Chicago's West Loop and Greektown Neighborhood is home to families and businesses, who enjoy a dynamic and rapidly growing urban environment. The West Loop is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Chicago. It is home to thriving restaurants, shops, galleries, and spacious residential lofts. The West Loop is a vibrant community with major interstate highways to the east and south of us. Walking south down Halsted from Greektown, you might not even notice the thousands of cars passing by just yards away, down below on the Eisenhower expressway. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has proposed the construction of a major “flyover”, or overpass, to be built over Halsted Street and I-290... connecting the northbound Kennedy to the westbound Eisenhower. It’s part of IDOT’s massive 4.5-year-long project to rebuild the Circle Interchange and rebuild the aging street bridges. This proposed flyover ramp will feature two 12’ lanes and two 10’ shoulders, plus, the necessary guardrails and infrastructure required to handle 40,000 cars a day. It will be massive. We oppose the inclusion of the flyover ramp for a variety of reasons. This flyover ramp will negatively impact West Loop and Greektown business owners, Halsted Street pedestrians, CTA Blue Line commuters, property owners, and residents. Aside from the 4.5-year construction timeline, the result will be an eyesore that not only separates the West Loop and Greektown neighborhoods from our neighbors to the south, like UIC; it will become a dark and dangerous blight to a thriving neighborhood. Noise Traffic noise will increase because the bypass ramp will come over the top of Halsted Street (just south of Van Buren) instead of going under the road. Noise increases when traffic is doubled (two lanes instead of one lane), there is a steep slope, and speed is increased. Flyover roads also broadcast noise over greater distances. Dirt/Pollution Building the ramp over Halsted Street will increase the amount of dirt and particulate pollutants (from diesel fuel combustion, materials produced by tire, brake and road wear, and dust) that will accumulate on the sidewalks and street in the immediate area. Overpass structures create a darker and dirtier environment for pedestrians. This ramp will also be located outside the Halsted Street Blue Line station where people need to wait for buses and enter/exit the station. Safety/Walk Ability Overpass structures create a darker and dirtier environment. Threatening to pedestrians. This ramp will also be located outside the Halsted Street Blue Line station where people need to wait for buses and enter/exit the station. Separation of communities The flyover structure will be located at the south end of Greektown and creates a separation from the UIC neighborhood. It will greatly impact the restaurants and businesses that are currently thriving in a resurgent Greektown.

I live in fear that I'll be without healthcare and shelter because you keep voting to threaten seniors by taking away their care.

Older Americans are a neglected population in the US. Their rights need to be protected also. The Notch Fairness Act allows seniors who turned 65 after 1981 but before 1992 to receive their fair amount of social security benefits.

Closing state offices for "Holy Friday" or any other religious holiday violates the law and costs all taxpayers (of all beliefs and non-believers) millions to promote the Christian Religion and that simply is not FAIR!

License Driver for those who had it,but couldn't renew it, due to 9/11.

I am a single mother of 2 young children, a boy who is 9 and a girl who is 3. I work full time and go to school full time as well. Childcare is $150 per week per child and even by making $15 per hour I am struggling to make ends meet. I receive assistance from the state of Arizona for food and medical, but cannot receive childcare assistance because I am do not receive cash assistance and in order to receive cash assistance you must be unemployed. I know I am not alone and am starting this petition to ask the State of Arizona to help working families who have younger children with childcare assistance funding. I am not asking for them to pay all of the childcare expenses for each family, but a portion based on income (like they do in Washington State). Other states and countries provide assistance, especially when the parent or parents are working full time and in school and the State of Arizona should as well.

Need standing fund to develop, update, manage payout of compensation to victims of serious crimes.

When my husband died, I was barely age 60. The bills continued at 100% but the widow's Social Security benefit was only 60%. Widows at age 60 should receive 100% of their spouse's Social Security so they do not fall on hard times.

I am about to retire and do not understand why Social Security, a self-supporting fund, is on the chopping block. It does not cost the US Government one cent and statistically, is sound for 20 more years.

better sight distance forpulling into oncoming traffic. goving advantage to those who drive compact, more fuel efficent cars.

The government wants to maneuver the Social Security monies by not granting the Cost-of-Living increases that are due. This money was earned during peoples' entire working careers and it should be of benefit, just like all other entities.

Most of the money from red light cameras go to the camera companies. Yet another private company should not be getting rich off of the poor. At $100 a ticket this regressive tax should not be happening. We should find other ways to make money for our cities instead of forcing people to choose sometimes between a need and a ticket.