07/04/2026
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I want to wish you and your family a very Happy Fourth of July!
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Our nation has overcome tremendous challenges throughout its history because ordinary citizens chose to step forward and make a difference. I believe we are once again at a pivotal moment. While many things are working well, others clearly need our attention. The future of our communities, our state, and our nation depends on each of us doing our part to make tomorrow better than today.
That is why I have been fighting for California's seniors. The 60+ Property Tax Exemption Initiative (ExemptPropertyTax.com) was created to provide meaningful property tax relief and help seniors remain in the homes and communities they helped build.
Unfortunately, we did not collect enough valid signatures by the deadline to qualify the initiative for the November 2026 ballot. While this is disappointing, it has only strengthened our resolve. We are not giving up—we are already preparing for 2028.
Gathering nearly one million valid signatures across a state as large as California is an enormous undertaking. In California during the 2026 initiative cycle, the market rate for professional signature gathering is between $8 to $15. Yes, for each signature!
Today, qualifying a statewide initiative typically requires either a multi-million-dollar campaign or an extraordinary statewide volunteer network. The cost of professional signature gathering has become so high that citizen-led initiatives face a steep uphill battle.
But this is not the end.
We intend to return with the initiative for the 2028 ballot. The current Secretary of State process makes it exceptionally difficult for grassroots movements that lack the financial backing of wealthy donors or special interests. Even so, I remain convinced that California seniors deserve meaningful property tax relief, and I believe this cause is too important to abandon.
Many worthwhile reforms begin long before they become widely accepted. Real change requires patience, perseverance, and the courage to keep moving forward after disappointment.
THANK YOU! Every person who donated, every volunteer who gave their time, every Californian who signed our petition, and every supporter who shared our message helped build awareness that did not exist before. That foundation will continue to grow. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Whether people ultimately agree or disagree with our proposal, I hope we can all agree on one thing: California owes its seniors an honest conversation about affordability, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring that those who spent a lifetime building our communities can continue to live in them with dignity.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in this effort. Your encouragement, your trust, and your friendship made every mile traveled, every signature collected, and every long day worthwhile. I may have been the face of this initiative, but this movement belongs to every one of you.
As we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday, let us remember that democracy is not a spectator sport. It has always been shaped by ordinary citizens who refused to give up. I hope you will continue this journey with me as we work toward placing this initiative before the voters in 2028.
Together, we can make a difference.
Land of Free for 250 yrs… and counting! 🎆🎇
So very thankful and blessed to be an American! 🇺🇸
With gratitude!
Rishi Kumar
