The scale of personal and institutional corruption within FIFA is staggering. In this toxic environment, workers’ rights and human rights are ignored when determining hosts for international events, including the World Cup, and female players are subjected to systemic discrimination and outdated sexist attitudes. We have a game-changing shot at reform. On July 20, FIFA’s Executive Committee will meet behind closed doors to determine the future of the organization—but the last thing we need is more secrecy. It is abundantly clear FIFA will not change on its own. Only an independent reform commission can root out corruption, tackle long-standing issues with the lack of human rights criteria in tournament host selection, address workers’ rights issues in countries that have won the right to host the games like Qatar and Russia and end gender discrimination. There is a desperate need to establish a transparent bidding process for potential hosts for international soccer events. This process must include human rights criteria, particularly labor rights. High-profile international events should promote the highest possible standards. They are enormously profitable, and the workers who make these events possible by constructing and maintaining critical infrastructure should share in that wealth. An independent reform commission must ensure upcoming hosts Qatar and Russia respect labor rights. No one should ever lose their life constructing stadiums for high-profile international tournaments, yet thousands of migrant workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup in 2022, are at risk. Under the country’s kafala system, migrant workers’ passports are confiscated upon arrival and these workers need their employer’s permission to leave the country. They are often housed in squalid conditions and work long hours in the incredibly hot climate without adequate rest, shade or water. Young, healthy construction workers are dying at an alarming rate. There also are serious labor concerns in Russia, the 2018 World Cup host. FIFA has the power to demand change and ensure workers on World Cup projects are not subjected to abuse, but for that to happen, we must change FIFA. Reform also must address gender discrimination within FIFA. The gender pay gap is perhaps unsurprising considering FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s stated belief that what women’s soccer needs is tighter uniforms. It’s high time to hand this kind of outdated sexism a red card. A new FIFA is within reach—but it’s up to us to win this once and for all.

I was denied a liquor license after 131 New Orleans French Quarter Business (FQBA) members submitted a letter to Troy Hebert instructing him to deny my license. Within three days of his receipt of the FQBA letter my application was denied. I received over 20 unannounced inspections to ensure I was not in violation of state ordinances particularly selling liquor to minors. Each official inspection indicted that there were no violations. Generally, businesses serving liquor can expect 2 - 3 unannounced inspections over a 2 or 3 year period. The denial and violation of my right to pursue a business and economic development is a direct violation of U.S. law 18 USC code 249. September will mark the 2nd year of my application process and denial. Last week the ATC filed an Opposition with Judge Brown to "stay" our administrative hearing which was scheduled in March 2015. This delay will create further financial and economic hardship. Email Judge Paula Brown and request that she deny the ATC its' last minute request to "stay" the administrative hearing.

The proposed location to be opened in Mid August is moving into Spartan Station in Downtown Harrington. This is not the right location. This is at a major school bus stop and down the street from a Headstart school. The opening of the Detox center will kill the economic growth for potential businesses and residents, not to mention the crime growth. Move out of our DOWNTOWN. MOVE ON Governor Markell!

The proposed zoning change would cause the following: 1. MAJOR INCREASE IN TRAFFIC along Hilltop Road. 2. Town-homes crammed onto a narrow strip of land would be an eyesore and have a NEGATIVE AFFECT ON PROPERTY VALUES. 3. Questions remain regarding the INSTABILITY OF THE SLOPE with the possibilities of LAND SLIDES. 4. PROBABILITY OF RUNOFF from the sewer system onto neighboring properties.

For a couple of years, a Facebook user by the name of Rena Nicole (https://www.facebook.com/RenaNicole1?ref=br_rs) - She also goes by the names of Rena Hilty and Rena Nicole Smith - has been harassing and stalking me and several of my friends. She has created pages and sock accounts specifically for the purpose of harassing us, two of these sock accounts are Woody Green and Iliana Sanchez. In the past, she created a page titled “Pro-Aborts Are Ugly”, where she took photos off mine and my friends’ profiles and posted them to harass and ridicule us. She also encouraged her page’s members to do the same. The page was taken down, but Rena has revived the practice on her page “I Acknowledge “Pro-Choice” Means Pro Abortion” (https://www.facebook.com/prochoicemeansproabortion). One post on the page has been removed by Facebook numerous times, and each time Rena reposts it. She also admins another page, "Pro-Abort Ignorance Wall of Shame" (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-Abort-Ignorance-Wall-Of-Shame/600998700003572) which she uses for the same purpose as she used "Pro-Aborts Are Ugly" and "I Acknowledge "Pro Choice" Means Pro Abortion". Everyone who calls her out or reports her gets shot down or banned from Facebook. The page, Rena’s post and her accounts have been reported for harassment several times on Facebook, but Facebook has done nothing about them, going so far as to say they do not violate the Facebook Community Standards or the Facebook Terms of Service, even though they all clearly violate the Facebook Community Standards and Terms of Service. From the Facebook Community Standards: "We don’t tolerate bullying or harassment. We allow you to speak freely on matters and people of public interest, but remove content that appears to purposefully target private individuals with the intention of degrading or shaming them. This content includes, but is not limited to: - Pages that identify and shame private individuals, - Images altered to degrade private individuals, - Photos or videos of physical bullying posted to shame the victim...” And though they’re not mentioned, socks created to bully or harass people also fall into the category. By allowing Rena’s behavior to continue, Facebook is violating its own Terms of Service and Community Standards. They are showing that they do tolerate bullying and harassment. This is getting to be a matter where the police may be notified and legal action is taken against both Facebook and Rena.

I fell in love with the Brooklyn Bridge the first time I laid eyes on it. The Brooklyn Bridge is a worldwide icon and a National Historic Landmark. Toll Brothers should honor the agreement they made with the Brooklyn community to limit the height of the building so that people from around the world can continue to see the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, as they always have. This view should remain free for everyone in the world, not limited only to billionaires who buy a condo in this oversized building monstrosity.

I am sick of seeing and hearing about helpless animals being abused.

These city and state officials are really over reaching. So please let's sign this petition and make a difference. When they put a ban on Big Game fishing from shore several people I know were affected including myself. Instead of actually finding a solution to the shark attacks here in NC, (putting up shark proof nets or hiring shark spotters) they just ban all and any type of big game fishing. This is over-reaching and a violation of our rights.

Quaker Oats and its parent company, PepsiCo, are spending millions to prevent us from knowing whether there are GMOs in our food. Major food companies combined have spent over $100 million on anti-labeling campaigns and their trade association, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, is supporting a new bill in Congress — The DARK Act — that would prevent mandatory FDA labeling. This new industry-friendly bill will keep consumers in the dark. Unless GMO labeling is mandatory, consumers will not get the information they need to make informed choices. Quaker, a brand that prides itself on its honest and healthy image, is not being fully transparent to parents, families and consumers across the country — marketing their products on trust, but supporting anti-labeling efforts at the same time. We need your support in asking Quaker if they will Conceal or Reveal. Join us in asking Quaker to just label it and support mandatory FDA labeling of GMOs. Learn more at www.justlabelit.org

The fireworks terrify my dog and wake my granddaughter up. People shoot them at all hours, some all year long! They celebrate birthdays, parties, etc., nothing to do with the holiday.

To show the ABC Board there is no public support for their ridiculous ruling and waste of taxpayer money in a year long investigation, hearings, and appeals.

When credit card companies, health insurers, merchants and others require us to share private personal information as a routine cost of doing business, they owe it to us to keep only a limited amount of that information, and to take every precaution to keep it secure. Right now, they’re not doing enough. Not even close. The Illinois PIRG and Attorney General Madigan backed data security and consumer protection bill passed the state House and Senate with bi-partisan support. Now we need Governor Rauner to sign the bill into law. Senate Bill 1833, sponsored by Senator Biss and Representative Williams, provides much needed consumer protections including: * Updates the information companies have to keep secure to include medical information, geolocation, sensitive consumer marketing date, login credentials for online accounts, and more. * Requires entities to adopt reasonable security measures to safeguard personal information. * In the event of a breach, requires entities to notify the Attorney General’s office. Email Governor Rauner now. Tell him to support the data security and consumer protection bill.