As parent advocates we are pushing back on rumored Education Secretary nominee Lily Eskelsen García, who's a fierce opponent of school choice. As Jeanne Allen, president and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, notes in Forbes, "She has compared choice for poor kids to 'snake oil,' and has argued that 'everything about ‘school choice’ leaves students out in the cold.'"

The nearly 8% or $3 million + increase in the Elgin Police Department budget is excessive. This money should be reallocated to support community based services such as the creation of an Elgin Health and Human Services Department that would include mental health, addiction treatment, housing, food distribution, nutrition, education, recreation, job development, public transportation, accessibility to resources, infrastructure, etc. The Elgin Police Department’s proposed budget for 2021 is well over $51 million. This is absurd. Crime statistics are trending down. The community needs expanded social services not weaponized control. Over policing is a clear manifestation of systemic and structural racism. The community needs to hold the City Council, City Manager and Mayor accountable to prioritize community well being with investment in basic human dignity and the expansion of systems of social justice. El aumento de casi 8% o más de $ 3 millones en el presupuesto para el Departamento de Policía de Elgin es excesivo. Este dinero debe reasignarse para apoyar servicios comunitarios como la creación de un Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Elgin que incluiría salud mental, tratamiento de adicciones, vivienda, distribución de alimentos, nutrición, educación, recreación, desarrollo laboral, transporte público, accesibilidad a recursos, infraestructura, etc. El presupuesto propuesto por el Departamento de Policía de Elgin para el 2021 supera con creces los $ 51 millones. Esto es absurdo. Las estadísticas sobre delitos están a la baja. La comunidad necesita servicios sociales ampliados, no un control armado sobre la población. La vigilancia excesiva es una clara manifestación de racismo sistémico y estructural. La comunidad debe responsabilizar al Concejo Municipal, al Administrador de la ciudad y al Alcalde de priorizar el bienestar de la comunidad con la inversión en nuestra dignidad humana básica y la expansión de los sistemas de justicia social.

Pickleball is ‘America’s Fastest Growing Sport’ and one that is enjoyed by players of all ages and abilities, spread by the grassroots enthusiasm of its participants. It is a sport more appropriate to the “People’s House” than Tennis, which developed under the aristocratic patronage of the Royalty of both England and France. Pickleball originated in the United States, created through old-fashioned American ingenuity and creativity when a planned family badminton game had to be cancelled due to the lack of correct equipment. While the large, space-hungry tennis court demands a high level of athletic conditioning, Pickleball is played on a much smaller court which allows for more efficient use of public land (in parks nationwide as well as in the White House lawn) and can be effectively played by a much broader spectrum of America’s casual athletes. Pickleball is also a much more community-based, social sport than tennis, encouraging people of all backgrounds to find common cause and enjoyment together. Changing the White House tennis court to multiple Pickleball courts would be an inspiration to increased fitness achievable by all Americans, as well as a of symbol both American ingenuity and the effective and efficient use of our public lands.

The education of our children should be the upmost importance. CFSD had time to implement and train staff/teachers and should have been prepared to go to “virtual learning”. Giving supplies to parents for parents to teach our children is not acceptable. We want our children to be given the education that they deserve and that we pay for via taxes.

I am a parent of a student at Roosevelt Elementary and have been very involved within the building through the PTO for the past 6 years. A steering committee appointed by the Board is considering recommendations that might result in a consolidation from five elementary schools to four. The consolidation would close one elementary school. Roosevelt is on the chopping block. Roosevelt is a historical building and the marque of the district. It is short sighted not to see all the benefits that Roosevelt has to offer. The proposed renovations that were approved and voted on by residents in the latest bond have yet to come to fruition. Roosevelt is fully utilized and costs are low to operate compared to the other schools with fewer students. Roosevelt has that neighborhood feel and allows students to walk to school; enjoy a smaller, more intimate setting with friends from their neighborhood; provides working parents that commute efficiency and convenience; and serves as a cornerstone in the community. Roosevelt proximity offers a variety of housing options for a diverse student population. Abandonment of Roosevelt Elementary may lead to a decline in neighboring property values or vandalism. If Roosevelt is demolished, it may remain a vacant lot for years or be replaced with an undesirable new use. Moreover, consolidating our historic neighborhood school into a large anonymous “sprawl school” on the outskirts of town may strain the sense of community and add new costs. Tell West Bloomfield School Board to suspend their decision and keep Roosevelt as an operational school.

Students receive the highest quality of education in school buildings with face-to-face contact with educators. In order to appropriately address students’ academic and social-emotional needs, the schools need to be consistently and fully staffed. For educators and children to be healthy and safe so they can be present in person, Covid-19 transmission and infection rates within Brookline’s schools need to be identified, monitored and minimized. While we understand that discussions are underway between the Town of Brookline and the Public Schools of Brookline concerning implementation of a program of asymptomatic testing of staff, an immediate and more comprehensive approach is urgently needed.

It’s so important for students to learn about the lgbtqia+ community. We aren’t going away so instead of ignoring the fact we need to educate young students about this topic, teach about it. There’s so many adolescents that are apart of this community and for them to learn more about the history aspect and learn more about same sex sex etc. they would feel so much safer in an environment that shows they care.

At this formative moment for racial justice in our society, CUNY must use its naming rights to elevate someone who reflects the multiply diverse backgrounds--in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, immigrant origins--of the student population. Otherwise, there will never be a building named after someone who reflects the backgrounds of CUNY students and who can therefore truly inspire them.

This is important because it will help students worry about passing finals and finish strong in classes even if (final)grades are lower than it should be due to working around the pandemic and shortened semester and our cumulative GPA will not be greatly affected. (Same rules and regulations for pass/fail from Spring 2020)

Families have been destroyed by addiction. New Hampshire Laws needs to CHANGE! Too many lives have been lost because of the lengthy process it is to try and get our loved ones into a rehabilitation center when they are adult age. By the time the paperwork has been filed it is always too late. My Name is Meth I destroy homes, I tear families apart, take your children, and that's just the start. I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold. If you need me, rememeber I'm easily found, I live all around you - in schools and in town. I live with the rich, I live with the poor, I live down the street, and maybe next door. I'm made in a lab, but not like you think, I can be made under the kitchen sink. In your childs closet, and even in the woods, If this scares you to death, well it certainly should. I have many names, but there's one you know best, I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth. My power is awesome, try me you'll see, But if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once and I might let you go, But try me twice, and I'll own your soul. When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie, You do what you have to -- Just to get high. The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms, Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms. You'll lie to your mother, you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you should feel sad. But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from God, and separate friends. I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I'll be with you always -- right by your side. You'll give up everything -- your family, your home, Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone. I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live. If you try me be warned - this is no game, If given the chance, I'll drive you insane. I'l ravish your body, I'll control your mind I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine. The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed, The voices you'll hear, from inside your head. The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see, I want you to know, these are all gifts from me. But then it's too late, you'll know in your heart, That you are mine, and we shall not part. You'll regret that you tried me, they always do, but you came to me, not I to you. You knew this would happen, many times you were told, But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold. You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that day over, now what would you say? I'll be your master, you will be my slave, I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave. Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It's all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell, Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell. (This was written by a young Indian girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth. She wrote this while in jail. As you have just read, she fully grasped the horrors of the drug, as she tells in this simple, yet profound poem. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm) Addiction does not discriminate Sign this petition - CHANGE THE SYSTEM

In Fight the Power, Chuck D says “most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps” Through their music and activism, public enemy is a hero of the American narrative. They deserve a stamp. Let’s do better for our kids: starting with a PUBLIC ENEMY stamp:

Many students drop out of college because of the expenses, more scholarships can make a difference. Campus police can also be racially biased to minorities which is more than half of CSULA campus. Rather than making students feel safe, they perceive campus police to be targeting them.