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It starts with a handful of people and small businesses that the state government thinks it can cut out and run out of business, but where will it stop? They can not be allowed to get away with unfairly competing with small business in the state and causing more problems.

Adjacent to the Malcolm X Library is the Elementary Institute of Science. Both locations serve hundreds of school age youth throughout the week and on Saturdays. During the school year, EIS programs serve all 4th and 5th grade students from the surrounding 11 Lincoln Cluster community schools and after-school and summer programs serve children 2nd through 8th grades. In short, EIS is open year-round for young students in the community. The proposed site at the Malcolm X Library is set to be activated as an overnight Safe Parking site with 120 spaces available. This is more than other safe parking sites that have 60-84 parking spots, thus creating a site almost twice the size of any other in San Diego. Combined with the newly built Live Well Center across the street, traffic will greatly increase. This will include people seeking County benefits and the influx of new employees along with library traffic, and student drop off and pick up at EIS. Thus, creating major congestion issues at the intersection of Euclid and Market. The southeast community is sympathetic to the enormous housing crisis in San Diego and all the people and entities impacted by it. EIS works very hard to provide a safe learning environment for the students. Illegal dumping, human waste, needles, trespassing, and vandalism are already common occurrences in the area and it costs EIS thousands of dollars annually to clean the surrounding area. We know from experience that parents value their children's safety first and foremost, more than literacy and science enrichment. If the corner where the library and Live Well Center sits turns into a hub of unhoused people, they will not bring their children to the library or to EIS for educational opportunities. Please encourage the City of San Diego to be part of the solution to the problem of homelessness...not a problem to the community.

Black teachers have been shown to have a positive impact on all student academic and social outcomes. Having just one Black teacher increases students chances of going to college and reduces the numbers of suspension & expulsions. In Clark County only 7% of teachers are Black creating an ongoing crisis that disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations. SNBEI has declared the lack of Black teachers a state of emergency and has created the ABV Critical Mentorship Program to help retain Black teachers in Clark County School District. Among the program's standout achievements are the 15 ABV mentees who have successfully completed their mentorship journey and subsequently embraced licensed teaching positions within the Clark County School District. This accomplishment not only speaks to the effectiveness of the program but also underscores its pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of educators. The ABV Mentors program has also been established as a valuable mechanism for retaining both new licensed educators who serve as ABV mentees and veteran educators who serve as ABV mentors. This dual approach not only supports the growth and development of new educators but also leverages the experience and expertise of seasoned mentors However ABV Mentors are currently unable to earn CU's for their time and effort, while similar programs are able to earn credits. These credits translate to higher pay for mentors, which can increase retention and participation in the program. SNBEI is petitioning the district to allow ABV Mentors to earn credits equal to what other mentorship programs allow. Denial of credit is an equity issue that is discriminatory towards Black teachers.

Allowing students to park on campus offers a myriad of benefits that enhance their overall college experience. First and foremost, convenient parking facilities alleviate the stress and time constraints that commuting students often face, or even UK's classified 'residential students' due to how large our campus is. By providing ample parking spaces, educational institutions create a more accessible and inclusive environment, enabling students to attend classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and engage with campus resources without the hassle of off-campus parking. Moreover, on-campus parking fosters a stronger sense of belonging and community, as students can easily connect with peers and engage in impromptu discussions or collaborative projects. It also contributes to campus safety, as students don't need to walk long distances in potentially unsafe areas or during unfavorable weather conditions. Allowing students to park on campus ultimately promotes student well-being, academic success, and campus vibrancy by facilitating seamless navigation and engagement within the university environment. Further, not all apartments, houses, townhouses, etc. around Lexington offer parking for their residents, let alone visitor parking. Lex park is no longer available around UK South campus, only closer to downtown. If students need to work, drive to class, go to the store, and other basic living necessities, where are they able to park their cars overnight without being towed, or ticketed by UK? Furthermore, what about our out-of-state student population that makes the commitment of high tuition but has no parking accommodation? What about our working students that need vehicle accessibility to pay towards their tuition and/or rent? How do these students efficiently commute to their place of work in order to sustain income for their education and living? Why are these students forced to struggle as UK transportation refuses to accommodate with any type of local parking availability on campus? Why is student parking not prioritized? Why are the STUDENTS that need to park NOT prioritized?

The attacks on books and on the freedom to learn are calculated to render our histories, our communities, and our families invisible. Through book challenges and bans, the far right is attempting to erase LGBTQ+ people and people of color—and we will not let them succeed. Together, we can make a difference. Will you join us and add your name to the petition? Here is the list of the celebrities and activists who have signed onto the letter so far: https://d1tdltywu8qogs.cloudfront.net/images/09-27-23-Name_List_Petition_Image-05.jpg

The city of Yonkers has a rich musical history with many talented musicians, producers, and industry professionals having called this city their home. The Yonkers Music Hall of Fame would be an excellent way to celebrate the achievements of these individuals and honor their contributions to the community. Additionally, creating a Yonkers Music Hall of Fame and Earl "D.M.X." Simmons Performing Arts Center would be a way to showcase the city's unique culture and heritage, and it would be a fantastic tourist attraction that would draw visitors from all over the country. It would also provide opportunities for future generations to appreciate and learn about music in Yonkers. As a resident of Yonkers, you can play a significant role in making this project a success by joining the campaign to create the Yonkers Music Hall of Fame, and and Earl "D.M.X." Simmons Performing Arts Center support will be instrumental in creating a space that honors the city's illustrious musical heritage and ensures that it is accessible to all. By joining the campaign and signing the petition, you are showing your commitment to preserving Yonkers' cultural identity and helping to make it an even better place to live, work, and visit.

Under the fairness doctrine, any news organization was required to provide content on political issues from both parties (or if there was a third party, their viewpoint as well). If you are a Gen Xer, you remember the show Point, Counterpoint on PBS. Instead of making a blanket statement or series of statements on a buzzword issue, evidence was required to back your position, and more importantly, all news organizations were required to allow the opposing viewpoint an equal amount of time - hence the word "fairness" - on their news segment. The Fairness Doctrine also required that news media report errors in their reporting, and to provide corrections to anything that was potentially misleading whether in print or on the air. The Fairness Doctrine was enacted shortly after WWII and it was designed to combat three things. The prevalence of "yellow journalism" where papers would print wild and crazy stories only to incite emotions off of half truths, or frankly just falsehoods with the altruistic goal of simply selling more importantly sell newspapers. These newspapers were printed on cheap paper, that yellowed, which is where we get the term "yellow journalism". The second was to combat the monopoly newly formed television and radio networks had on the news, and their potential to abuse that monopoly to skew information that was provided to the masses to a narrative that the media companies wanted to present to the masses. This law was designed to ensure the media could not use their power to persuade their audience to behave the way they wanted. The third was that in the wake of WWII, we realized the power of news media when we looked at what happened to the German people prior to and during WWII. The Germans were nationalized by Hitler’s media machine that spewed hate, lies and propaganda that allowed the Third Reich to exist and thrive; the people of Germany, because of the propaganda allowed the atrocities of the Third Reich to happen. We passed the Fairness Doctrine to ensure that the news media in this country would not be able to do the same to our people. We wanted our people to make informed decisions, not decisions based upon emotion, or fear about issues that were insignificant, or easily rebuked. The Fairness Doctrine was repealed by President Reagan, and the once mundane news networks became exciting. The first household name that benefited from the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine was a man named Rush Limbaugh. Using the removal of this law, he was able to present news, and information in a one-sided and biased format, without providing information about why his viewpoint may be biased, or even completely incorrect. He used this to his advantage and amassed a massive following and a fortune spreading his one-sided viewpoints. Some of his stories were credible, others were completely misleading. I use Limbaugh only because he was a household name. Both parties benefited from the repeal of this legislation. Likewise, even though Reagan's administration repealed the Fairness Doctrine, it was not party based, and both parties benefited from this law's repeal, as they could use the media to push their own agendas. Think about watching Fox News for a day and then watching MSBNC. They push stories and commentary that is one sided, a lot of which would completely fall apart if they had to present a counterpoint. The media companies, and this is perhaps the real reason the Fairness Doctrine was repealed wanted this as well. They could sell fear on stories and issues that again sounded very scary when you presented one side, but when the other side was presented, the story would fall flat. They could sensationalize the news, and well, make more money. Reagan’s repeal of the Fairness Doctrine likely had more to do with his former acting career and his Hollywood influence more than anything to do with political parties. The Fairness Doctrine prevented misinformation from being spread by actual news organizations. It prevented the spread of nationalistic ideology, and more importantly it required that the news media accurately report on stories that they covered, present facts that were verifiable, and provide an opportunity to discuss an alternative viewpoint. We need to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine to hold our news media accountable. This will stop sensationalizing the news and give the common voter in this country access to honest, reliable information.

Donald Trump and his cronies spread endless lies and misinformation following the 2020 election, which led to the deadly insurrection on January 6. Trump stopped at nothing to try to overturn the 2020 election results and overthrow our government. He is dangerous. He will keep lying to hold on to power, which is why it is important that we, the public, get the transparency that we deserve. Sign this petition to call on the Judicial Conference to approve televising the trials of Donald Trump. Doing so will give all of us the opportunity to see how justice works in our country and can go a long way toward combating the rampant rumors and conspiracy theories that would otherwise be flooding the airwaves and internet. Donald Trump and his allies will attempt to call these trials politically motivated or an abuse of power, but the American people deserve to hear the truth in court themselves. Once again, we urge you to approve televising these historic trials.

The Supreme Court's ruling is a devastating blow to equal opportunity and diversity. By axing race-conscious admissions but leaving protections in place for legacy admissions, the court is perpetuating a system that caters to the privileged and widens the inequality gap. This decision disregards the promises made to Black and brown families about fair opportunities for education, work, and economic stability. I believe that access to education is a right, not a luxury. This ruling favors those who are born into privilege, while leaving marginalized communities behind. It is out of touch with the current needs of our country and denies the reality of systemic racism and the urgent need to address historical injustices. We all benefit from diverse communities that bring together different voices, experiences, and backgrounds. It is the lifeblood of a strong democracy, and we cannot let this decision roll back decades of progress and trample on the principles of equal protection. However, I believe that there is still hope. Colleges and universities have the power to prioritize diversity and inclusion, even in the absence of affirmative action policies. We have seen this in the state of California, where public schools had to find alternative ways to address educational disparities after affirmative action was voted down almost 30 years ago. Therefore, we urge colleges and universities to take immediate action to prioritize diversity and inclusion in their admissions processes. This can be achieved through various means, such as implementing holistic admissions processes that consider a wide range of factors, expanding outreach efforts to underrepresented communities, investing in scholarships and financial aid programs for marginalized students, creating mentorship and support programs, and collaborating with community organizations and schools to develop pipeline programs. By taking these steps, colleges and universities can demonstrate their commitment to addressing educational disparities and promoting a more inclusive and equitable society. Access to education should be a right for all, not a luxury for a privileged few. Therefore, I call on colleges and universities to prioritize diversity and inclusion in their admissions processes and take proactive measures to address educational disparities. Together, let us challenge the Supreme Court's decision and fight for a more just and equal society. Sincerely, Jonathan McGinley Portland, Oregon

We, the concerned citizens and supporters of “Literacy and Justice for all” urge the Houston Independent School District to reconsider its plans for converting library spaces into detention centers. Let us collectively protect and nurture the sanctity of libraries as beacons of knowledge and learning, fostering a love for reading and empowering students to succeed academically and beyond. By preserving these invaluable resources, we can create a more equitable and enriched educational experience for all students within the Houston community.

Book bans are on the rise, with a small group of conservative parents and right-wing Republicans leading the drive to censor books about racial injustice, sexual identity and gender expression, and an honest look at American history. Just last year, 2,500 books were challenged, restricted, and even removed from shelves in schools and libraries across the country. And some places are even punishing teachers and threatening to prosecute librarians who dare to provide books that reflect the diversity of our country. That’s why MoveOn's Banned Bookmobile is traveling across the country to cities that are ground zero in the fight against book bans, and we want YOU to join us, virtually and in person. One way you can join this work: Add your name to our petition telling Florida Governor Ron DeSantis—who has been one of the most prominent ban proponents—fellow Republican governors and legislators, GOP candidates up and down the ballot, and other MAGA Republicans that we will not silently allow them to ban our books and censor our freedom to read. And demand that all governors and state legislators take proactive steps to fighting book bans and protecting our freedom to read!