American taxpayers should NOT be responsible for paying for the Trump family's exorbitant travel/security costs to Trump properties, where they are making huge profits.

Unless we begin now to make significant changes to our election process, we will continue to let wealth rule the country.

One of the first steps in creating a dictatorship is to purge the government of scientists and scientific information. A dictatorship is threatened by the facts and has trouble twisting them. We must not lose the voice of reason, logic and scientific fact. Issues such as climate change, research, and innovation are too important to let anyone remove scientific information from.

GOP elected officials have refused to meet or have their staffers meet in district offices with concerned citizens who disagree with them. They have stopped all public appearances. They have stopped holding Town Hall Meetings. Instead, they meet in secret with donors and others who agree with them. They allow their email and voice mail boxes to fill up and do not respond or make space available for more calls and emails. They turn off their fax machines dedicated to constituent letters. Meanwhile, they hold secret meetings and charge thousands of dollars for participation. They delete Tweets and Facebook posts by those who disagree with them and have their accounts deleted by Facebook and Twitter. They meet with lobbyists, foreign officials and big donors at expensive restaurants at our expense. They have made it impossible for us to petition our elected officials as the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America allows. They are making it impossible for citizens to play their part in democracy after the election. And they are continuing to pass laws and redistrict in ways that interfere with our right to vote.

This is important to the sanctity of our democracy. Our congressional members have tarnished the seats of the house and senate with greed and personal gain, failing to utilize common sense, and their moral compassto help make our country great. Most importantly have CONGRESS has collectively failed our people.

Following over a dozen investigations showing horrific cruelty even on so-called “humane” farms, activists with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) recently negotiated the posting of a sign at a “humane” butcher shop which publicly criticizes the inherent violence and injustice of killing animals. This groundbreaking victory is the first of DxE’s “Facing the Truth” initiative, which empowers us, as individuals and communities, to unveil the long-suppressed truth of animal exploitation and demand transparency and integrity in our food system. It paves the way for additional animal-friendly progress, including an end goal of a meat-free Berkeley by 2025. Berkeley’s history of progressive leadership means it has the power - and the responsibility - to lead the US to a more just and more peaceful tomorrow. Following a citywide ban on the sale of fur in April, Mayor Arreguín said, “Berkeley has a history of being at the forefront in fighting for the welfare of all animals. We welcome more ideas of legislation.” It is in this spirit that we call on Mayor Arreguín to affirm what has already been established in his community, and ban all “humane” and similarly positive and fraudulent marketing of violence animal bodies and secretions. This includes labels on products themselves as well as all messaging and advertisements in or about these products.

Following over a dozen investigations showing horrific cruelty even on so-called “humane” farms, activists with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) recently negotiated the posting of a sign at a “humane” butcher shop which publicly criticizes the inherent violence and injustice of killing animals. This groundbreaking victory is the first of DxE’s “Facing the Truth initiative, which empowers us, as individuals and communities, to unveil the long-suppressed truth of animal exploitation and demand transparency and integrity in our food system. It paves the way for additional animal-friendly progress, including an end goal of a meat-free Berkeley by 2025. Berkeley’s progressive history means it has the power - and the responsibility - to lead the US to a more just and peaceful tomorrow. Following a citywide ban on the sale of fur in April, Mayor Arreguín said, “Berkeley has a history of being at the forefront in fighting for the welfare of all animals. We welcome more ideas of legislation.” It is in this spirit that we call on Mayor Arreguín to affirm what has already been established in his community, and ban all “humane” and similarly positive and fraudulent marketing of violence animal bodies and secretions. This includes labels on products themselves as well as all messaging and advertisements in or about these products.

Empower the Public Defender to speak out and to uphold the rights of everyone. To prevent the Public Defender from being subservient to the Board of Supervisors. To eliminate the "dump truck" reputation of Public Defenders. The DA is elected. Why not the Public Defender? It will put both on an equal level. Jeff Adachi is elected in San Francisco, and it works well.

I'm starting this petition because if the present situation continues there will be irreparable damage to our country and future generations.

Our representative, Luke Messer, refuses to hold public meetings as does Senator Todd Young. In our neighboring Ohio district, Steve Chabot has not held a meeting in over 10 years. This is unconscionable and needs to be addressed and changed.

Because Donald Trump is moving our country backwards.

To say the word on the lips of reasonable people: OUT. To stop waiting to see how bad it can get. To oust this president now rather than later. We may not have the luxury of seeing how Donald Trump's actions play out this time.