• Allowing Boutique Fitness Facilities to Re-open in Phase 1
    As Health and Fitness Professionals and small business owners, we have drafted a document that outlines operational, class, and cleaning procedures for boutique fitness facilities that comply with social distancing guidelines as outlined by the CDC on their website. We believe our businesses are capable of staying well within the guidelines, and even exceeding them in most circumstances. As a fitness facility we contribute to the overall health and well being of many of our region's citizens. Having an outlet for physical activity allows our members to lead healthier lives, relieve stress, and contributes to their overall health and well being. Following the strict guidelines that are outlined in this document will allow us to operate our business safely, while providing our service to our clients in a manner that is far safer than some businesses currently operating as “essential.” Our operation is unique, and should be considered separately from large gyms. They have thousands of members, whereas we have hundreds. The overall health of our clients is our number one priority, and we will continue to adjust and improve on our best practices to ensure that. We believe our business to be “essential” and a contributor to the overall health and well being of our state’s citizens. Operating our business in a safe manner, while adhering to the guidelines set forth by the CDC, and our local health officials is possible. We are thankful for your time and consideration while reading the operational document (https://www.ftwrightcrossfit.com/fwcf-reopening-plan), and are available at any point to answer questions, or help in any way possible.
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    Created by Udit Saxena
  • Ending The Digital Divide In Illinois
    The majority of eighth-grade students in the United States rely on the internet at home to get their homework done. Roughly six-in-ten students (58%) say they use the internet at their home to do homework every day or almost every day, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the 2018 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Just 6% of students say they never use the internet at home for this purpose. There are differences in these patterns by community type and parents’ education level. Roughly two-thirds of students attending suburban schools (65%) say they use the internet for homework every day or almost every day, compared with 58% who attend schools in cities, 50% of those who attend in rural areas and 44% of those attending schools in towns. Students whose parents graduated from college are more likely to use the internet for homework at home. Some 62% of these students use the internet at home for homework, compared with smaller shares of students whose parents have some post-high school education (53%), have only a high school education (52%) or have no high school education (48%). The “homework gap” – which refers to school-age children lacking the connectivity they need to complete schoolwork at home – is more pronounced for black, Hispanic and lower-income households. Some 15% of U.S. households with school-age children do not have a high-speed internet connection at home, according to a previously published Pew Research Center analysis of 2015 U.S. Census Bureau data. School-age children in lower-income households are especially likely to lack broadband access. Roughly one-third (35%) of households with children ages 6 to 17 and an annual income below $30,000 a year do not have a high-speed internet connection at home, compared with just 6% of such households earning $75,000 or more a year. These broadband gaps are particularly pronounced in black and Hispanic households with school-age children – especially those with low incomes. Some lower-income teens say they lack resources to complete schoolwork at home. In a 2018 Center survey, about one-in-five teens ages 13 to 17 (17%) said they are often or sometimes unable to complete homework assignments because they do not have reliable access to a computer or internet connection. Black teens and those living in lower-income households were more likely to say they cannot complete homework assignments for this reason. For example, one-quarter of black teens said they often or sometimes cannot do homework assignments due to lack of reliable access to a computer or internet connectivity, compared with 13% of white teens and 17% of Hispanic teens. Teens with an annual family income below $30,000 were also more likely to say this than teens with a family income of at least $75,000 a year (24% vs. 9%). In the same survey, around one-in-ten teens (12%) said they often or sometimes use public Wi-Fi to do schoolwork because they lack a home internet connection. Again, black and lower-income teens were more likely to do this. Roughly one-in-five black teens (21%) said they use public Wi-Fi to do schoolwork due to a lack of home internet connection, compared with 11% of white teens and 9% of Hispanic teens. And around a fifth (21%) of teens with an annual family income under $30,000 reported having to use public Wi-Fi to do homework, compared with 11% of teens in families with a household income of $30,000-$74,999 and just 7% of those living in households earning at least $75,000. A quarter of lower-income teens do not have access to a home computer. One-in-four teens in households with an annual income under $30,000 lack access to a computer at home, compared with just 4% of those in households earning over $75,000, according to the 2018 survey. There are also differences by race and ethnicity. Hispanic teens were especially likely to say they do not have access to a home computer: 18% said this, compared with 9% of white teens and 11% of black teens. State Representative La Shawn K. Ford has drafted legislative language to provide broadband services at no cost to all residents of the state, with priority given to areas with high levels of poverty and lacking the infrastructure to receive high-speed internet access. Amends the Broadband Advisory Council Act. Directs the Council to develop a plan to provide access to broadband services at no cost to all residents of this State. Provides that the Office of Broadband within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall support and assist the Council in the development of the plan. Requires that priority be given to zip codes identified as having high levels of poverty and areas lacking the infrastructure necessary to meet requirements for high-speed access to the Internet. Requires the Council to identify existing and new streams of State revenue necessary to implement the plan. Provides that the Council shall report the plan and recommendations for legislation necessary to implement the plan to the General Assembly by March 31, 2021. Effective immediately.
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    Created by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford & Dalila Torres Picture
  • A Place for the Homeless to Go.
    When I moved here, I was blown away by the love and help my son and I received. We were lucky enough to be able to camp for the 6 months we were homeless and we had so much help from the community. I see the need for a safe place for the homeless to go and want to give back and find a way to help.
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    Created by Tara Wilson
  • $2000 a month Basic Income for American Taxpayers
    The American economy has taking a huge hit with unemployment skyrocketing over March and April 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the numbers will continue to rise. We are witnessing a domino effect of massive job loss. Businesses close, then the taxpayers have no income to report to the IRS and no taxes to be paid. Of course no income means a steep decline in the agriculture industry, food processing, banking, and mortgage industries just to name a few. Our tax dollars are what makes this economy rise or fall. It is the government's spending of this money which determines what programs are funded or not, and what is considered valuable. Well, now it is time for our government to show its appreciation to loyal American taxpayers by helping us through one of the most financial difficulties in current times. Way too often, large companies such as banks receive MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER MONEY so they will not collapse even though CEO's receive million dollar bonuses and the company makes millions in profits. The government is EAGER to provide them with tax breaks and trillion dollar relief funds at American taxpayer expense. Millions of American taxpayers are working making under $30,000 a year, many more are working 2 jobs, such as teachers, just to somewhat survive. The cost of rent, utilities, food, gas, etc., continues to grow except incomes. A basic income of $2000 a month for American taxpayers age 18 and older and $500 a month for children would give a great start in boosting the economy. Once this financial difficulty has lifted, the economy won't take as long to recover.
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    Created by Shante Jenkins
  • Test ALL Ohio Prison Inmates and Essential Staff
    This is important to curve the amount of staff and inmates from contracting the virus. This is important to save lives. The inmates live in close quarters and congregate within close proximity therefore it would be almost impossible to socially distance while incarcerated.
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    Created by Tara Mosley Samples Picture
  • Invoke the 25th Amendment
    The future of our country and American Democracy where reason prevails and there are not supposed to be autocratic dictators (if it's not already too late) is at stake.
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    Created by Jan Mason
  • No more risks!
    It is important because our love ones can get the disease, as we can too. All employees were exposed to this person who came out positive to Covid-19. Employees don't want to bring this disease to our loved ones. Some of these employees have new born or even month old babies and children, who are a high risk group.
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    Created by Rosa Garcia
  • Caregivers need a pay raise
    Caregivers are vital to making sure the population of vulnerable adults, i.e. the elderly and those with special needs, stay safe and healthy. They help those individuals live their best lives and they do it with compassion and skill. They run medical appointments, they do personal care, pass out medication, and are there to support the individuals. The issue is that there are many who choose to not become caregivers because the pay is so low. Caregivers put themselves through a lot to make sure that those who cannot care for themselves get the best care that they can provide. In the past few years many places have been working short staffed and having quite a bit of turnover with what staff they do hire. The main reason is that with all the responsibilities being a caregiver entails, most are being paid barely above minimum wage. Caregivers often put themselves at risk both physically and mentally doing the job that most families cannot. They deserve to be paid a living wage. Right now most caregivers can barely pay their bills with what they make unless they nearly kill themselves working extreme overtime. It isn't right.
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    Created by Erin Krumenacker
  • Keep Hair Stylists Safe
    We all know these are trying times. People haven’t received the government help they were told they would and people are struggling. With that being said, there are a few things we need to take into account before we open these businesses. These are not essential service. No one has ever died or gotten sick from over grown hair, nails, or lack of massage. We currently on the brink of creating a death toll because of getting them. With Georgia being one of the first to open these businesses, they have released a new set of guidelines. Although they are not for every state, being the first, these will no doubt set the Outlines for other states. These guidelines create a wold of problems aside from just the spreading the virus. The PPE for example, who is responsible for providing them? Who is responsible for the added cost? With the shortage of PPE all over the country, where do they even find them? Will these establishments needing them for business are we taking away from the people that need them most? With other parts of these new guidelines we have to take into account the loss of money to businesses. Limiting staff and clients means less money and hours worked per individual. Someone working full time will most likely have to move to part time. With the loss of income and the possible added cost of all the PPE, some businesses may not make enough to cover overhead. The service providers will also be taking a huge loss to their income. Any business or employee that was fortunate enough to receive financial assistance from the government will no longer qualify once the state deems them able to work. Opening too soon, with a loss of income, people could not only be risking exposure but also setting them up for failure with out the safety net of the government help. How many places have had their rent put on hold until they are able to open? How are they supposed to repay that once opened making significantly less income? Let’s talk about the social distancing aspect. All of these services are hands on. There is physically no possible way to do any of these an maintain the state mandated 6 foot distance. Plain and simple. Someone may not be showing symptoms but still be contagious. Someone at their house may be sick. Asking a few questions before starting a service does not guarantee that everyone is safe or even answering truthfully. The only way to guarantee not spreading this is to maintain distance. If the WHO and all medical experts are stating that the best way to avoid spreading and contracting this virus is maintaining a distance of 6, why is there even a discussion about opening businesses that are hands on and again, NON ESSENTIAL? The incubation period of this virus is around two weeks. It is extremely dangerous to be needlessly exposing so many people to potentially life threatening harm. We are asking our government leaders that we hired to do protect us. Please look beyond the immediate issues, and do what is best for your constituents, and keep these businesses closed until there is a safer, more effective way for us to do business. Please keep hair, nail, and massage salons closed until there is longer a social distance guideline in place.
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    Created by Maura Bennet-Martins
  • Hazard pay for truck drivers
    Truck drivers keep the country going; they are putting themselves at risk of contracting Covid-19 each and every day as they continue to do their jobs, delivering food, mail, paper items, cleaning supplies, clothing, along with every other product that keeps America from spiraling into chaos.
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    Created by Kendra Crisler Picture
  • Equitable Access to Rental Housing
    About 78,000 adults have felony convictions in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Local citizens with misdemeanor convictions adds about 195,000 people with records. For someone with a criminal record, a chance to get back on track is more difficult because they are denied a safe place to live before the rental application is completed. It is an established fact that policies ensuring those returning from incarceration have access to reliable and safe housing help reduce recidivism rates. A “Ban the Box” policy that prevents landlords from asking potential renters about their criminal background until it is determined the candidate is qualified to rent will ensure a fair and equitable process for all people applying to rental housing. Full Ordinance Proposal: https://www.dropbox.com/s/15j6a7f3qmtqrnc/FINAL-DRAFT-Equitable Access to Rental Housing Proposal.docx?dl=0
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    Created by Reentry Housing Alliance Picture
  • Pentagram/Satanic symbol on children's online game site. Remove it.
    This inverted Pentagram/satanic symbol is offensive, and has hidden meanings. This is important for those who enjoy playing a safe, stable, family-friendly game, such as Star Stable. Although designed for girls, many other adults, and youth, find it fun to visit, and play, on this site. It helps to foster many fine traits, such as kindness to animals, group cooperation, and enjoyment of natural surroundings. Here is a recent remark on this game site: “Star Stable is one of my favorite games of all time, and is definitely worth a play. There's something to offer for all ages and the continuous new content keeps you engaged. If your child is under twelve, monitor them, but this game is safe for young children as well.” Parent reviews for Star Stable | Common Sense Media www.commonsensemedia.org › star-stable › user-reviews › adult
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    Created by Jennifer Lenz