I want the Administration and the Congress to keep their promise to make re-instatement of unemployment benefits a priority as they said they would do late last year. Once again, ordinary Americans are being forgotten in the "recovery" our lawmakers like to rave about. I, and other productive Americans, who were adversely affected by the economic downturn are quickly losing the ground we were beginning to gain with the 'hand up' of unemployment benefits. Yet, the issue has faded from the news and it appears our legislators are hoping no one will notice that they appear to have moved on. I want to bring this issue back to the forefront. I want the Administration and Congress to act on this issue with the same dispatch they have demonstrated in responding to the needs of moneyed corporations and financial institutions. Much damage has already been done to the lives or people who thought this issue would have been addressed early in January. Congress needs to vote to restore unemployment benefits -- NOW!

SSA has never paid for the month a loved one passes away regardless of the date of the passing. If the person passes on the 2nd of the month then SSA should pay benefits through the 1st of the month. If the person passes on the 31st , then they should pay through the 30th. (etc.). My mother passed away on the 31st of the month this last Aug. and the funeral home director told my Sister that SSA 's check would be good as my Mom lived over 2/3'rds of the month. SSA sent the check through and then took the check back!! This check was to help settle my Mom's bills and other medical expenses. Not only did my sister have to pay all that but then she had to pay back SSA. This is wrong! I tried to contact 3 offices about starting a petition and the Government just gave me the run around. Please help me start this petition so that our old folks and their families are treated correctly!

Steve Hall, City Manager Olympia City Council It has come to our attention that Columbia Heights LLC plans to construct a 7 story, 138-unit building with approximately 7,600 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and structured parking for 121 vehicles. The first public comment period for this project is scheduled to end at 5 pm on March 7th. Although a public notice and letters mailed to property owners notifying them of the proposed project may have been sent out in accordance with OMC Chapter 18.78, there is reason to suspect that it has not been properly followed. In some precursory research we found that the company "Columbia Heights LLC", the company listed on the legal notification, went bankrupt in 2008. The address which is listed on the legal notification is 123 4th ave E, where, presumably the address is 123 4th Ave W, though there is no way to be sure. Furthermore, a significant number of businesses within 300 feet of the exterior boundaries of the assumed proposed site have not received a notice from the city or been given sufficient information concerning the project. In lieu of these facts, and overt inconsistencies in the application process, and taking into consideration the size, scope, and impact of this project we respectfully request you restart the application process with correct and consistent information, and postpone both the Design Review Board and SPRC meetings until you properly follow your legal obligations to the citizens of Olympia. In doing this, downtown residents, workers, local business and property owners will have enough time to assess the impact and understand the implications of this project. Thank you for taking our request into consideration.

Many people have a hard time adjusting to a time change! For some it takes weeks to get back on track. Statistics have also shown that the day following the change accidents and heart attacks increase.

Dave, a father of five children, has been in ICE detention for an unbelievable eight months. He desperately needs your help getting back home! Dave fled his native Jamaica after witnessing a crime committed by a powerful gang. He's lived in the safety of the U.S. for almost two decades now. He has a loving fiancé of 16 years and five wonderful kids. Dave should be at home with them, not in detention! Dave’s children, four of them U.S. citizens and one a permanent resident, depend on him. He's an active member of his church and has strong roots in his community. He's the kind of immigrant America should be welcoming, not expelling! Dave needs your help. If he's deported to Jamaica, he fears for his safety. Tell ICE immigration officials to stop Dave's deportation. He should be here with his family!

Our building complex sits two blocks from the East River in Manhattan and is in a class "1" flood zone. During Sandy we were inundated by flood waters reaching 3-5 feet, inflicting hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage which is home for nearly one thousand residents who are mostly working class families or retirees on fixed incomes. Our co-op is based on Mitchell-Lama laws that ensure it remains working and middle class housing, yet we bore all the costs of this disaster.

To let Supervisor Miley and any potential developer know we won't settle for a dollar store, park area or any other inferior project. We'd really like a brewpub, but our focus is having a business/merchant occupy the Daughtrey building that will enhance our downtown area.

I Christopher Ludvigsen from Denmark have a dream of joining the US Air Force as an officer, but in order for that to happen I must first be a US citizen. I love America and always have for as long as I remember so I don't just want to join any military, I wanna join the USAF The process of naturalization requires me to have been a permanent resident and green card holder for five years; not only is this difficult but I would like to start my career in the Air Force as soon as possible. Currently I am residing in MS, USA as an exchange student living with a host family. My plan was for these people to adopt me and partition for my citizenship. Well; turns out that I the adoption has to have been completed before I turned 16 which unfortunately happened last August. Now all I ask is for the American government or whoever this concerns to look at my case and make a single exception and allow me to become a citizen somehow more easily. Maybe even let my host parents adopt me and after two years apply for citizenship. Two years that I would expect to spend in college getting my bachelors degree. All I wanna do is serve in the American military and have a good life in America. Thank you -Chris Ludvigsen

Maine is hopefully moving toward finally passing LD 1686 which allows naloxone to be dispensed to and administered by emergency personnel and private citizens to overdose victims. While this is a critical piece of legislation needed to curb the escalating incidence of opioid overdose mortality in Maine, its potential impact is seriously constrained by the lack of a 911 Good Samaritan Law which is the logical companion to this legislation. Last year the House and the Senate passed this bill and Governor LePage vetoed it. "Governor LePage believes we'll solve the drug problem in Maine through law enforcement and reliance on the judicial system." LePage justified his decision by claiming that he was "concerned this bill may create an unnecessary barrier for drug enforcement when drug use remains a significant scourge in [Maine]." This translates to a low level drug possession or paraphernalia arrest is of more value than a human life. We need your support while the issue of overdose prevention is in on the table in Augusta and the media spotlight. There are two critical issues: 1. In many instances, private citizens (family, friends or other drug users present), may not be in possession of naloxone at the time of the incident and for drug users to report an overdose, the immunity from arrest, charge and prosecution must be present. 2. Most users and addicts use in groups (85% of documented cases) and Maine is primarily a rural state. It is crucial for a person to stay with the victim until help arrives as they may require hospitalization. Naloxone generally is effective for approximately 30 minutes and leaves the unattended victim at risk of again losing consciousness. It is not unusual for a victim to require a subsequent naloxone administration. The Good Samaritan Law would provide immunity to the individuals to contact professional personnel and would help to insure that the victim was not left unattended until help arrived.

Now is not the time to dismantle the US Postal Service. It is time to expand it and offer new services.

Our daughter is special needs and has been unsuccessful working in community based settings as have many of her friends. Funding is being taken away from MA special needs production workshops which will harm many of these citizens who have no control over their future and depend on our elected legislatures to protect them. It would be unthinkable to take away their paycheck, no matter the amount, and their contribution to society which they are proud of. Our understanding is that the production floors are to close by 2015.

Northern New Mexico and Albuquerque desperately need this vital rail artery. Not only Amtrak service will be lost to this entire area without it, but also any chance of other rail-dependent businesses which could revitalize our area's economy. Two other states have ponyed up to save the line, but the chance will be lost if Gov. Martinez drops the ball and vetos the New Mexico contribution.