Important update on our campaign - PLEASE READ
Rishi Kumar
Dear Friends,
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I want to wish you and your family a very Happy Fourth of July!
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 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.
Wishing you and your family a safe, joyful, and meaningful Independence Day.
With sincere gratitude,
Rishi Kumar
CA Property Tax Exemption 25-0035
One of the most consistent responses I received after my email below was this:
"I appreciate all the effort you've put into this movement. But... where are our lawmakers? Can't they simply put this into law? Isn't that their job?"
It's a fair question.
And yes, they certainly can.
In Florida, legislators have stepped forward to champion meaningful property tax relief for seniors. They recognized that many older homeowners are being taxed out of the homes they worked a lifetime to own, and they chose to act.
Can we honestly say the same about California? Is Sacramento truly committed to making government more efficient and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, stopping fraud, or are they expanding government and raising taxes? You be the judge...
California has nearly 15 million seniors. Many are living on fixed incomes while property taxes, insurance, utilities, and everyday expenses continue to climb. Yet meaningful relief remains elusive.
We are taking this property tax issue directly to the voters through the initiative process. That is why we launched the 60+ Property Tax Exemption initiative. Although we fell short of qualifying this year, the need has not changed—and neither has our commitment.
I encourage you to contact your State Senator and Assemblymember. Ask them a simple question:
If Florida lawmakers can fight for their seniors, why can't California's?
Real change happens when enough citizens demand it.
Thank you again for your encouragement, your support, and your willingness to stand up for California's seniors.
Sincerely,
Rishi Kumar
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It's time to exempt the 60+ age group from property tax payments. Let's get it done!
Ballot Initiative 25-0035, Proponent Rishi Kumar
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CA Property Tax Exemption 25-0035
Dear Neighbors,
Some of you have asked, "There are quite a few initiatives on the November 2026 ballot. How did they get it done?" How Do Ballot Initiatives Actually Qualify in California?
The reality is that there are only a few practical ways to qualify a statewide ballot initiative in California.
1. The Legislature place it on the ballot for a vote
The Legislature can place a constitutional amendment before voters with a two-thirds vote of both houses. Some states, such as Florida, have pursued this route for certain measures. You may ask your own state legislators whether they would support placing such a senior property tax exemption on the ballot. I think you already know their answer.
2. Run a statewide direct-mail petition campaign.
Our campaign needs to collect nearly one million valid signatures. Mailing petition packets to enough households would cost us approximately $200,000 in printing and another $900,000 in postage+handling. That totals ~$1.1M. Any suggestions on how we can raise these funds?
3. Hire professional signature gatherers.
During this election cycle, professional firms charged $8 to $15 per signature. Even at the lowest rate, qualifying would have cost at least $8 million. Raising $8 million is a tall order and we simply don't have the financial backing. Our campaign is funded by grassroots supporters, not by wealthy special interest groups with deep pockets.
4. A grassroots movement can do it!
This is the most affordable path—but it requires thousands of volunteers willing to participate.
If every volunteer who already submitted signatures collected just 100 more signatures, we would be well on our way to qualifying. Most packets we receive only have one or two signatures. It's good, but not good enough. Likewise, if every donor contributed $500 to $1,000, we could fund a statewide campaign. Today, most of our donations are in the $10 to $58 range.
Bottomline, when you look at the numbers, qualifying a statewide initiative is a tremendous undertaking.
Our entire team consists of volunteers—people who give their evenings, weekends, and time away from work and family because they believe California's seniors deserve better. We don't have paid staff, wealthy special interests, or millions of dollars behind us.
Although we did not qualify for the November 2026 ballot, we are not giving up. We are already brainstorming new strategies to qualify for the November 2028 ballot.
If you believe California seniors deserve meaningful property tax relief, I invite you to become part of the solution. Whether you collect 100 signatures, volunteer your time, or raise $1,000 by asking your neighbors or friends to help build the movement, every effort brings us one step closer.
I welcome your creative ideas. Please email me.
Together, we can get this done.
Dana Lebeck
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Download the petition form from ExemptPropertyTax.com
Paid for by California Property Tax Exemption CA2026 || FPPC # 1485201
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Laura Eng
I'm all for this, and you had me for a while, but let's think about it.
Who are we kidding?
Seniors can't afford to move out of state, and we'll soon make up a majority of taxpayers. There's no way California will exempt us from paying property taxes.
California can't survive without senior's tax dollars!!
Sadly, my family and I will likely be moving out of state within the next year or two because of the tax burden.
We worked so hard only to hand over more and more of our income, with little relief in return. I'm on a fixed income, and I simply can't keep doing this, just emptionally, it's draining! And now without the possibly of a republican mayor, LA is in for more if the same; increased taxes, spent on what!
And, why should seniors continue paying school taxes long after their children have finished school, we don't have children but we continue to pay.
The real question is: what Democrat lawmaker is willing to dedicate the time and political capital to step up for seniors now.
I appreciate your hard work and well wishes.
Sincerely.
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Download the petition form from ExemptPropertyTax.com
Paid for by California Property Tax Exemption CA2026 || FPPC # 1485201
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