The president of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, asked Paul Ryan to speak at commencement. However, Ryan is a terrible choice because his proposed budget is immoral and in direct opposition to Catholic teachings. Ryan supports tax cuts for the wealthy and increased military spending while limiting or decreasing social programs that help families, the poor, and the middle class. He proposes capping Pell Grants at today's maximum and raising interest rates on student loans. Most Benedictine students rely on these government programs.. He says that his views are based on the philosophy of Ayn Rand who believed that helping others was immoral. He is not a positive role model for the graduates of Benedictine..

In the early hours of May 4th, Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski -- head of the Air Force's sexual assault prevention program -- was “arrested and charged with sexual battery,” according to the Arlington, Virginia police department. Krusinski drunkenly “approached a female victim in a parking lot and grabbed her breasts and buttocks.” It's become clear that the military is not capable of solving its epidemic of sexual violence. Despite years of studies and initiatives, there were 26,000 sexual assaults in 2012 -- more than 71 per day -- up from 19,000 in 2011. Chuck Hagel, the new Secretary of Defense, must immediately endorse the STOP Act, which would take the prosecution, reporting, oversight, investigation, and victim care of sexual assaults out of the normal military chain of command and place jurisdiction in an autonomous Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Office made up of military and civilian experts.

The rims at our park are double rimmed and made super stiff so it's not forgiving... it doesn't catch the ball. A person can't get the ball in unless it's a swish or a lucky bank shot. This problem has affected me personally. I live across from this park and since the rims are terrible, I do not ever want to play. In fact, no one ever plays on the park court so it's simply a waste. They are nothing like our league rims that we are all used to that are plastic. These rims are metal.

The rims at our park are double rim and made super stiff so it's not forgiving it doesn't catch the ball. A person can't get the ball in unless it's a swish or a lucky bank shot. This problem has affected me personally. I live across from this park and I can't stand the rims. They are nothing like our league rim that are plastic. These rims are metal.

GSA/mafia corruption amounting to an estimated annual $20 billion in public fund theft through government contracts, has been ignored by the FBI since 2002 when it was reported. The US Attorney's office says they need the FBI on board in order to prosecute. Though reports have continued, even in the face of whistleblower abuse like that experienced by Peggy Miller who has suffered house break-ins, theft of files, invasion of privacy, and abuse from intelligence gathering equipment, the FBI continues to ignore even though the first agent verified the report's accuracy. The Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security and Select Committee on Intelligence should move aggressively on this,and get President Obama and FBI director Mueller to do their jobs. President Obama was told starting in 2009. This drain on the budget needs to be stopped and the corruption needs to end. Also whistleblower protections need to be strengthened. The Congress and the President need to stop the corruption, get the FBI to do their job and protect whistleblowers from civil rights and criminal violations.

Today, more than 30,000 low income children, age birth to five, sit on a waitlist for childcare in Massachusetts. These children are deprived of the very pre-school preparation that is instrumental to lifting them out of poverty. And their parents struggle to make alternative arrangements so that they can work and put food on the table. Recently the Massachusetts legislature slashed more than $17 million from this program making the growth of the waitlist all but a certainty. At the same time, millionaires are benefiting from an overly generous film tax credit that in 2011 cost the State of Massachusetts more than $44 million while generating only $7 million in revenue and virtually no permanent jobs.

I am 8 y/o. My mother is helping me fill this out. I was born and now live in Brooklyn. I love to swim and I love mermaids. After my mother and I did some research to find a Brooklyn based mermaid extravaganza for me to see, she mentioned the CONEY ISLAND MERMAID PARADE, but she and my father thought the parade would be too "outlandish" for me and not "family friendly." However, I would like to reach out to representatives of the State and City of New York for support in SAVING THE MERMAID PARADE. Let's find a way to not only make this parade "family friendly," but come to a compromise to find a way to SAVE THE CONEY ISLAND MERMAID PARADE forever, so that I am able to see it for many days to come. This parade showcases over 1,500 creative individuals from all over the five boroughs. Although it is free, it is also expensive to run. This annual event, that has taken place since 1983, has crowds upwards of 750,000 people. Unfortunately, it has also been threatened by Hurricane Sandy, and need your help. There is a deadline. However, if we are unable to SAVE THE CONEY ISLAND MERMAID PARADE this year, there is always next year, and many more years to come. Thank you.

Many people with the above disabilities still have pets. Facilities that do NOT use these products are becoming fewer and farther between - leaving us in a position of choosing between our own health and the health of our pets. Some of us must travel great distances to find a clinic that we can tolerate. This is especially disconcerting with emergency clinics, where travel time could mean the difference between life and death. We do not have an option at that point to choose a fragrance-free location. It’s a horrible choice to have to make, and in many cases, we are banished to wait outside while our beloved pets are taken in for treatment without us. This can be counter productive to the pet’s care as important information can be missed when the owner cannot be available to be questioned. We are asking for the same dignity as other clients and the right to be present, to provide valuable, detailed information, and to comfort our beloved pets in their time of need and most of all, to be able to hold them if it is time for them to leave this earth. There are many reasonable options for odor management including HEPA, ozone or ultraviolet air handlers (aka air purifiers, air filters, air cleaners), open windows, exhaust fans and, in a last resort, temporary aerosols. While aerosols ARE NOT SAFE for the aforementioned group, they dissipate quickly. Candles, diffusers and plug ins do not, Rather, they build up in the air, the ventilation system, the walls and the furniture making it intolerable for people with respiratory, immune system or chemical disabilities even if those items are not in immediate use. We appreciate your consideration in this matter. We love our pets dearly and simply want to be able to be with them during veterinary care, emergency veterinary care, and final care.

There are spouses that stayed back and kept the home running so our military spouses could do their job defending our country only to be abandoned by our spouses and our Country! We need to be taken care of and not left to fend by ourselves if we become former spouses through no fault of our own.

There are so many children in need of homes, but instead of basing the ability to adopt on the welfare and safety of the child, adoption agency are reserving the right to adopt for "traditional families" and ignoring other qualifications that Single and/or unmarried people may have.

Fun. Cool. Delicious. Original. These are just a few of the words that have been used to describe Rochester's emerging food truck scene. Over the past year, Rochestarians have enthusiastically embraced a movement that is becoming part of the landscape all over the US: mobile kitchens specializing in new and exciting niche menus, bringing their food to a variety of locations. Our local food trucks represent the marriage of food-creative concepts and enthusiastic local entrepreneurs. So why is the city stifling the growth of this popular industry? Currently, the city requires food trucks to adhere to a multitude of vending regulations based on where the trucks may choose to vend, creating a circular permitting scheme that is a burden to existing food truck vendors, and a barrier to entrepreneurs looking to enter the marketplace. Other laws make it even more difficult to operate. As a first step in addressing the needs of the food truck community, the City of Rochester is preparing to launch a pilot program that would allow vending in the City Center, which is currently a severely restricted zone. This program is designed to place food trucks in designated areas with restricted vending hours. While food truck vendors were invited to be a part of the conversation that designed the pilot, it has become clear that our voices are being drowned out by those of existing downtown restaurants and businesses looking to protect their own interests. We have yet to see final legislation - which we expect to be voted on in a matter of days – but we expect that the Food Truck Pilot Program will include the following actions: 1. A sharp decrease in locations. The City reduced the original eight potential locations to five, and just last week Council made the decision to limit the pilot program to only three locations in the downtown area. 2. Selling unlimited permits for these food truck locations, and instructing vendors to operate on a first-come, first-park basis. In doing this, council is dooming this pilot program to become a failure as there are already more trucks than locations. 3. Proximity Restrictions. Locations were selected with the consideration that food trucks will be placed approximately 300 ft from existing restaurants. This is anti-competitive and unconstitutional. 4. Limited hours of operation. The city will place restrictions on when vendors can serve, even excluding dinner-time hours in one location. All of this means fewer affordable, fresh, creative mealtime options for you, the consumer; and robs Rochester of the many benefits food trucks have to offer. We are asking for your support in this matter. By signing this petition, you are letting the Rochester City Council know that you support food truck freedom, and favor expanded choices in the marketplace. You are supporting small local businesses, and fresh, local food options. You recognize the way in which food trucks have been able to benefit under-served areas, and create positive relationships with local restaurants and neighborhoods. In order to make the Pilot Program successful, please sign this petition to reject the actions above, and request that City Council expand the approved locations and ultimately open up all of Rochester’s streets to our food trucks.

Our public playgrounds are not handicapped friendly for children with special needs. My 6 year old son is blind and developmentally delayed and loves being out doors. The baby swings are too small and he is not safe to swing on the backless leather strap swings. The wood chips makes it impossible to move the wheel chair. Our children would like to be able to enjoy the playground along with their family and friends and not be socially separated. Please add both handicapped swings and rubber matting in our public playgrounds to include the special needs community.