Many high schools today start school in the 7 o'clock hour, a practice started several decades ago to save money by recycling school bus runs. Now considerable research confirms that these school start times are inconsistent with sleep needs of teenagers and young adults and are seriously undermining school performance as well as children's health and welfare. Because politics, money, and other logistical issues inevitably keep most school systems from changing start times, we need a national minimum start time for all public schools to make it easier for communities to do what's best for the safety, health, and learning of all children of every age when they set local schedules.

In Washington, DC, our nation's capital, we have no voting member of Congress, and our local taxes and laws are subject to the control of Congress. This violates every principle of democracy and it is un-American.

This was an incredibly destructive and dark event in the CalPERS history, to allow pensioners who paid into the CalPERS system for decades to hang in the wind with 63% of their planned retirement taken away.    ·       Contracts were Irresponsible: CalPERS wrote pension contracts with well over 170 public Joint Powers Authorities (JPA).  CalPERS staff wrote these contracts (building growth for the CalPERS fund) never making the JPA Founding Cities responsible for the CalPERS pensions. Without such a provision, the JPA employees had no knowledge of the peril their pension accounts were in.  There was no way the JPA’s would fund their pension accounts in perpetuity.  Developing CalPERS contracts,  without a means to continue pension plan payments, was an irresponsible and horrendous error!    ·       No Social Security: We are/were public servants, who faithfully paid for decades into our PERS retirement accounts, and we deserved our full pensions. Our pensions have been slashed (since 2016) for reasons we had absolutely no control over. Additionally, the majority of us were prohibited from contributing to Social Security (couldn’t contribute to both SS and PERS) so we have no Social Security pensions to fall back on. Many have had to go back to work late in life, and everyone will be working into our 70’s and 80’s and never make up this retire. Ghost Pensioners Included in Termination Fee:   CalPERS has applied absurd assumptions against us, and we are paying the price of “ghost pensioners” who will never be a cost to CalPERS:   1) The ESGVC $18M “termination fee” has been grossly inflated by the CalPERS Actuary, as follows: calculated in the $18M termination “projection”,  are many “ghost pensioners” who are deemed a “potential future cost”.  The “ghost pensioners” are individuals who were never vested in CalPERS to start with, or withdrew ALL their funds from their PERS account (when they left public employment), but CalPERS says they MIGHT come back into the PERS system at some point in their lifetime.  Additionally, CalPERS is applying an interest penalty of 2.8% to the Termination  Fee of $18M, when it is CalPERS' shortcomings that caused this contract to exist in the first place.  Legislators:  Fortunately, for all rest of the JPA employees in the State of California, AB 1912 was passed to assure that what happened to the ESGVC pensioners doesn’t happen again.  However,  AB1912 did not resove the ESGVC pensioners devastation.  ESGVC was excluded from eligibility for AB1912.  

ABC 7 Chicago story that aired on 12/16/24 regarding Andy. https://youtu.be/KstKbAZ4-wQ?si=kAqwB_Szli--yc9K

1. Human Rights: Advocacy Supporting Christopher Hunter’s case is a stand for the fundamental rights of all individuals, emphasizing the importance of compassion and justice within the legal system. 2. Awareness of Injustice: This campaign highlights issues related to unjust sentencing, prison conditions, and the need for reform in the criminal justice system, raising awareness about systemic problems that affect many. 3. Compassionate Approach: Advocating for compassionate release underscores the value of empathy and understanding in our society, promoting a more humane approach to justice. 4. Community Solidarity: By joining this campaign, individuals can demonstrate solidarity with those affected by the criminal justice system, fostering community support and connection around shared values of fairness and compassion. 5. Potential for Change: Campaigns like this can lead to significant changes in policy and practice, potentially benefiting not only Christopher but also others in similar situations who deserve a second chance. 6. Mobilizing for Justice: Collective action can amplify the call for Christopher's release, making it more difficult for authorities to ignore the demands for justice and compassion. 7. Inspiration for Others: Taking part in this campaign can inspire others to advocate for those who are marginalized or wrongfully treated, creating a ripple effect of activism and awareness. By joining the campaign for Christopher Hunter’s compassionate release, individuals can be part of a movement that seeks to correct injustices and promote a more compassionate society.

  Why This Petition is Important In today’s digital age, messaging apps have become a vital part of our daily lives. However, many popular platforms fail to offer the flexibility, customization, and privacy that users truly deserve. GB WhatsApp Pro addresses these shortcomings, providing a next-generation solution that is tailored to modern communication needs. Here’s why this petition is crucial: 1. Enhanced Privacy and Security: GB WhatsApp Pro provides users with advanced privacy settings, such as chat locks, anti-revoke messages, and caller ID identification. This ensures a safer and more secure messaging experience compared to standard apps. 2. Ad-Free Experience: Unlike many apps that compromise user experience with intrusive ads, GB WhatsApp Pro prioritizes uninterrupted communication, making it ideal for personal and professional use. 3. Innovative Features: Features like DND mode, extensive customization options, and dual account functionality make GB WhatsApp Pro an essential tool for users seeking more control over their messaging experience. 4. Encouraging Innovation: Supporting this petition will highlight the demand for advanced features in messaging apps, encouraging developers to focus on user-centric innovation. 5. Accessible to Everyone: With its easy-to-use interface and practical tools, GB WhatsApp Pro is designed for all types of users, from tech-savvy individuals to everyday smartphone users. By supporting this petition, you’re not just endorsing a better app—you’re advocating for the evolution of digital communication. Let’s come together to promote a platform that empowers users with the features and privacy they deserve. 

Children in Congo are descending into a cobalt mines daily risking their lives, so that they have a bed to lay in.  There is an estimated 255,000 Congolese citizens working in these mines.   Cobalt is an essential part of our everyday life. It is used in the batteries in our smartphones, laptops, and electric cars, but the convenience of our devices comes at the expense of the wellbeing of others. After copious amounts of research, I believe by advocating for safer mining practices, and an end to the exploitation of miners we can build a future where we don’t have to benefit from the suffering of others.  Join me on this petition to end the unnecessary suffering of thousands at our expense. 

There is ample evidence that Trump and Vance made false claims about Springfield’s Haitian community which sparked widespread threats of violence and endangered the city’s residents. Prosecutor Driscoll has a responsibility to pursue charges against them as he would if any other person were to inflict open, notorious, and serious crimes on the people and government in Springfield.

We’re living in a time where anti-voter actors can make fiction appear real with artificial intelligence (AI). From hyper-realistic but entirely fake “deepfake” videos spreading disinformation about candidates  to AI-generated robocalls sowing confusion among voters, the abuse of this new technology could be disastrous for our democracy. But here’s the good news: Just this year, Common Cause members like you helped pass legislation protecting voters from deceptive AI advertising in states like New York and Oregon – and with the bipartisan Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act, we can take these wins nationwide. The Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act will make all the difference for voters – banning misleading AI-generated audio, image, or video advertisements that aim to influence our elections, and empowering candidates to take swift action against deceptive content.  Add your name to tell Congress: We must push back against deceptive AI in our elections. Pass the Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act NOW.

Supreme Court justices just got the green light to continue being wined and dined by billionaires, special interests, and big corporations – and now they don’t even have to disclose most of it to the public!  That’s right: despite public outcry over Justice Clarence Thomas accepting luxury trips from conservative billionaire Harlan Crow, the Judicial Conference – which oversees federal courts – just made it easier for wealthy donors to secretly influence our highest court.  These new loosened rules would likely allow Justice Thomas to get away with hiding several of his previous stays at Harlan Crow’s properties.  We deserve better than this. With the stroke of a pen, the Supreme Court makes far-reaching decisions on reproductive rights, environmental protections, the freedom to vote, and so much more – affecting millions of people every day.  We deserve the full truth about the lavish gifts megadonors provide justices with – and what, if anything, they expect to get in return. With your help, we can uncover their attempts to curry favor with justices by passing a strong Supreme Court Code of Conduct to hold justices to the same high ethical standards as every other federal judge. Add your name to urge Congress to finally pass a REAL, enforceable Supreme Court Code of Conduct. 

Despite his 34 felony convictions, Donald Trump doesn’t have to worry about his eligibility to vote this fall. He has the wealth, connections, and privilege to ensure his voting rights would never be in question – not to mention a high-powered legal team paid for by his political donors due to gaps in campaign finance laws. But the 4.4 million ordinary Americans currently disenfranchised by felony convictions aren’t so lucky. Just look at Trump’s home state of Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has personally guaranteed that the former president will be able to cast a ballot this fall. In stark contrast, Black Florida residents have been dragged from their homes at gunpoint and arrested for the "crime" of not realizing they were ineligible to vote. It’s time to end this double standard and ensure NO American is denied their right to vote in federal elections. Add your name to tell Congress: Pass the Inclusive Democracy Act to restore full voting rights to all Americans with felony convictions.

Justice 4 Palestine-LA https://justice4Palestine-LA.org Endorsed by: Jewish Voice for Peace Los Angeles, Westside for Palestine, If Not Now and CodePink Sign here supporting the Ceasefire Resolution we are bringing to the Santa Monica City Council. Over 100 cities around the country and in California have passed resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. The time to act is now.