Almost every municipality has meetings that are legally required to be public and take public comment – attend as many of them as you can. Run or apply (some are appointed) yourself, or canvass and call for someone who is running. One person can absolutely make a difference.
And if you can't do that – vote! In EVERY election! Most people could be voting in 4 or more elections per year, but you have to do work to find out when the elections are because they won't be publicized. And that's not even including special elections! Because few people know about these elections, voter turnout is tiny and literally 1 vote can make all the difference.
Your first step should be to find out every municipality and special district you are in, then make a list of when those elections are and when the public meetings are. One loud person at a public meeting can completely sway how it goes.
Finally, join mutual aid networks. You can find many via the internet, but the most basic step you can ever take is to get to know your neighbors. Help each other out. Maybe remind them of when all those municipal elections are too! Maybe you can then band together to take over your HOA and make them behave while you're at it. HOAs are just another form of government!