The key word is "creative." I've accomplished quite a bit just by talking to members of the city council in private and, when that didn't work, talking to them in public. But in some places--as you pointed out--that can get you thrown in jail.

I've posted these before, but here is 198 methods of nonviolent action . Whatever the situation is, if you can't find two or three that work, you're not really trying.

Onward and upward,
airforce