Last year, elevated levels of highly toxic lead were found in more than 3100 young children in New Jersey, yet every year of his administration Governor Christie has raided New Jersey's Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund in order to balance the budget; and this has had devastating consequences. According to newly released data, 11 New Jersey municipalities, including Newark, Jersey City and Trenton, were found to have a higher percentage of children affected by lead poisoning than Flint, MI, where lead in the drinking water has become a national story. There is no safe level of lead in children. In New Jersey, exposure to lead comes primarily from paint in old homes. And without funding for lead poisoning prevention and abatement, thousands more of New Jersey's children, especially in low-income and minority communities, will continue to suffer permanent damage. Governor Christie will announce his 2017 spending plan on February 16, and we need to ensure that lead poisoning prevention is included in his budget. Despite being entirely preventable, lead poisoning has devastating consequences for the children and communities affected. New Jersey can and will do better than this.

As parents, we do all we can to keep our kids healthy. And we rely on our government to make sure we have access to essentials like clean water. That shouldn't change depending on what color we are, our income level, or where we live. That's why we're beyond mad about the lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan. Earlier this month Governor Snyder finally declared a state of emergency in Flint, OVER A YEAR AND A HALF after the problem began. Residents are now being told to use water filters and/or bottled water, and no one knows how many of the city's almost 100,000 residents have been affected by lead, and to what degree. What we do know is that ingesting high amounts of lead can have devastating and log-term effects on children, the elderly, and the sick. Current estimates are that it could take as much as $1.5 billion to fix the problem. Would officials have ever been so careless about the drinking water if over 50% of Flint's residents weren't black, and over 40% live below the poverty line, making Flint one of the most impoverished cities of its size in the US? The appointment of an emergency manager in Flint, one of several Black cities across the state to have their elected officials replaced by an appointee from the Governor, is at the center of this crisis. We must do better. Join us in speaking out, on behalf of families and parents in Flint.

This is about JUSTICE for the low-income and communities of color who have borne the Lions' share of ENVIRONMENTAL degradation which has contributed to chronic diseases, destruction of communities, and loss of economic opportunity.

Climate Change presents the most important human rights issue in human history. We must extend the golden rule to future generations, so they will inherit a planet that allows them to survive and flourish. Time is running out.

The local government in Santa Cruz County has been persistently trying to take my property out of my control. They are currently suing me under the wrong zoning and have been making it nearly impossible for me to generate any income from my land.

Senator Ted Cruz claims climate change is a "religion." As the world's nations gathered to sign a historic climate agreement in Paris in November, Senator Cruz was back home hosting climate change deniers in a Senate hearing aimed at casting doubt on climate science. Yet in his home state of Texas, 2015 saw both extreme drought and epic flooding—extreme weather that has been linked to climate change. Hundreds lost their homes in the Memorial Day weekend floods. Senator Cruz should acknowledge the science of global warming and develop a plan to protect Texas and the rest of the country from the worst impacts of climate change.

15 South Florida mayors—both Republican and Democrat—are challenging Senator Marco Rubio to meet with them about how rising seas are disrupting their communities. As a U.S. Senator representing Florida, Marco Rubio has every reason to understand climate change. After all, Florida is the state most at risk of flooding and his hometown of Miami is one of the cities most vulnerable to sea level rise in the world. Yet Marco Rubio said he doesn't "agree with the notion that some are putting out there, including scientists, that somehow, there are actions we can take today that would actually have an impact on what's happening in our climate." Local leaders and constituents directly affected by climate change are a powerful force for holding candidates accountable. Along with our partners at the CLEO Institute, we are working to get their message out. Stand with the South Florida mayors by signing our petition calling on all presidential candidate to act on climate change. We’ll deliver it in person in New Hampshire before the primary.

The Florida House has passed HB 191, which will make it illegal for our local governments to ban fracking in their area. But its not too late, the Florida Senate still needs to vote and their bill is still in committee. We need to come together and let them know, our local communities should be making these decisions, and the State Legislature has no right taking that away from us. Please pass this along to as many people you know. We dont have much time.

To protect the residents in the area of the Safety, Traffic and Environmental issues (Peckman River Flooding and contamination) inherent with the Coptic Building Expansion Proposal. "Please help stop intrusive overdevelopment of Cedar Grove off of Bradford Avenue. Your help is urgently needed! The Cedar Grove Zoning Board is nearing a final vote on a disturbing application by the Coptic Church Diocese of North America that requires significant overdevelopment. The property is on lots 400 and 402 on the corner of Woodstone Drive and Bradford Avenue in Cedar Grove. If approved, the development would require 18 zoning variances for excessive building size, parking, building height, stadium like lighting, fences and wall height. In addition, the proposal will require significant blasting or pile driving and will have environmental and potential flooding implications for Cedar Grove, Montclair and Little Falls residents. 1. Excessive traffic and safety issues: The proposal is for buildings totaling over 40K square feet and will include: a larger building with approximately 400 seats and extra room to stand, 8 classrooms, office space, open space, retail space, a kitchen, a papal residence, and on and off site parking spaces. There is only one way in and one way out of the neighborhood for over 43 single family homes and the Bradford bath and Tennis Club. Bradford Ave is already heavily trafficked and Essex County has identified the intersection at Crestmont as a safety concerns as well as other dangerous intersections: at Highland Ave where bikers and joggers try to cross, and where Bradford turns onto Upper Mountain, an intersection with significant congestion and a very treacherous narrow turn. This will get worse as many of the members are and will continue to be from out of town. Please note, traffic flow and safety concerns were the primary reason for a denial by the Cedar Grove Planning Board in 1992 for a much smaller development (100 seats). 2. Skyline views and integrity of neighborhood character: The proposal includes excessive building height in stories and in feet as well as excessively bright and tall lights that will be highly visible from the top of the hill. One version of the plan proposes that the tallest portion of one building will be 65’ from basement level to the most visible top. The building will appear even taller and more prominent due to being built at high elevations. Many of the residents of Cedar Grove and Montclair purchased properties near Bradford due to the natural surroundings with proximity to the City. If approved, this development will become a prominent characteristic of the neighborhood rather than the natural surroundings that drove our original purchase of properties in the area. 3. Blasting / Pile Driving and related impact: The proposed development requires excavations in excess of 20’ below ground surface and into bedrock adjacent to wetlands in an area of thin soil coverage (Langan Engineering and Environmental Services report presented at Zoning Board Meetings). We are concerned about the noise pollution from blasting and/ or pile driving and the stability of home foundations for houses that are built into the adjacent rock in Cedar Grove and Montclair. Further, we are concerned that animals with a substantially changed habitat will seek coverage down hill in Cedar Grove and Montclair. According to the same Langan report, “Almost half (46.5%) of the transition area (to wetlands) will be lost or disturbed and 24% will be totally replaced with building and pavement.” 4. Runoff and related flooding issues: The application does not address adequate plans to address runoff into a tributary of the Peckman River in Cedar Grove which already has flooding conditions, nor does it address potential impact to Montclair and Little Falls. While we pride ourselves in being an inclusive community, we also pride ourselves on maintaining the safety of our residents and characteristics of our neighborhoods. The proposed development is simply too large for the plot of land that will be used, and would pose an extreme detriment to the local community, greater than the benefit it would provide. As quoted from a report by Langan Engineering and Environmental Services: “It appears as though (the applicant) has chosen to use as much land as they desire, ignore the impacts, and then request a waiver and variances.” Please help stop or constrain this proposed intrusive development. While we do not oppose development, we oppose one that requires 18 variances and impacts the quality, integrity, and safety of our neighborhoods. Thank you for your consideration! Sincerely, Citizens of Cedar Grove Concerned With Overdevelopment

It is imperative that we address Global Climate Change immediately due to lack of action that has allowed it to reach this stage of development. It will take immediate and aggressive action on the part of our legislators if we ever hope to stem the tide of its effect on our lives and economies. Acting now will save trillions in future costs and untold numbers of lives and suffering to the American people.

OK is far behind other states in adapting to climate change and in starting this new industry, key to the transition to renewable energy. This law is vital to helping OK catch up.

Darnell Earley, the unelected emergency manager appointed by Governor Snyder who infamously switched Flint’s water source to the polluted, corrosive Flint River to save money, has been rewarded with appointment as emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools. It's time to kick this man to the curb!