There's strength in numbers! Let's come together and urge our elected officials to do the right thing. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have a comfortable place to live owe it to those of us who are less fortunate. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the homeless situation in our beautiful county. If we allow their encampments to be torn down, where will they go? Please sign this petition so our county can give them a place to call home.

Ensuring the safety and reliability of public transportation in Chicago is paramount for the well-being of its residents and the city's economic vitality. A functional public transit system not only provides essential mobility for commuters but also reduces traffic congestion, pollution, and dependence on personal vehicles. However, recent disruptions and safety concerns on trains and buses not only undermine passenger confidence but also hinder productivity and increase the financial burden on commuters forced to seek alternative transportation options. Moreover, the unchecked behavior poses a broader societal issue, reflecting the need for improved mental health services and social support systems. By addressing these challenges through enhanced security measures with proper mental health training and regulating ride-sharing prices, Chicago can promote a safer, more accessible, and equitable transit experience for all residents, thereby fostering a thriving urban environment.

This petition will be delivered with the letter below. As of this writing, more than 50 organizations and 70 individuals have signed it. If you would like add your organizations to the letter, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehxDE1egWy-bj2OBwGm1urZg363IfUYhj_DeMP4zZuZZzcLA/viewfor The letter opens, Dear Governor Shapiro, Legislators, In written testimony on road spreading of conventional drilling wastewater the DEP submitted to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, the agency said that “if a valid coproduct determination can be made that adequately compares brine to a commercially available product, even if it may not be as effective as other road-spreading products, it’s possible that oil and gas waste brine may continue to be spread as a dust suppressant. [emphasis added]” Given the scientific evidence of the danger road spreading poses, as well as the inability of the agency to manage oil and gas waste, continued road spreading is unacceptable. The undersigned organizations and individuals are calling for an outright ban on road spreading of all oil & gas waste in the Commonwealth. In 2022, the DEP issued a report ordered by Governor Wolf evaluating the agency’s oversight of the conventional drilling industry in Pennsylvania that declared, “A significant change in the culture of non-compliance as an acceptable norm in the conventional oil and gas industry will need to occur before meaningful improvement can happen.” The remark was based, in part, on shocking statistics that indicated that fewer than half of the conventional drillers operating in the state had filed production and waste reports in the previous five years. The yearly percentages told an even worse story. The rate of non-compliance was trending upward from 53.7% in 2017 to 61.8% in 2021. It was no surprise in March when Kurt Klapkowski told the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee that the figure for 2023 had risen to 86%. When a moratorium on road spreading of conventional drilling waste was imposed in 2018, some companies continued the practice by claiming a loophole in a program managed by the Bureau of Waste Management called the Coproduct program. Some of those drillers continued to report road spreading in their annual waste reports, so we know that at least 3.5 million gallons of highly toxic, radioactive drilling waste has been disposed of on our roads in the past six years. Given the degree of non-compliance, the amount that has gone unreported is surely much higher. Read the full letter at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehxDE1egWy-bj2OBwGm1urZg363IfUYhj_DeMP4zZuZZzcLA/viewform Photo credit: PA Environment Digest

The Mayor has changed the locks, and only gave a 2 hour notice of the city's intent to ban the Club from use of this building. Also it has been hinted that the Garden Club pay a use fee for this building. Monies generated from Garden Club events always go towards improving the appearance of the City of Springfield, such as planting trees, cleaning up and planting in city garden. It is important to take pride in our town. We are growing in population, and a few of the abandoned store fronts are being renovated and filled by new businesses. The Garden Club wants to help this growth with our spirit, energy, pride, and esthetic improvements.

The concept behind setting up local elected governments is to protect the interests of its citizens. The City of Adrian has lost sight of this core value and consistently prioritizes “SPECIAL INTERESTS” over community interests.

The Port of Baltimore is a major U.S. port and the national economy—and all Americans—will suffer unless immediate action is taken to repair the bridge and reopen the port. The government intervening to quickly repair the Baltimore bridge is not only what is right; it’s what is good and necessary for the entire country. Congress can provide the necessary funding needed to quickly and swiftly repair the bridge—as it has done in the past. In 2007 a bridge tragically collapsed in Minnesota, killing 13 people and injuring more than 145 people. Congress took swift action, and in just three days authorized emergency funding to repair the bridge. And in 2013, the Skagit River Bridge collapse in the state of Washington resulted in $15.6 million in emergency funds. Instead of focusing on this tragedy and what they can do to help relieve some of the burden, MAGA Republicans in Congress wasted no time to use the Baltimore bridge collapse to push their own corrupted agenda—going so far as to blame diversity and DEI for the bridge collapse. Why? Because Baltimore’s mayor, Brandon Scott, is Black. It’s blatant racism, and they are using that racism to stoke their most extreme base, all while refusing to take necessary action that the people in Maryland and across the country desperately need. Republicans in Congress, putting their own political careers above the public good, are digging in their heels—insistent on resisting and undermining President Biden every step of the way. They need to be reminded that they answer to constituents, and that constituents are demanding Congress pass funding to repair the bridge NOW!

The standard of living should be the same for all residents of the State of Michigan, County of Wayne, specifically the city of Inkster. We residents have largely been ignored and neglected when services are offered to other communities while overlooking ours.

It is unacceptable that in the 10 years after lead contaminated water was discovered in Flint, Michigan—exposing millions of people to serious illness—the city still hasn't replaced the lead pipes that caused the crisis. But this isn't just an issue in Flint. Though the use of new lead pipes have been banned since the 1980s, it's estimated that there are 9.2 million lead pipes used in public water service lines across the country. Even just a tiny amount of lead can cause serious, lifelong damage to those exposed. Lead contamination in children is associated with learning and behavioral issues and long-term exposure can result in lifelong disabilities. And for adults, lead exposure is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function and even cancer. This is about more than just clean drinking water—it's about environmental justice. In Flint—a city with a majority Black and working class population—the water crisis has shown how easily government mismanagement can expose marginalized communities to environmental hazards.

This initiative is significant as it addresses the needs of the youth population and the high rate of violent crimes in the area, which is significantly higher than the county average. Tailored support from the above non-profits and increased investment by governmental agencies can ensure that everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can thrive.

The ocean is hotter than ever. Burning fossil fuels for energy, industrial processes, and transportation is trapping greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and causing Earth’s temperature to rise—and whales are suffering the devastating consequences. Every degree hotter the ocean gets, whale food sources, habitat, and health are threatened. When temperatures rise, populations of salmon decline, leaving orcas without the food source critical for their survival. A study looking at humpback whale populations in the Pacific Northwest estimates that the impacts of marine heat waves in the area have resulted in the death of 7,000 of this already endangered species. Of all the sea creatures, whales—orcas, humpacks, belugas, blue whales, and more—are some of the most beautiful and intelligent creatures on our planet. As the largest mammals in the sea they support marine biodiversity, population control, and more. Protecting whales and their habitats isn't just crucial for the conservation of these majestic creatures but also for the overall health of marine ecosystems. If we don’t take action NOW to slow the effects of climate change and save the whales, we risk destroying our oceans entirely. Add your name to demand that Congress move fast on climate change to protect whales and the integrity of our oceans.

Please help us protect a prized element of our quality of life and wellness on the SW side of Massillon. Massillon residents deserve peace and quiet!! Quality of life, and public health should be in the forefront of decision making when the city of Massillon is considering bringing new business to Massillon! In response, BitDeer’s only noise mitigation for the loud bit mining operations (70 plus decibels - 24/7, 7 days a week) is a simple palleted wooden fence, painted green. Bitdeer is not concerned about noise pollution and harm to local residents, in a very unregulated industry such as bitcoin mining. Listen to Massillon LIVE’s broadcast from Treemont Coffee today, March 9, 2024, about this issue: https://fb.watch/qICz6VELtm/?mibextid=w8EBqM

The problem is that wild animals in circuses are not getting treated well. An example, according to Reuters, is in 2011 the U.S. Department of Agriculture fined the Ringling Bros—one of the biggest circuses in the country—for mistreating the wild animals in their circus acts. It was the biggest fine ever under the Animal Welfare Act (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usda-ringling-idUSTRE7AS2AG20111129/). And this is just one example of many. According to PETA, circus people make animals do tricks by hurting them with: whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bull hooks and other hurtful tools (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usda-ringling-idUSTRE7AS2AG20111129/). Also, according to PETA, when circuses people are traveling with wild animals, they sometimes don’t get enough food or water, they also are squeezed into small spaces and chained. They also rarely get their cages cleaned so they can get really sick. There are also lots of other circus tricks that don’t include animals. People watching circus tricks are still amazed without animals. According to Animal Legal and Historical Center, the biggest threat to wild animals in a circus is being mistreated by the people who work there (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usda-ringling-idUSTRE7AS2AG20111129/). There are six states that have banned wild animals in circuses. They are: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2022/rpt/pdf/2022-R-0026.pdf). Why is Washington not one of the states that has banned wild animals in circuses? We are asking your support to ban wild animals in circuses in Washington State.