On January 6th, 2021, a violent mob of extremists motivated by conspiracies that were sowed by the White House stormed into the Capitol, forcing legislators and their staff to barricade with the protection of armed guards. After hearing an address with yet more incendiary rhetoric from the outgoing president, they forced their way inside the Capitol building, carried a Confederate flag through the rotunda, and threatened lawmakers and our seat of government in Washington DC. Anyone involved in inspiring, encouraging, and abetting these terrorists must be held responsible for their actions. Unfortunately, they have been enabled by a large cross section of extremist politicians, many of whom represent Texans. They have made a mockery of democracy by embracing the fascist rhetoric of a far-right figurehead with a far-right movement behind him. They have suppressed votes while lying about the nature of our election system, sullying our elections while opposing their legally legitimate losses. They have proven themselves entirely unfit for office. They must resign. Additionally, we support the resolution of Representative Cori Bush to expel the seditious members of Congress attempting to undermine the legitimacy of our democratic election results. We support accountability that will expel, censure, disbar, begin ethics investigations into and cease campaign donations to the complicit congressmen, Texas Attorney General, as well as continue the impeachment hearing and conviction of Donald Trump. We believe in the power of democracy and the power of the People to make progress in the United States. Those who have proven that they would prefer to destroy the country rather than hold Trump accountable must surrender their power permanently. Their power is vested in us and they have shown themselves willing to use it abusively.

We need to support the service industry. Anyone currently working with the public should qualify for a vaccine--I love teachers, and we need to support them, too, but if you aren't teaching in person, I'm sorry, you need to wait. These are the people who have been yelled at and spit on regarding mask requirements, yelled at and threatened regarding various shortages that have occurred, and deal with, BY FAR the largest number of strangers on a day-to-day basis. They can't get a living wage, yet... Can they at least be treated like the essential workers they are and get the vaccine ASAP? For efficiency, sending notices to businesses to post in break rooms regarding when employees will be eligible, where and how to sign up for appointments, etc., would help to get the word out to more people faster, rather than hoping everyone gets contacted in a timely manner individually.

While we believe in a free press and that censorship is offensive to democracy, FNC is gaming the system in a way that is demonstrably harmful. The recent political situation has vividly illustrated how many people have been mislead by FNC propaganda. For example, a large number of their viewers have been conned into believing there were election irregularities when none have been proven; FNC viewers are more likely to believe that the threat of COVID-19 isn’t real or has been overplayed; research has shown that FNC viewers are less well informed than viewers of other news channels. It’s also worth noting that OfCom, the UK broadcast regulator, has found Fox’s programming to be in violation of their impartiality rules for news programs. For these reasons and many others, we urge the Senate or the FCC under your oversight, implement ways to counteract the insidious effect of the Murdoch media conglomerate.

President Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion COVID rescue package featuring an expansion of emergency paid leave, providing economic security to nearly 200 million working people, as well as our nation’s long-term recovery from COVID-19. This bill closes the loopholes in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, it provides over 14 weeks of paid sick, family, and medical leave. It also provides a maximum paid leave benefit of $1,400 per week for eligible working people, and extends emergency paid leave measures until September 20, 2021. This couldn’t come at a more urgent time, as Congress allowed the previous paid leave provisions to lapse in December, right as we hit new, devastating peaks in the coronavirus crisis. President Biden’s plan to reinstate and improve emergency paid leave is a critical step to supporting working families while reducing the spread of the virus. Congress must pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, NOW!

Healthcare workers have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We have worked extra hours, taken assignments across the country to care for everyone during these unpredictable times. Many of us have worked so much that our tax rate will be higher. We were asked by the Government to step up and we have. Now we are asking for FEDERAL TAX exemption in return that will span from 2020-2022.

With the advancement of patents and and increased desire for both non profit and for profit companies to create changes to the weather for desires in wanting more tourism, more water for both need and recreation such as golfing and water sports including fishing and boating events. To be advanced in our modern technology we need to look at the future of this incredible state not just for now but generations of our families here in the future. Also providing guests who visit a sense of additional health concerns from our great state.

Cincinnati has increasingly become known as a destination for its variety of restaurants and bars, but the pandemic has caused dozens of incredible local establishments to close their doors permanently. Those that have been able to weather the storm have done so at significant cost: reducing capacity, focusing on curbside pickup and delivery as well as the mandated curfews have resulted in significant revenue losses for our city’s establishments. The reduced capacity has hit hourly waged workers the hardest since we are dependent on tips, as we are paid well below the federal minimum wage. In addition, exposure to the virus among staff forces many businesses to close for weeks at a time, further hurting workers by preventing them from making any income in the interim. Ohio and Cincinnati leadership must step up now and act in the best interests of the working class service industry by allowing us to protect ourselves. A safer service industry is a safer Cincinnati.

With Michael Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, showing up at the White House in January with written notes to give to Donald Trump that were instructions to overturn the election by way of martial law. I no longer think a great company like Costco should allow MyPillow a place to set up and sell their products. MyPillow should be banned from ALL Costco facilities, as Mr Lindell has engaged in treasonous behavior.

On November 5, 2020 alert civic watchdogs discovered that a person had been using LAUSD Superintendent Beutner’s name and photo. The impostor retweeted social-networking messages from an organization known as Speak Up supporting school board candidates. As “Austin Beutner,” she retweeted support for two candidates running for school board in the November 3, 2020 election. However, when her fraud was revealed, she claimed it was a prank aimed at a friend, but there is no evidence in her online behavior of an innocent mistake. The impostor volunteers with Speak Up, an organization created to promote California Charter School Association-backed candidates for LAUSD school board. On November 6, Superintendent Beutner released a statement that he had been impersonated and that he had not issued any tweets of support for the two candidates, Marilyn Koziatek or Tanya Ortiz Franklin. LAUSD has not yet indicated that they are investigating the matter. Nor has LAUSD indicated that they have asked the L.A. County Registrar Clerk Recorder to investigate the fake account, how the impersonation violated state law, and if it influenced the school board elections. Impersonating a public official appears to violate state penal code (in law for a decade, since enactment of SB 1411 in 2010) protecting Californians against impersonation on the internet. The Superintendent and the LAUSD Counsel are obligated to investigate and verify if SB 1411 has been violated. A person is deemed impersonated "if another person would reasonably believe, or did reasonably believe, that the defendant was or is the person who was impersonated." Impersonation under the law "shall include opening an email account or an account or profile on a social networking Internet Web site in another person's name." The penalties for this illegal impersonation can include "a fine [of] ...one thousand dollars ($1,000), or... imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year." CALL TO ACTION We the undersigned urge the following: -- Superintendent Beutner and the LAUSD Counsel should investigate violations involving false representation, fraud, and breaches of public trust stemming from this illegal act of impersonation -- Superintendent Beutner and the LAUSD Counsel should probe any further communication or coordination of the impostor with other LAUSD officials and school district decision makers to assess further impacts such communication or coordination might have had, or continue to have, on district policy or decisions

Piscataquis is one of the poorest counties in the state. Our leadership needs to represent us in a manner which will encourage businesses to choose this area, and tempt young people from this area to stay. Creating a resolution that embarrasses us to the rest of the state and larger world outside will not accomplish this task. Further, Foxcroft Academy, located in Dover-Foxcroft, has been fostering a considerable boarding program for international students for many years, with students from all over the world. These students contribute a great deal to the local economy during the school year, and, equally important, provide cultural diversity which is vital for our county. Having a public resolution using xenophobic language is a direct detriment to this program, and our community's goal of embracing diversity into our region. In short, this merely symbolic “resolution of protest” gains nothing, and only serves to present Piscataquis County in an unflattering, embarrassing light. For the Commissioners to sign off would solidify their complete lack of competence in their job while misrepresenting Piscataquis County at large.

Those who attacked the Capitol, democracy, and the rule of law—resulting in at least 5 deaths — had help and even encouragement from some members of law enforcement. Intelligence experts have warned for years about a major, growing problem with white supremacists and other far-right extremists in law enforcement. But police unions have fought and undermined attempts to investigate the problem and fire violent, racist, anti-government, and white supremacist extremists. Several prominent police union leaders have associated with white supremacists, and police unions often perpetuate a culture of violence and impunity. They do everything possible to shield officers from accountability, including officers who are compromised by bias, racism, and connections to white supremacists groups. Police unions have successfully defended officers who used racial slurs, who made posts calling for racist violence, and who have white supremacist tattoos. They have kept these officers in their jobs, on the streets with a badge and gun, and in a position to carry out violence against groups they hate (or to simply fail to protect them). This must change. The consequences of failing to address white supremacist infiltration of the police are clearer than ever. It puts all of us in danger and threatens the basic functioning of our government and democracy. Join us in calling on law enforcement leaders—police chiefs, sheriffs, and others—to root out white supremacists and extremists in the agencies they lead, and directly confront any attempts by police unions to undermine the process or protect dangerous police officers.

Allowing businesses to discriminate against people on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation creates a bad reputation for the city of Winston Salem. As a member of the LGBTQ community I wonder where we draw the line with discrimination. Will I be turned away from healthcare? Or will I be turned away from a bank next? Discrimination in our city, is a threat to equality across our nation. We must do better to protect those from discrimination and do everything we can to prohibit the disruption of commerce. The Constitution grants us all “life” and “liberty” and warns against depravation of the two. I’m calling on you to protect “life” and “liberty” by enacting an ordinance that protects LGBTQ members from discrimination in business and in employment.