The CDC reported in 2014 that people of color are more likely than whites to accidentally drown. In fact African Americans are likely to drown at a rate of 10X more frequently than whites. This is a shocking statistic and the reason for this I believe is lack of access to municipal pools. The 911 students at Encina are 81% minority and 93% are economically disadvantaged. They must endure the hot summers of Sacramento and there are few public pools in the vicinity. I presented this information to the Encina School Site Council in November, 2016. I thought that they would see how important a school site pool would be. I was so happy when Measure P passed. I assumed the district would provide a necessary provision. Then I saw that a track and field turf with stadium bleachers had been prioritized and was surprised that this superseded the need for a pool. The average temperature in Sacramento in July is 94 degrees and the nearby rivers are enticing. The American and Sacramento Rivers are dangerous, but attractive to swim in on hot days. On June 24 2018, an Encina Student, Mohammed Mounir Kamal, aged 17, accidentally drowned in the Sacramento River when he was on a picnic with his family. This sad tragedy should be our wake up call. Studies have shown the risk of drowning can be ameliorated by providing safe swimming sites, according to the author of “Contested Waters-A Social History of Swimming Pools in America” Prof. Jeff Wiltse, 2007. Moreover, swimming is a California State Teaching Standard. Having a pool on a school site underscores the importance of knowing this skill. A pool on campus supports four sports; Competitive Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming and Water Polo. The Mission Oaks Park and Recreation District which serves the area has no pool either. Dan Barton, the Director has said he is open to operating the Encina pool over the summer. There are many models for this. For example in West Sacramento, The Parks and Recreation District has a contract with the Washington Unified School District to operate the pool during summertime at River City High School. It is called a Mixed Use pool. The approximate cost for a pool is $7 million. Encina had a winning swim team in 1991 and the SJUSD filled in the pool with dirt and asked the students to practice at Sac State. This proved to be too much of an inconvenience and the team disbanded soon after. Seven other SJUSD high school sites have pools so please consider giving these needy students a pool. A pool on campus supports four sports: Competitive Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo and Diving. Swimming is unlike any other sport; it is a life saving skill.

The very integrity of the United States and the Presidency are at stake. Our core values are being challenged and wrong is wrong. Period.

The importance of a child's success is from their conduct and grades. Even if a child is struggling academically, the right to possess a natural part of their being should not be denied politically. The hatred and conformity of not just a school district, but insincere outlooks from employers and public offices should not prevent the acceptance of what should be an overall standard. Time and time again, the African American community has to change their cultural character just to be allowed dire resources. I want to speak not just for the African American community, but to every one as a whole. With the Islamic populace with their hijab, with caucasians with their long hair or mohawks, and etc., this should not be a problem or a distraction because of how we keep our cultural grounds. If their are beads or metal clips, and etc. that should be banned as a dress code violation, then I can understand that part of unacceptance. Things can be used for weapons, hazards to others and themselves for accident or purposeful negligence, then it shouldn't be allowed. But to condemn a student because of a natural expression is hurtful, irresponsible, judgmental, and inconsiderate for what kind of person you are putting under the scope. The policy should change because it would bring us closer together as different cultures being together under one roof. I will not stand for the outright disrespect. I will not stand for the undermining and non-consideration of others rightful possession. Change this policy or this will come to a bigger gap within our great American civility.

It is not hyperbole to say that our country is at a crossroads and the very health of our Republic is at stake. It is undeniable that President Trump has abused the power of his office by seeking the interference of a foreign government in our elections and that he refused to provide Congress with documents and witnesses who would have provided important information regarding the impeachment investigation. By requesting assistance from a foreign leader, Trump violated the law established by the FEC Act. By refusing to provide witnesses and documents, he was in Contempt of Congress. Both acts are crimes. Both acts are impeachable offenses. Both acts require witnesses, testimony, and further discovery to determine in an impartial manner if the President should be removed from office. We, the American people, including the constituents in your respective states deserve to have fair and impartial representation in the Senate, especially at this moment. If you do not stand in defense of the Constitution at this moment, and this trial is the circus that the Republican leadership is promising, it will be the beginning of the end of our Republic as we know it. The Congress will forever lose its ability to check the power of the Executive Branch. This is not about this President, this is about the pillar of our country which requires separate powers that balance each other. You have each shown the independence, thoughtfulness, and leadership to show the country and the world that the idea that is America still breathes powerfully through our Constitution. Thank you.

It's not hyperbole to say that he future of the planet depends on free and fair elections in Florida. A rigged election in Florida determined a previous election, and could well determine the next one. If oil companies buy another four years in the White House, then the climate catastrophe will become much worse. It's coming down to people vs the oil companies, and we need free and fair elections to win. Re-enfranchising voting rights of Florida returning citizens would make the 2020 election more free and fair. In this one single act you could do a mountain of good for future generations.

The United States has a very low voter turnout compared to other countries. It's important that as many citizens as possible be given the opportunity to participate in our democracy by voting. Making election day a federal holiday will give significantly more people the opportunity to vote. Since it will replace Columbus Day, it won't generate any additional costs.

They have done so many things to not only me but many of my friends and peers at that school. They treat their students like we mean nothing and punish us for anything they “feel” like. It’s such a mentally abusive establishment and for the past 4 years they have put my friends, and peers and I in such a depressive, anxious state. It genuinely sucks and hurts to go there everyday. They don’t help us when we need it and they make it perfectly clear select students don’t mean anything to them by how we are treated. I’m fed up with it because of the things they have done to me for the past 4 years but especially my senior year which is right now. And I don’t want their to be kids who get stripped of the desire to learn because that school ruined it.

We are at a critical juncture in our democratic process of the impeachment trial of President Trump, and the future of our republic hangs in the balance. We must have a fair and open trial in which the witnesses and evidence which have recently become public, and those withheld or blocked previously by the administration, are brought forward and examined by an impartial Senate, and the President provides his defense under oath. He will then either be cleared, censured, or impeached based upon the facts, and our republic will be made stronger by our re-commitment to the rule of law in these partisan times. The Senate Majority Leader has publicly committed himself AGAINST this very process by announcing publicly, “Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with the White House counsel. There will be no difference between the president’s position and our position as to how to handle this to the extent that we can.” While Senator McConnell is entitled to his personal opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the President based upon the partial case so far, he can NOT be allowed to manage the impeachment process at the direction of the accused President. Leader McConnell, having repeatedly made his intentions to obstruct efforts for an open and fair-minded inquiry clear, must either recuse from any leadership role in the impeachment so that an impartial member may be appointed by the majority, or he must be expelled from the Senate for violation of his oath and blatant obstruction of justice and of the senate. Any impeachment trial conducted "in coordination with the White House Counsel" is a mockery of the rule of law, and if allowed, will mark the end of our Democracy. Please sign and share this petition to tell our senators that they must either persuade Senator McConnell to recuse himself from any leadership role in the impeachment trial of the president, or initiate an expulsion process against Senator McConnell for violation of his oath and for his blatant and self-confessed collaboration with the defendant to obstruct justice in the most important trial in our nation's history.

UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW PROTECTS CITIZENS' FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

The Muslim Ban is a racist and xenophobic policy dividing families and targeting refugees from Muslim nations. This latest expansion is nothing then more of the same.

“This is a bad time to be an Iranian.” That’s what a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer said when they were asked why dozens of Iranians and American citizens of Iranian descent were being held returning to the U.S. at the Canadian border with Washington State on Saturday. Sepehr Ebrahimzadeh was held and questioned for hours by CBP when returning from Canada to Seattle with his girlfriend after they spent a week out of town for the holidays. Ebrahimzadeh said the experience made him fear that the United States would prepare for war on Iran by rounding up everyone of Iranian descent, just like the Japanese internment camps during World War II.

My 15 yr old son was stopped by the Police on his way home from school and told to put his hands on the hood of the car and asked if he could be searched. The officer was just doing his job. But did not have my son identify himself, Did not tell him why he stopped him and then told him your the wrong person jumped in the car and told him nothing. When he came home and told me what happened I asked him If he had a name or badge number he said no he didn’t give me anything. I was in disbelief and upset that an encounter like that caused me to call around and go to the police station to find out what happened when I could have just had a number spoke with the officer and know what the circumstance was behind this encounter. This saves time and emotional trauma as well.