars a month and relieve our citizens of all the additional financial burdens.

COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE FOR ALL RESIDENTS TURNING THE AGE OF 18 IN CALIFORNIA.
One of the fundamental hurdles our young people face today is the cost associated with attending college, the cost of health insurance coverage, and the cost of housing.

At the ripe old age of fifteen (15) my Father sat me down and explained to me that the only way I could ever compete in the world, and not emerge with tens of thousands of dollars in school loans was to let the United States Armed Forces put me through school.  Too, once I enlisted and successfully served, my lifetime reward would be, among other things, incredible health insurance benefits and a whole lot more.  Although it was a difficult decision to make at the time, I knew He was right.  The outcome:  I have the most incredible health insurance benefits equal to none.  Over the years it has saved me tens of thousands of dollars in co-payments and prescription costs.  Too, not one day have I ever had to battle with a health insurance company trying to usurp my physician's recommendations.  Too, when my physician makes a referral, the referral appointment is usually made within a week.  But it gets better.  The Veterans Administration Health Care System has implemented a new program that makes its already existing plan even better.  If the treatment I am intended to receive can not be provided in a reasonable amount of time, I am referred to an outside source to provide the same high-quality standard of care I am already receiving.  Most importantly, the United States Marines gave me so very, very much to help me later in life.  The qualities I gained there have been immeasurable in my professional life and have enabled me to enjoy considerable success.  Too, some of the most incredible friends for life.

When I am elected Governor of California, I would make it mandatory that any resident of California who turns eighteen (18) would have to enlist for no more than four (4) years in the United States Armed Forces.

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
While visiting the California Department of Motor Vehicles a while back I was horrified to learn that drivers who fail the written examination the first time, can simply retest at least three (3) more times in the same visit.  Excuse me, if an individual can't pass the written examination the first time, they should not be allowed to operate a vehicle!  I grant you that taking a test can sometimes be nerve-wracking, but if one truly applies themselves, and puts every bit of their effort into it, they can pass a simple driver's examination test.  Personally, I have always studied at least one (1) to two (2) weeks in advance; and it paid off because in over fifty (50) years I have never been involved in an automobile accident nor have I ever had a moving violation.  I take driving a vehicle very seriously, especially because of what could happen to not only myself, but to others, if I don't take driving a motor vehicle seriously.  Consequently, the State of California has rewarded my conscientious efforts to operate a vehicle safely by automatically renewing my driver's license for the last forty (50) years.

When I am elected Governor of California, if an individual fails the written examination the first time, they will be required to wait at least three (3) month's before they can retest.  Additionally, if a California motorist is cited for any moving violation, as the Governor of California I would make it mandatory that for the next two (2) renewal periods, the individual must complete a driving test as well as a written test.  If an individual wants to operate a motor vehicle, they must prove they can do it responsibly.

When I am elected Governor of California, it is my intention to find a way to not only reduce renewal fees by over 50%, but also reduce the fees charged by automobile insurance carriers.  Maybe if people had to be more careful and were severely penalized for not being careful, insurance rates would be drastically reduced.

DISCOUNTS OF AT LEAST 20% OFF ALMOST ALL SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS
If it were not for the elderly of our community, and our veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces, our nation would not be enjoying many of the freedoms that we enjoy today.  Moreover, if it were not for our elderly citizens and our veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces, companies like XFINITY, COMCAST, FACEBOOK, AMAZON, and many more like it would not exist today.  Therefore, each and every one of these firms owe our citizens a debt of gratitude.  Too, when there is unrest, who are the people that this nation calls upon to defend it:  members of our United States Armed Forces.

Currently there are a number of firms like Lowes, Home Depot, and some restaurants, that offer a 20% discount on their services to veterans.  Some also offer discounts to senior citizens.  However, not all firms offer these discounts, which is shameful.

When I am elected Governor of California, I will make it mandatory that any and all firms that do business with the residents of California must offer discounts of at least 30% to all veterans living and working in California, as well as similar discounts to all senior citizens age sixty-two (62) and over living and working in California.  This would also include discounts at the Department of Motor Vehicles, property taxes, and so on.  

LINCOLNS IN HARLEM???? ELIMINATION OF STATE FUNDED WELFARE EXCEPT FOR SEVERALLY DISABLED AND ELDERLY RESIDENTS
Recently while visiting a Section Eight (8) complex with over 180 units in Antioch, California I was horrified to discover that almost every resident living there was the proud "owner" of a new Lincoln Continental, Cadillac, Cadillac Escalade, or Mercedes Benz.

In case you are not familiar with Section Eight (8) housing:  the housing choice voucher program (Section Eight) is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.

So if these individuals are "low income," how is it that they can afford to drive a Lincoln Continental, Cadillac, Cadillac Escalade, or Mercedes Benz??  Not to worry, a recipient was eager to tell me how it works.  Although an individual receiving Section Eight (8) benefits can not have assets (belongings) in excess of $2,000, if that individual leases a vehicle, it is not an asset because they don't own the vehicle -- there simply are "leasing it."  So I am informed that although the individuals may not be able to afford housing on their own, with the money they save on rent, they CAN afford to drive an expensive vehicle.

It gets better. At the same complex, with the help of APPS like NEXTDOOR.COM, I was shown how a recipient can seek out cash-paying employment opportunities that won't get reported because the individual is being paid considerably less than what is acceptable by law if paid legally, so no one reports anything.

When I am elected Governor of California, this will stop immediately.  Too, although an individual may be receiving Section 8 subsidized housing, they will be required to provide at least forty (40) hours of volunteer work in their community.  This will help non-profit organizations find much-needed help and assistance.  So everyone benefits.

NO KILL SHELTERS
I can assure you that one of the first things I will do is once I am elected Governor of California is abolish the practice of killing (euthanizing) animals when they haven't been adopted within a period of time. Every animal has a meaningful purpose.  Therefore, we must work together to come up with prudent ways of reducing overpopulations, and ensure that there is still an animal available for anyone that wants one.  One of the ways to encourage people to adopt animals is to create incentives -- incentives such as up to $500.00 a-year in subsidized healthcare costs.  Too, financially rewarding people for making sure that their animals are neutered.  Likewise, incentives that will encourage families to explore more ways to help them find homes for animals they can not longer care for;  such as creating a foster-home-project that will pay people to temporarily care for pets until more permanent housing can be found.  We do not have to kill everything we can find a solution to.

NOISE -- EXCESSIVE
While driving down the road today, an individual in the vehicle next to mine had his volume turned all the way up, and apart from nearly shattering my eardrums and peace of mind, the ground shook beneath his car and the cars around him.  Did he care?  No!  In days of old, I might have just jacked up the volume in my own vehicle in an effort to drown out his;  but to what end?  The peace and tranquility of others would have still been undermined and it certainly wouldn’t have stopped the perpetrator from doing it again...  So upon returning to my office I did a bit of research on the subject.  First I found a reference to the problem addressed by California’s Health and Safety Code, §46000.  Despite the problem of noise being addressed, the section didn’t provide any substantial remedies.  However, I did find the problem also being addressed in California’s Penal Code, §415.  It sets for that it is illegal for any resident to knowingly create loud and unreasonable noises as a means of disturbing another. Those convicted of violating this law face a maximum of 90 days in jail and/or a maximum fine of $400.00. Unnecessary noise can be a violation at any time.  Awesome, but now how do you get someone to report another for such disruptive behavior -- especially when you are driving in a car?  A reward --- at the expense of the perpetrator.

When I am elected Governor of California, I will immediately address the disruptive behavior of individuals ignoring the psychological and physical health of their neighbors -- whether at home or in their car.  I will start by increasing the penalty to a $1,000 fine for the first offense, $2,000 for the second offense, and so on.  I would also provide a $500 reward to any individual who files a successful complaint against another individual for excessive noise.  All the reporting individual would have to do is supply a video recording of the perpetrator violating the code (each report will be kept strictly confidential).    Don’t we all deserve a bit of peace and quiet?

MANDATORY HOUSING FOR ALL VETERANS BEFORE MAKING AVAILABLE ANY HOUSING TO ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS
As I said, I recently visited a complex that provides over 180 units of housing to "low income" individuals — mostly under the age of sixty-five and not disabled. Regardless, what I was also horrified to find is that NO VETERAN received priority for any future housing!

When I am elected Governor of California, I would make it mandatory that ALL veterans who need housing would be provided any and all "low income" housing units first.

NO MORE SOLICITATIONS
On a government web site, they wrote "Tired of having your mailbox crammed with unsolicited mail, including preapproved credit card applications?  Fed up with getting telemarketing calls just as you're sitting down to dinner?  Fuming that your email inbox is chock-full of unsolicited advertising?  The good news is that you can cut down on the number of unsolicited mailings, calls, and emails you receive by learning where to go to 'just say no.'"  But isn't that the problem?  How many different places must one go to on the web or by writing letters to "just say no?"  Better yet, why should one even have to say "no," when the government even admits it is "unsolicited."  Does not word "unsolicited" means unwanted.

The purpose of our government is to protect its people from harm.  Yet that same government already acknowledges in the preceding paragraph that mailboxes are being crammed with unsolicited email, including preapproved credit card applications, telemarking calls that interrupt your daily life, and email inboxes chocked-full of unsolicited advertising, but it won't do anything about it unless YOU DO ALL THE WORK.  When a government relinquishes the responsibility of protecting its citizens and/or residents because of money it is being paid by the assailants, then we can no longer have faith in our government.

When I am elected Governor of California, the first thing I will do is prevent any resident of California from being "automatically" OPTED-IN for ANYTHING.  An individual should have the confidence that no matter what firm they are dealing with, their personal information shall be safely guarded and NOT shared with anyone without prior written permission.

Residents of California should not have to spend their days and nights filling out endless forms to secure the right not to be accosted by "unsolicited" advances of any nature.  Further, no individual should be made to fill out a bunch of confusing forms when visiting a web site to further safeguard their right to privacy.  The Right to Privacy should be fully and completely guaranteed to each and every individual.  In California, at least that right will be upheld when I am elected Governor of California.

RESTRICT FIDUCIARY POWERS IN CALIFORNIA
A fiduciary, sometimes known as a conservator, has the obligation to act in the best interest of another party and/or estate and its beneficiaries.  The problem is that many fiduciaries and/or conservators act on their own with little supervision and/or oversight because the people for whom they are acting are usually without family, friends, or care-givers.  Since I have worked with individuals in the legal profession for the last thirty-five (35) years, I personally know it is extremely possible for a fiduciary to bilk an individual of their entire financial means and estate.  Unfortunately, I didn’t discover what they had done to their charge until it was too late and the fiduciary was – in this particular case – dead.  Some brag about their prowess when it comes to knowing the many loopholes that can be taken advantage of to bilk an individual of their resources.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the resources to bring them to justice.

Thus, when I am elected Governor of California, rather than allowing an individual to serve individually, I would seek to pass laws that would make it mandatory that a fiduciary and/or conservator work with an attorney at law and a bank officer with monthly reports to be sent to both for each month of activity.  Moreover, no fiduciary and/or conservator would be allowed to work with any one attorney and/or bank officer on any case more than once in a five (5) year period.  This would eliminate the possibility that any individual could then be taken advantage of such as in the case of two LGBT men in Sonoma County.  Before it was realized that the County had financially abused the two elderly gentlemen, both men died without each other.  

RENT CONTROL
Rent control is a form of price control that helps to limit the amount a property owner can charge for renting out a home, apartment, or another real estate.  Rent control acts as a price ceiling by preventing rents from being charged above a certain level or from increasing at a rate higher than a predetermined percentage.  Currently, a 600 square foot apartment in Concord, California can rent for upwards of $1,800.00 per month.  In Walnut Creek, a 600 square foot apartment is renting for upwards of $2,800.00 a month.  Yet the landlords themselves have proved they (won't) live in a 600 square foot space; they need 2,000 to 5,000 square feet to live in themselves.  For example, one basketball player who plays for the Golden State Warriors insisted that after having another baby, he had to increase the size of his home by over 5,000 square feet to accommodate the newest addition to his family.  In-turn, this means that you now will pay more to watch him play basketball.

So why should the middle class be forced to live in file boxes while the rich need at least 5,000 square feet per child?

When I am elected Governor of California, I will seek to pass legislation that will prevent landlords from raising rents above 3% a year — even if a tenant moves out.  In exchange, I will also compromise and give landlords financial incentives that will encourage them to keep rents low and keep their tenants.  Greed has to end somewhere.  Too, even before COVID-19, since 2015, the State of California has lost at least 100,000 more people than it gained each year.  We have even lost Oracle and Elon Musk.  If landlords raise rents to a point that it forces people to leave the State, who is going to rent these properties, and more importantly, who is going to patronize the businesses in the community these people live?

STORAGE SPACES / CONTAINERS
It appears that in California if someone abandons a storage space or storage container, storage companies can put the contents up for sale at “auctions.”  Although the prospective buyer isn’t absolutely sure of the contents, from what little they can see, they hope.  As the Governor of California, I would abolish this practice.  Instead, I would make it mandatory that the contents must be turned over to the State, and thereafter -- if appropriate -- the contents sold and the monies put into a charitable fund to help the homeless in our State.  Why let others profit off the misfortune of others?  Instead, extend the reach of the mind and the heart, and help your fellow Californians.

TEACHING/TESTING - NO HUMAN LEFT BEHIND
Scientists have long since held that there are three (3) different styles of learning.  However, if we don't acknowledge this fact in the ways schools attempt to educate our children, we end up dramatically ruining their lives when if acknowledged, they could have excelled.  Namely, if you give someone who is color-blind a test and expect them to score equally to someone who is not color-blind, you alienate the color-blind individual just because they are different.   However, does that indicate that the color-blind individual is not as intelligent as one is not color-blind?  We are an all-inclusive State when it comes to lifestyles, but not education?  So we must acknowledge this in all of our schools and testing center.

Specifically, there are AUDITORY learners.  An auditory learner learns by hearing and listening.  Auditory learners understand and remember things they have heard.  Auditor learners store information by the way it sounds and has an easier time understanding spoken instructions than written ones.  Auditory learners often learn by reading out loud because they hear it or speak it in order to know it.

Secondly, are VISUAL learners.  Visual learners learn by reading or seeing pictures.  Visual learners understand and remember things by sight.  A visual learner can picture what they are learning in their head, and learn best by using methods that are primarily visual.  Visual learners like to see what they are learning.

Finally, TACTILE learners.  Tactile learners learn by touching and doing.  Tactile learners understand and remember things through physical movement.  Tactile learners are a "hands-on" learner who prefers to touch, move, build, or draw what they learn, and tend to learn better when some type of physical activity is involved.  Tactile learners need to be active and take frequent breaks, and often speak with their hands and with gestures, and may have difficulty sitting still.  Tactile learners like to take things apart and put things together and tend to find reasons to tinker or move around when bored.  Tactile learners are often well coordinated and have good athletic ability.  Tactile learners can easily remember things that were done but may have difficulty remembering what they or heard in the process.  Tactile learners often communicate by touching and appreciate physically expressed forms of encouragement, such as a pat on the back.

As Governor of California, I would ensure that within three (3) years it would be mandatory that all schools be made to implement these various methods of teaching in their classrooms to accommodate these various methods of learning by their students.  This would ensure that each and every student's educational needs would be wholly and completely met, just like the accommodations we make for children who are autistic or have any other type of "learning" issues.  Likewise, the same techniques would have to be instituted in each and every institution that requires "testing" as a means to acquire licensing, for example, the State Bar of California. 

TRUSTS / WILLS / ESTATES
Did you know that the will you wrote, the trust you created, the estate planning you spent hours and how many hundreds of dollars to create isn't worth the paper its written on?  Trust me ... I know from over forty (40) years of experience.  All any individual needs to get a Court of Law (at least in California) to set aside your wishes expressed in such documents is $50,000 and an attorney who is hungry for money.  Let me explain further.

In May 2020 my "twin sister" passed away suddenly.  Mara had practiced law for over 35 years in California, spending the majority of her career working in numerous positions negotiating and overseeing enumerable settlements with attorneys and their counsel for the State Bar of California.  After Mara’s admission to the State Bar of California in December of 1984, Mara worked as a staff attorney in the Office of Trial Counsel.  She continued working for the State Bar of California ­until 1997, working her way up to the prestigious position of senior trial counsel.  Mara’s practice focused primarily on complex litigation, with substantial experience in handling sensitive political and public interest cases.  Mara litigated numerous multi-count complaints successfully through trials and appeals to the California Supreme Court.  Mara created and implemented a variety of programs to help highlight and solve ethical issues for potentially problematic members.  Mara helped to amend and add to the Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act, governing the conduct of all California attorneys.  Mara also interacted with state bars around the country to help other states improve their systems.  Mara was a valued legal adviser for the State Bar of California who, for several years, was responsible for directing and supervising investigations of California attorneys throughout California.  Mara oversaw thousands of complaints against California attorneys and played an active role in creating the program monitoring criminal proceedings instituted against any California attorney.  In addition to her work for the State Bar of California, Mara has taught ethics and professional responsibility at both USF School of Law as well as her Alma mater, Golden Gate University School of Law.  Mara has performed pro bono work for Legal Aid of Marin and the Bar Association of San Francisco.

After leaving the State Bar of California, although Mara continued to practice law, Mara scaled back her practice because of health-related issues.  In 2012/2013 suddenly her mother passed away, and then her brother.  Devastated, Mara turned to an old friend for help;  he has a law firm in San Luis Obispo.  Despite their help, in 2017/2018 the sole remaining brother -- infuriated that Mara wouldn't sell the family home so he could get much-needed cash -- sued her in the Superior Court of California.  His intent?  To remove Mara as the executor of Mara and his mother's estate.  Volumes of pleadings (attacks) were filed with the Court alleging anything but the truth.  Who cared?  Just so it was on file and could now forever compromise Mara's longstanding accomplishments.  No one would ever press the brother on the validity of his claims against her .... that would take tens of thousands of dollars more.  Regardless, after almost $30,000 in fees spent, she narrowly hung on to her executorship.

Apprehensive about the same happening to her when all was said and done, Mara sat down over a two (2) year period and constructed her will in the hopes that she would avert the same outcome that had taken place while she was executor.  Confident that she had, she set the whole thing aside.  Yet within months of Mara's passing, the very same law firm that represented her against her brother, now represents the one person Mara didn't want to be her executor, and now claiming about Mara the opposite of what they originally claimed when defending her against her brother.  What?

When I am elected Governor of California,  one of the first issues I will address on behalf of the citizens of California is a safeguard against the ability for any individual to appeal and/or contest any will and/or related document drawn up in California by a California Attorney at Law.  The citizens of California deserve to know that after they have passed on, no one can come along and subjugate their wishes expressed in a will and/or related document.  If we can have REAL ID's to ensure our safety, we can have a similar process in place to safeguard against will tampering and greedy relatives!

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