With Governor Andrew Cuomo waiving mortgage payments for 3 months, landlords should be required to pass the savings on to their tenants. The most vulnerable in our society and those of the “gig” economy don’t have mortgages. They pay rent on a monthly basis.

1. It’s safer than smoking: Just ask the Royal College of Physicians. They’re a prestigious organization representing over 35,000 doctors worldwide. They have stated that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking based on their extensive research. Since there’s no combustion, tar or ash associated with vaping, switching to it from smoking enables the user to experience health benefits from being smoke-free. That means better oral hygiene, skin health, circulation, lung capacity and an improved sense of smell and taste. 2. No noxious odors: One of the biggest advantages of vaping is that you and your environment won’t smell of smoke. Vaping may have an aroma from the flavors used, but it’s not the smoke from dead tobacco leaves! To some people, the smell of vapor is barely noticeable. Sometimes you might even get a few complements on the aroma. Even if you vape tobacco flavors, it won’t smell like the rank fumes that come from burning tobacco leaves. 3. Control over nicotine intake: Vaping gives you full control over your nicotine dosage. E-juice is available in a variety of strengths, ranging from nicotine-free to high-strength nicotine. You can choose exactly how much nicotine is in your vape, if you decide to use any at all. Most vapers tend to start off with high nicotine levels, and gradually work their way down to lower levels, or eliminate it completely. Banning flavors for vape devices will only cause minors and adults to resort back to smoking or to start smoking tobacco products, which is more harmful to your health, than vaping, which has been proven. No illnesses have been linked to legal, nicotine vaping products. Yet lawmakers are taking sweeping actions with unintended consequences. Vitamin E Acetate and illegal additives purchased from the black market are the cause for the epidemic. Why ban flavors for vape devices, when vaping isn't the issue? Makes no sense! Your targeting the vaping industry for something that is out of their control. Why not go after the illegal parties responsible for the sales of illegal items purchased from the black markets, such as (Vitamin E Acetate)? Banning flavors will NOT stop people from vaping. Go after the culprit that's selling the illegal additives to minors. Don't destroy the vaping industry just because you have a theory. Let's be realistic here. Vaping helped save my life. No illnesses have been linked to legal, nicotine vaping products. Yet lawmakers are taking sweeping actions with unintended consequences... In September, investigators with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office raided a home being used to manufacture and distribute cannabis oil. Law enforcement confiscated more than a thousand “Dank” packaged vape cartridges, which have been connected with the recent spate of vaping-related illnesses and deaths around the country. Despite growing evidence that these illnesses are the result of vaping illicit products – like the ones confiscated in this raid – state and federal lawmakers continue to target legal vape products with bans, like the ones imposed in Michigan, New York and Massachusetts. But why won’t lawmakers and public health officials be honest with the public about what’s behind these respiratory problems? Why continue to point fingers at legitimate products like the ones sold at chains of vape shops in the U.S.? And why are officials not considering the unintended consequences of their impulsiveness? Illnesses involved THC, not nicotine Alabama reports its first vaping death on Oct. 2. The death toll across the nation now stands at 17. The hundreds of illnesses – and now twelve deaths – associated with vaping are alarming. But the overwhelming majority of these cases are the result of individuals vaping products with THC, the psychoactive drug found in marijuana. None of the cases reported have yet to be linked to legal, nicotine vaping products. And it’s unlikely they will. Despite this, lawmakers are taking sweeping actions that are likely to have serious unintended consequences. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced a public health emergency and a four-month statewide ban on all vaping products in the state. California announced that residents should stop vaping right away. And, of course, the Trump administration has declared it will move to ban all flavored e-cigarettes. While politicians want to show a swift response, these bans are going to have the wrong effect. Nicotine e-cigarettes can help smokers quit. E-cigarettes are a critical form of harm reduction. The Royal College of Physicians found e-cigarettes to be 95% less harmful than smoking. And e-cigarettes are nearly twice as effective at helping adult smokers quit than other nicotine replacement therapies like patches or gum. In fact, some hospitals in the United Kingdom have started making available e-cigarettes to patients as an alternative. Nicotine e-cigarettes have been on the market for a decade. Had they truly been a danger to users, it’s fairly likely a serious respiratory illness would have emerged before now. "STOP THE DISTRIBUTION OF BLACK MARKET SALES, INCLUDING VITAMIN-E ACETATE" "NOT VAPE PRODUCTS OR FLAVORS". THE VAPE INDUSTRY IS "NOT TO BE OF BLAME!" HELP US STOP THE ENACTMENT OF "HR 2339!" Let your voice be heard. Sign this petition today!!!!!!

The federal government just bailed out financial institutions to the tune of 1.5 TRILLION dollars in an effort to prop up the economy, while leaving suffering workers in the lurch. We’ve been hearing for years that there simply isn’t enough money to provide healthcare, college, and housing as basic human rights, but this massive corporate giveaway proves (just as it did with the 2008 bank bailouts) that the money is there when the 1% and big corporations need it. Due to federal inaction, local governments all over the country are being forced to enact increasingly radical measures to stave off financial disaster for workers and the poor, steps (like the eviction moratorium in Portland) which were previously considered “impossible.”

Spain and its beautiful autonomous region, Catalonia, have many friends throughout the world who are deeply disturbed by the ongoing struggles and now, the heartbreaking medical crisis in Catalonia that is impacting its society and its economy. Many of us look forward to returning to Spain and contributing to its economy and the economy of its unique regions. But Catalonia must first be allowed to address its medical needs and to impose an immediate lock down to stop the spread of coronavirus infection. We ask for your urgent action so that Catalonia can stem the impact of this humanitarian crisis quickly and preserve its vital economy. Thank you for your consideration of this global appeal.

Sign on to tell Governor Cooper to place a temporary moratorium on the enforcement of eviction orders and to push Congress to do the same nationally. Keep Families safe during this COVID-19 crisis. We are calling on Governor Cooper and Congress to take three immediate actions for housing security during this time of crisis: A national moratorium on evictions. This should include a moratorium on all foreclosures, evictions of both public and private housing, sweeps of houseless people, and utility shutoffs, and restore utility service for all households. A national mortgage and rent holiday. This should cover public and private properties by passing a law reducing rents and mortgage payments to zero for the duration of the crisis, including any fees or interest payments. A national $200 billion dollar Housing Security Fund. This fund should be used to provide: at least $120 billion for rent and mortgage payment assistance for anyone affected by the pandemic; adequate funding for homes and expanded services for people experiencing homelessness; and assistance to families to secure safe housing in this crisis and its aftermath, with payment support to cover applications, first month’s rent, and security deposits. In addition, the federal government must provide immediate cash payments to all people in the United States, immediately, and ensure a just, green transition post-pandemic. See the full set of demands for federal action here. These actions for housing security are essential in our fight to slow the spread of COVID-19. This pandemic has the potential to exponentially increase inequality in America, and if it does it will also worsen the pandemic itself. We need immediate and bold federal action now to ensure all have safe and secure housing through this crisis.

The industry has always put its short-term profits over the health of our climate, environment and wildlife. Now that it's facing a reckoning, it's desperate for Congress — and taxpayers — to keep it afloat. Giving billions to coal, oil and gas companies while ordinary Americans are suffering diverts critical time and resources from the very real public-health crisis on hand.

In the face of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, many spas in Colorado have not closed, endangering the health of their employees. A partial list includes: St Julien Spa, The Broadmoor, Brown Palace, Massage Envy, Idaho Springs Resort.  Massage Therapists, Aestheticians, Cosmetologists, Manicurists, and Pedicurists are in extreme danger because they cannot follow the 6-foot social distancing rule.

We are bread winners for our families who have worked steadily throughout our lives, who paid into unemployment insurance and have been actively looking for jobs, networking, and using every resource available to us. With companies throughout New Jersey and all around the United States slowing down or putting on hold hiring processes because of severe financial impact of critical and necessary measures put in place to slow the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus, we have become financially crippled, with no possible sources of income coming to us anytime soon. Though the federal or state may eventually provide relief, the immediate access to unemployment funds and benefits (such as the approval for training that was in process before the virus and now on hold, along with regular unemployment payments) is necessary for our own and our family’s well-being. We want to be included in relief efforts currently being drafted. We must support veterans who have given their lives to this country and the workers who want to work, but are unable to get jobs due to this virus. It is important to New Jersey’s economy to support unemployed workers immediately. Tell Governor Phil Murphy to publicly support the proposal and sign it as part of the COVID-19 Emergency Relief.

With COVID-19 spreading rapidly across Washington State, the health and livelihoods of center teachers, directors and owners are under threat, and families are scrambling to find safe care for their children. Issues that may appear to be temporary, e.g. frontline teachers and directors becoming ill and sites shutting down, threaten to cause permanent damage to the early learning system. As capacity decreases, children are withdrawn from care and parents are unable to go to work.Many child care professionals already earn low wages, often with no health insurance. This is true of centers that accept state tuition subsidies or those paid by families. Without immediate state intervention, the COVID-19 pandemic will push child care professionals to economic collapse. Here are some of the supports that our Early Learning System needs to survive this crisis: * Teachers and directors who are unable to work should receive unemployment benefits to cover lost wages without a repayment requirement for reimbursable employers. * All child care teachers and directors should receive free COVID-19 testing and free health care if they become ill. * The State should cover market rate tuition (including private pay) if parents or caregivers are unable to pay due to job loss or work closure. * If a facility must close due to COVID-19 related reasons, the state should cover market rate tuition payments to ensure all providers stay in business and supply financial support for re-opening. * Payments and direct assistance to centers should be based on enrollment, not attendance. * The State should procure and distribute to child care providers all health and safety supplies needed to care for children. * All background checks should be expedited within 24-hours for child care related employees. * Paid substitutes should be provided if staff members are unable to work. * New hires should be authorized to start work without completing pre- service requirements during this emergency. * DCYF must provide updates, in appropriate languages, to centers, teachers and directors on a regular basis, at least every other day, or more often as necessitated by fluid events. * Any emergency changes initiated by DCYF to the WACs that would change or increase regulations should be made in consultation with frontline professionals, including SEIU and WCCA. * All health and safety and licensing enforcement should be paused during the crisis except for the most serious situations that may result in the loss of authorization or license to provide care. * All Early Achievers mandates, ratings, and requirements should be suspended through the duration of the pandemic. * First quarter 2020 L & I and ESD employment taxes, due April 30, 2020, should be waived for all child care providers of 500 employees or less. It’s Time to Respect, Protect, and Lift Up Child Care Professionals!

Instacart Employees working during the Cov-19 pandemic quarantinee are in grocery stores near hyper-panicked large crowds and lines of people and are bringing their efforts to keep the environment calm and safe every day. Shoppers have been heralding through this risky Cov-19 situation and proving our best service to our customers.

I work at Walmart and working in an environment where there are ten of thousands of people a day who could very easily be sick and touching surfaces, coughing, etc. It isn’t fair for me to have to get sick to get paid leave. I have a wife and child like many of my coworkers do and we do not want to spread the virus it to our loved ones because we are forced to go to work or else be fired.

UC Berkeley, the city of Berkeley, and the entire country (not to mention the world) are going through both an economic meltdown and a public health crisis due ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Many tenants - including UC Berkeley students - are unable to pay their rent as a result of the economic meltdown and shelter-in-place order. Furthermore, so many students live paycheck-to-paycheck that they could never afford the added expense of paying backrent. Many of these students also do not have a "non-Berkeley home" they can return to. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has responded by banning evictions (and defaults) in properties secured by Federal Housing Administration-insured (Fannie and Freddie) Single Family mortgages. On March 17, the Berkeley City Council passed an initial moratorium on evictions and suspended rent payments for tenants who been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic; the city council is expected to pass additional emergency legislation to strengthen the law to protect Berkeley residents and keep them in their homes. As a state agency, the university is generally exempt from regulations issued by a local government. As a result, the only way to protect students in university housing from evictions and unconscionable rent collections is for the university to voluntarily enact such a policy. Letting homeless and housing-insecure students live for free in otherwise empty university housing would only cost the university little to nothing. Additionally, the fact that the University is allowing students to move-out and receive a pro-rata refund means it is already budgeting for little to no revenue from housing for the remainder of the year. It is therefore clearly within the Univeristy's means to allow students already living in the dorms to not owe rent. Many students cannot simply move-out of the dorms and "go back home." For instance, they may not have another home to return to, may have a Bay Area job they need to support themselves and/or their family and which has not been halted by the pandemic, or their family home may be unsafe (e.g. if they've been rejected by their family for not being cis-hetero or if their family home is physically dangerous). This is literally a matter of life and death. If students are forced out onto the streets - either through a formal eviction or because they decide to move out early in order to avoid back rent they cannot repay, they could catch coronavirus and die, as well as infect other community members.