Many of the senior citizen tenants in our state are staring into a financial abyss; they are often dependent on Social Security as their only source of income. In 2010 and 2011 there were no cost of living adjustments in their social security benefits, but for many their rent was increased each year. In 2012 they received a COLA increase, but their Medicare premiums were also increased. Consequently their disposable income remained the same at best and yet their rent increased again. In 2013 the COLA increase is 1.7%. Even in areas of the state where rent control ordinances are in effect, the rent increases are larger than 1.7%, the old folks fall further behind. Also in 2013 the Medicare part B premiums are increasing by 5%, the part B deductible is rising by 5% and the Part A deductible is rising 2.5%, once again life becomes more of a burden for our senior citizen tenants. They are faced with rent payments that increase faster than their social security cost of living adjustments, year after year. With the economy still struggling as far as main street America is concerned, a slow recovery if any predicted, the poor financial health of the Social Security and Medicare programs, the huge deficits and debts that the State and Federal Governments are currently experiencing, and the demographics of the baby boomers, it is very likely that in the future we will see more years when there is no increase, if not cuts in Social Security, more increases in Medicare premiums and deductibles, and cuts in programs that were designed to aid seniors in need. Many of these folks are making the difficult decisions on whether to pay their rent or purchase food, medicines, or other necessities of life. It is just a matter of time before they will be pushed over the edge into perpetual poverty, hunger and possibly into the ranks of the homeless. To allow this situation to continue seems negligent at best, if not cruel. Therefore to protect the health and well-being of senior citizen tenants it is in the public interest to guarantee those senior citizen tenants affordable rental housing at their current locations in order to avoid displacement due to rents that increase faster than their income.

DEAR MR. GOVERNOER SCOTT: I AM ON DISABILITY AND SOCIAL SECURITY I GET$ 1699.00 AMONTH AFTER MEDICARE DEDUCTION.MY WIFE HAS A PART TIME JOB ONLY GOOD FIOR ABOUT 500.00 A MONTH I WAS TOLD BY YOUR PEOPLE I AM MAKING TOO MUCH FOR FOOD STAMPS.I HAVE 38.00 LFT AFTER PAING RENT,ELECTRIC PHONE AND CABLE.WE HAVE TO GO TO CHURCHS FOR FOOD PLKEASE HELP.

Each year, non-custodial parents find ways to evade paying their court ordered child support. It's time to put a stop to this behavior! Our country allows these evasive parents to basically have interest free loans on the backs of our children!

We are resident's living inside The Wayne County Family Center, this shelter is not giving us the resources and equal housing that we are entitled to, do to our circumstances.Our families are being pushed into high crimed poverty area's and also have not been reffered to any housing programs.We feel this is not right and something need's to change for the right's of our families.

Congressman Scott Peters campaigned on fighting cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Now that he has been elected, he is refusing to sign the Grayson-Takano letter to the White House opposing cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He has consistently refused to take a stand on these issues that are so important to his constituents. In view of the greatest inequity in wealth and income since before the great depression, we do not want to see continued tax breaks to the 1% and corporations on the backs of seniors and the shrinking middle class. Congressman Peters must also stop referring to Social Security and Medicare as “entitlements.” They are “earned benefits” paid into throughout our working years. When we voted for Scott Peters, rather than Bilbray, we expected him to support the democratic principles he campaigned on. Congressman Peters does not deserve to be re-elected if he supports cuts to Social Security and Medicare

Reducing Speed Traps in Georgia

Parents and Guardians of persons with Developmental Disabilities. My son, Omar lives in a HeartShare residence and he attends a HeartShare Day Program. He is 41 years old , non verbal young man with Down's Syndrome. All agencies who provide services for persons who have developmental disbilities will be impacted by the over fifity million dollar budget reduction to the NYS O.P.W.D.D. Please add your voice in support of our most defenseless citizens who certainly need more services not less. Tell our elected officials Not to cut the budget.

I've been trying to get disability since 2011. I have Fibromyalgia and dont think that enough people know how painful it is and how it controls your life. Yet I keep getting turned down for disability.

HOUSING AND ALL LOW-INCOME SERVICES.

I am over 65. I do not need Medicaid, thank the US government. But there are so many others who need this. Let's help them get it, no matter what the Florida legislature says. If we do not take that Medicaid money, other states will get ours just like the high speed rail! Don't be stupid.

My petition is for affordable housing for what I consider the "lower middle class" in NYC. Landlords and rent guidelines are so biased. If you earn over $40,000 you're usually disqualified from affordable housing lotteries. You have no other choice but to waste money on broker's, security deposits and at least 1st months rent. Rents are sky rocketing in NY and after paying $1,300 or more in rent along with other rising costs in New York we hardly have any money left over for anything else.

Dear Gov. Brown: With the failing struggle to maintain sprawl draining our municipalities' budgets, we must do everything we can to promote bicycling for local travel, which will reduce wear and tear on infrastructure and alleviate road and parking congestion. Yet careless motorists frequently "buzz" cyclists, with often dire results--worse, we often see posts and comments erroneously claiming that cyclists have no right to the road, and that it is permissible to engage in this sort of intimidation against them. Your repeated vetoes of three-foot passing bills have sent a signal to the population that cyclists are expendable and that only drivers matter to you. Please support--or initiate!--the next safe passing bill to protect the thousands of cyclists who are doing their part to protect our environment and our economy both. Note: A proposed amendment to AB 1371 would effectively result in a safe-passing law if signed by Gov. brown.