There has been an obvious link to the mental health issue of young adults, particularly males ages teens to early twenties, and the escalating number of horrific, violent incidents currently in outbreak in our country. We must take serious and diligent stock of this crisis now, before any more lives are lost.

There is an epidemic of mass murders. Our prisons are overflowing with mentally ill patients. The number of mentally ill patients that are homeless is staggering. We have to do a lot more. But this is one politically acceptable solution that could be approved soon. This is a first step, a step you could take in the presence of a highly divided political environment.

This week we all grieve as a nation for the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Massacre that took place this week. We cannot make sense of this tragic loss of life. President Obama, you have called for meaningful action to prevent tragedies such as this, and I agree wholeheartedly. While gun control is an issue that should be addressed in due time, the more pressing issue is the paucity of access to adequate healthcare for the mentally ill.

We've been conditioned to think we need a barracuda to fight for distribution of assets and custody, but there's a better way: a family agency with a panel of experts working together to devise the best plan for the family. Husbands and wives don't need to be pitted against each other in a divorce. They just think they do because that's the dumb system. That system can be changed and so can your mindset. As an attorney, I am witness to the destructive nature of the family and domestic relations courts which treat family matters as if they were criminal proceedings. Violence should be handled in a criminal court, divorce and custody should not.

The tragedy in Connecticut may not be about gun control; this may be about dealing with mental health and illness issues. We need to call on local, state and federal government to work together to empower, support and enliven the mental health services in our communities. I still believe in the power of community, education and outreach. For a powerful perspective on this issue: http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html?m=1

We keep seeing people that communities identify as "not right" and "very disturbed" end up on the news after another mass shooting. Our state governments have walked away from their responsibility to keep our streets safe from people that do not fit in with our society. It is time for us to enact legislation that will create a positive movement to keeping our society safe without limiting our rights.

The Mayor's office says he wants a change of attitude toward public transportation - here is a start.

As a city resident the delay in response time vs. the $2000 savings Jon Arnold, Police Sgt. was quoted saying, is not worth the lives or homes that stand a loss because of the delay in dispatching. The citizens of Sandy, Utah are worth more than this savings.

their has to be a better way for people to live other from shelter to shelter and going in and out of shelters--the city gives a program for people to get an apt for two years then the people end up back in shelters the city will pay $1800.00 a week to house a family of 3 or more in a shelter but won't pay that much a month to house a family in a perment apt/house..

This Budget gets the deficeit payed in 10 yrs. does NOT touch SS., Medicare or Medicade, in fact in makes them further solvent. Gets unemployment BELOW 5% all in 10 yrs time

Our men and women heroes in Afghanistan will be coming home to be homeless in America, trying to make the transition to civilian life, healing their wounds and fighting the mental and physical demons while searching for gainful employment. BACK OUR VETS Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWSn1zRf3iE We need your help to aid all 50 million veterans, from World War ll up to Iraq and Afghanistan. We are not asking you for big donations, grants or to get involved doing volunteer work, unless you generously care to make that choice. However, we do need you, through the POWER- OF-THE-PEOPLE to put PRESSURE on our nation’s retailers, merchants, bankers, institutions and others to participate in helping us voluntarily raise $1 billion annually to BACK-OUR-VETS. It’s called “free enterprise” with a possibility of reducing the national debt by substituting 2 cents to relieve the money the feds spend to service veterans. We can do it by signing the PETITION which will help demonstrate that patriotic Americans want to do their fair share and help the veterans and their families. Together our 2 cents makes good common sense to assure that WE-THE-PEOPLE will do our part to BACK-OUR-VETS. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mayor Bloomberg is standing by a plan to cut emergency food stamps for many New Yorkers who are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy. The mayor wants to cut the number of New York City zip codes that are eligible for the emergency food stamps from 82 to 12, impacting thousands of Hurricane Sandy victims.