1. Many residents have schedules that are prohibitive to attending City Council meetings. The recordings we have of the regularly scheduled meetings allow us to review the dialogue that occurs and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at play. How is this any less relevant for committee meetings, which so many people describe as "where the action occurs." 2. This is long overdue. See https://share.google/yQCi0GwKls6x8K0MR and https://share.google/HyZIUaHVB2ZHpjbr9 we gather that Mayor Levin is worried about how recording would impact cost and the continued ability to foster open dialogue, A) Livestreaming is free and B) Recording actually shouldn't be prohibitive to elected officials conversing in a candid manner. In addressing the mayor's concern that snippets of recorded meetings could be posted to social media and potentially subject to poor contextualization, isn't the same risk applicable to ANY meeting that is recorded and made accessible to the public? 3. Other neighboring communities (Hinsdale, Lombard, Naperville, and Addison to name a few, indicate on their websites that they record committee meetings. Is it not worth considering why they are willing to take this extra step to strengthen community transparency)? Please therefore consider placing Michael Bram's request to record committee meetings on the agenda for a vote. He has asked twice, and neither request has ever made it to the agenda.  As residents, we understand that maintaining and improving our town requires an ongoing investment. Yet, the more that is asked of residents, the more that residents have a right to evaluate the conversations and information that ultimately drive decisions that affect all of us.  Please take steps to preserve the transparency that is so critical to our moving together as what Elmhurst truly is--a community. Thanks for your time and consideration.

1. Protecting Veterans and Public Trust:  Phoenix VA Police officers are entrusted with protecting veterans, employees, visitors, and federal facilities. Concerns involving substantiated racial harassment, retaliation, and leadership misconduct raise broader questions regarding professionalism, integrity, judgment, and public trust within a federal law enforcement environment.  2. Federal Civil Rights Concerns:   Official findings substantiated racial harassment involving an African-American employee within Phoenix VA Police leadership structures. These concerns directly implicate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and broader federal workplace protections intended to prevent discriminatory and hostile work environments.  3. Leadership Retention Despite Findings:  A major concern is not simply that findings existed, but that Phoenix VA Health Care System's  "Executive Leadership" retained the same management officials despite awareness of substantiated findings, complaints, and workplace concerns over multiple years. Critics argue this reflects a broader culture of institutional protectionism rather than accountability.  4.  Whistleblower and Retaliation Concerns:  Employees and observers have raised concerns regarding retaliation, intimidation, and the dismissal of employees as “disgruntled” after reporting misconduct or workplace concerns. Such perceptions can discourage reporting, damage morale, and weaken confidence in internal accountability systems.  5.  Preservation and Public Awareness:  This publication exists to preserve publicly accessible information regarding Phoenix VA Police leadership history, substantiated findings, oversight awareness, and workplace culture concerns so that current and future employees, applicants, veterans, and members of the public may independently review and assess the documented record. 

California just passed a law mandating that ads on streaming services match the noise level of the movie or television show being watched. So the framework already exists—we just need more states to take action and implement it.  Their crackdown on excessively loud ads is set to go into effect July 1, 2026, and would cut down on noise pollution that disturbs homes and wakes sleeping children.  And it’s not the first time there’s been reform around loud ads. In 2010, Congress passed federal legislation called the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act to bring quiet commercials to cable television and radio shows.  Now, streamers must adhere to the CALM Act in California—and leaders nationwide should ensure they’re required to do the same in every state.  Add your name to the petition and demand that streaming platforms dial down the volume on their ads.

The current building 1930 Beach Street is restricted to be inspected for Inhumane practices by Illinois Congressional Leaders. Chicago Sun-Times reports, “U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, both Illinois Democrats, on Friday requested a tour of the Broadview ICE facility that has drawn heated protest for weeks, but they were denied entry,(2025, Armentrout). If ICE occupies the current 5000 square foot building and has DENIED entry for routine inspections, how much more would a 200,000 square ft building occupied by ICE would be even worst to inspect. Armentrout, M., (2025, October, 10).  Illinois Democrats call for investigation of Chicago ICE raids. https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/10/10/ice-investigation-chicago-illinois-congressional-democrats-robin-kelly

Upwards of 100,000 people attend the Super Bowl, and the event is supposed to be a celebration of football and its fans, powered by thousands of workers who make it possible. The Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco should not be marked by Trump’s mass chaos, trauma, and detention.  Bad Bunny and his team already made the difficult decision to not tour his latest album Debí Tirar Más Fotos in the United States out of fear of ICE raids, and how they might use him and his concerts to kidnap and target his fans. But of course, the Trump administration is cruel, and doubled down by saying they’d have ICE at the Super Bowl. People on the ground in communities most impacted by Trump’s authoritarian militarized takeover are uniting to fight back, and doing everything they can to protect their neighbors and loved ones. Local elected officials like Alderwoman Jessie Fuentes are putting their bodies on the line to defend their constituents. Bad Bunny is an artist who has been very outspoken about injustice and has used his music and platform to advocate for our communities. He has also been vocally against Trump and his immigration policies, and in 2024, he spoke out against a speaker at Trump’s rally when he disgustingly called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” He has been a fierce advocate for Puerto Rican rights and independence because Puerto Rico is a colony of the U.S. and the people of Puerto Rico have constantly been failed, especially by Trump, his administration, and its harmful policies. Eight years ago, Puerto Ricans were devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, and families were displaced and abandoned, the entire island was left without power for 11 months (the longest blackout in US history), many were left without water, and thousands died from neglect from those in power. The people of Puerto Rico deserve better. Together, we can continue fighting for all of our communities and keeping each other safe, one step at a time. The NFL must take this step too, to stop ICE from targeting people at their Super Bowl. Will you add your name to the petition?

Please sign and share this petition to show Vietnam—and the world—that the persecution of human rights defenders must end. Together, we can amplify Phương’s voice from behind prison walls.

This isn't just about one mural in one town. This is about the First Amendment and everyone's constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.

We need to stand up now for free speech, and stop this administration from attacking the free speech of those they disagree with.  The hypocrisy shown by this administration is unlike anything we've ever seen. Journalists and other people with a social platform are being maligned and fired for stating facts, or even indulging in debate about different political ideologies, though only those who are critical of the administration. Nothing happens to those who support the administration.  If we don't make a stand now, it's only going to get worse before the end of this administration's current term.

The President  is trying to take away America's Free speech rights that are embedded in the Constitution.  Trump has weaponized the FCC and it's Director to threaten and coerce broadcasters into submitting to his demands only because he doesn't like what HE hears, usually about himself. Comedians should never be the target of Presidents. The next step in the 2025 agenda could quite possibly be muzzling YOUR speech.

It would add cultural, educational and historical elements to the campus, and would serve as a major destination point for all. RFK Stadium is gone. Now is the time to preserve, for future generations, the rich history and togetherness that this beloved structure produced.

Faculty at PGCC are the heart of the community they educate. We need to support them in the same way they support their students each and every day.

Hundreds of thousands of people WILL be impacted if these programs do not receive funding, leaving clients and students with less ability to pursue education and program staff without jobs!  I used Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) when I left the service to go back to school. Without the resources and guidance of Education Specialists with VUB, my transition would have been unimaginably difficult and I may not be where I'm at today, about to graduate and applying for my Master's degree. There are countless stories like mine, and many more who have faced even greater obstacles to try to create a better life for themselves and their families. As Upward Bound programs, including Veterans Upward Bound, near the FY deadline for the programs to continue, advocacy is needed to disburse funds to the programs. Upward Bound programs provide needed support to people from first-generation and low-income backgrounds to pursue higher education. Specific programs are tailored for high school students, veterans, and other adult learners who would other lack the opportunity to start or complete their education. The Grant Award Notices (GANs) have allocated the funding for the new fiscal year, but the funds still have not been released. If the funding is not released by September 30th, Upward Bound programs will not be able to continue providing services and the programs will end. The populations served by these programs often lack realistic opportunities to pursue or complete higher education. Having worked directly with these people, your friends, family, and coworkers, I can attest to their work ethic and passion. And that carries beyond the classroom. That same work ethic and passion will feed back into their careers and communities, making them better and stronger!