By allowing workers to stay home without fear of being unable to make rent and allowing people to buy health insurance, EVERYONE will be better off as it will help slow the spread of the virus. Also, if more people get health insurance, the insurance pool will be bigger, and presumably younger people who opted not to get insurance will be motivated to get covered.

Nationwide, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, “gender disparity on supreme courts is particularly severe for women of color". There are no African American women on the Supreme Court of the United States and only 14 on the state supreme courts across our nation African American women are needed to broaden the perspectives of our Supreme Courts during judicial decision making, which is critically needed to expand justice for all.

I am a community activist within the Talladega Community. I have been communicating with parents and those who are concerned about our school system, but because for the last 3 months the Talladega Board of Education has displayed lack of leadership. They have been the topic in the local new paper, The Daily Home. We have parents that attended board meetings expressing their concerns about The Talladega Board and the Superintendent being accused of "racism". Nevertheless, we now have a parent who has a taping of the superintendent talking about black teachers and members of the Talladega School System Board.

“There are two animals that walk the earth that don’t swim by instinct, and therefore must be taught; Chimpanzees and Humans” (Bonnie Tsui, 2020 “Why We Swim”) “Swimming is Unlike any other Subject; It is a Life-Saving Skill” Drownings are the number one killer of children under age 5. Worse, for every drowning victim, there are four near-drownings. That is, when someone has been deprived of oxygen for a sufficient amount of time to cause brain damage. Drowning is preventable with swimming lessons and water safety instruction and safer places to swim. Studies have shown that when a community has a public pool, drownings decrease. Swimming used to be as popular as going to the movies; there were huge magnificent municipal pools in many places. They had the Fleishecker Pool and Sutro Baths in San Francisco. The Fleishecker could accommodate 10,000 swimmers and had sandy beaches and lifeguards in rowboats. The tilework and statues were beautiful--museum quality. According to Jeff Wiltse, (Contested Waters--The Social History of Swimming Pools in America, 2007) these fancy municipal pools were for whites only; the black communities had more austere pools--but swimming was popular in both places and lessons were free. In 1947 when the Jim Crow laws expired, blacks could then go to the fancy pools. So many of the plain pools closed when blacks could go to the fancy pools, but they found themselves sometimes unwelcome and whites generally stayed away. Little by little the fabulous municipal pools shuttered. This was when people of means built backyard pools and started private clubs. Swimming stayed popular with anyone lucky enough to have access to a pool. Unfortunately, people that didn’t swim didn't prioritize teaching their children to swim and now we are on the third generation of some non swimmers--and it is really a class issue. But it plays out racially. In 2014 The Center for Disease Control (CDC) did their first ever report on the racial disparity in drownings. The results are alarming. People of color drown at much higher rates than whites. Latinos, Asians, and Blacks drown significantly more often than others.  Swimming pools are expensive to build and maintain, so unless people ask for one, they don’t get built and maintained. In Sacramento, CA where the average July temperature is 94 F, there are few inner city public pools, yet the suburbs are still building them.  Roseville built their aquapark in 1995, and they have two other municipal pools (67%white community).  North Natomas built a $43 million aqua park in 2019 -- 70% white neighborhood.  Elk Grove (45% white and 29% Asian) has three Aqua parks,   Davis has eight municipal pools and is building a $13.6 million aquatic center for 2023.  Because of the lack of access to municipal pools and swimming lessons, there is a huge racial disparity in accidental drownings. An 11 y/o black child is now 10X more likely to drown than a white. Swimming is unlike any other sport; it is a life-saving skill.

Hi, I am a 73 year old retired, disabled, veteran who lives on Social Security and if you haven't guessed already, I live in an Affordable Housing Project owned by the County of Kauai. I have done everything requested of me from the first notice of violation as I cherish my home and can't afford to lose it. I requested a Grievance Hearing with the local Public Housing Authority (PHA - HCV Program) for my Section 8 housing. The Federal Register lists The Kauai County Housing Agency as the local PHA. The hearing was approved and I waited for a date and time. Then it was canceled saying that I had done nothing wrong within the program to warrant a hearing. I was referred to the Agency of Elderly Affairs who referred me to the Legal Aid Society. After providing everything asked for I was told it was believed I had a case and awaited an appointment with the managing director. Then I was told that the managing director was leaving to accept another job and the only other lawyer in the office doesn't believe these types of cases are winnable because the County makes out the contracts as month to month rentals rather than the HUD mandated year to year lease and you can't introduce the federal law in court because the HUD mandated Tenancy Addendum is not attached to your contract. Therefore HRS 521-71 applies, that basically says management can evict a tenant for no reason. A few days later I got a call from the legal assistant who was originally helping me, saying she had forwarded all my paperwork to a lawyer in Honolulu who specializes in this type of case. After spending several hours telling him the details, he kept saying that I wasn't giving him anything to work with. In his words it always ends in a he said she said even with witnesses or so called proof where the judge couldn't decide the truth, until I mentioned management cheating on the House Rules. The next day I got a call telling me that after an hour on the phone with EAH Housings lawyer he had convinced him that management could not win this case in court. Now I'm a bit vague as to what happened next even though I asked questions, but the next thing that happened was the new best way out was a Mutual Termination Agreement sent by EAH Housing's lawyer. When I asked what happened I was told, we work in teams using local lawyers, we do not have the budget to island hop for court appearances. All the members of the team must agree on a course of action. The only thing that makes sense here is the local lawyer refused to litigate the case in court. I read the agreement and refused to sign it because of all the illegal things it contained. We then spent time rewording the agreement and sending it back. Basically they were to dismiss the case and I must move in 60 days. The next hearing was on Aug 19 and the local lawyer presented the agreement to the judge. EAH Housing's lawyer was a no show and the judge refused to dismiss the case. He asked for a stipulation from EAH Housing's lawyer to dismiss. I knew at this point they were not going to live up to their agreement. I was assured that this would not happen until the time ran out on Oct 31, 2019 and it did not happen. I didn't move because they broke the agreement the day they were a no show in court. Next I get a summons to appear because they were suing me for breaking the agreement. That summons broke the state law for not giving me time to prepare. So the next summons was dated Dec 2, 2019 the same day they dismissed the original case. EHA Housing's lawyer flew in from Honolulu specifically for this hearing. The judge puts us in mediation because I do not have representation. EAH Housing's lawyer proceeds to tell me I can not win this case and he is very good at what he does. If we do not reach an agreement you will lose your HCV (Section 8 voucher) for five years and become homeless. I'm EMR Sensitive and the first problem I have in Lihue because of all the cell towers and free Wi-Fi is organizing my thoughts. Doctors do not recognize this problem yet. While the mediator was asking good questions he could not see a good end result for me. The fair housing Act gives up to 60 days for disabled people and I caved to that. The agreement was signed and the judge agreed. I have all along been looking for a place to live, desperately wanting to get away from this manager. Affordable Housing directly from the state or HUD (through the Hawaii Housing Agency) is 3 years out after you fill out the paperwork and approved you are put on a waiting list. Looking for other affordable housing, the waiting lists are not open and there are no vacancies. Looking on the retail rental market, no one accepts the HCV Program. So on Jan 31, 2020 at 4PM I will become homeless. The cost of moving into storage and out of storage and the deposit and my portion of the first month rent will put me in debt. I had a blowout on the way to a doctor's appointment and while I could get the spare out of the trunk I could no longer change the tire. I passed out on the front seat of the car and a kind woman stopped to help and found me. This made me realize that my desire to move out wade my physical ability to move. So I am here asking for help. If you think this was a long story you should hear the long version. If you agree this is wrong on multiple levels please sign my petition. Or better yet call (808) 241-4440 and ask to speak with Steven Franco and express the fact that management broke the house rules when getting a lawyer to serve a 45 day notice. When I was a kid this was called cheating, but she is also a habitual liar. This is why she hates me because I call her out. I'm not the only one here. According to the chair of Health and Human Services for the County she has had at least 4 complaints against her. She evicts people because their kids are out playing without supervision and making too much noise.

Help three Bellingham High School juniors raise awareness and bring about a change in the ineffective and unethical American prison system.

My neighbors and I regularly experience loss of property (and safety) due to reckless speeding on a long straightaway up the 5500 block of Redwood St. I have lost my parked car to speeding drivers twice in the last 5 years, representing a significant financial challenge. In that time my neighbors have lost vehicles, there have been multiple accidents, a retaining wall was smashed, and a power pole has been struck twice. These accidents are limited to incidents I have personally observed on the 5500 block alone, but our neighborhood has many more stories. There is an elementary school at the top of the block, and many in-home daycare businesses in the area. Please help keep our lives and our property safe by installing traffic calming measures on Redwood St., including speed bumps, extra stop signs, and bolder traffic signs.

TD Bank has been in the Bay Area for years. They have supported local nonprofit organizations with help in collecting donations for our neighborhood children and more. The residence has a place to deposit their incomes directly. Major banks have been closing in our local areas and have left an empty building in its place. We need to continue to support one another by keeping local businesses open in the neighborhood.

Many people in my neighborhood have dogs and would love a dog park closer. There is so much room at Olathe Lake.

To the members of the Nyack Village Hall: I am writing on behalf of continuous speeding issues happening on Gedney Street, as well as main St, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Street leading down to Gedney Street. I myself had a specific incident recently when a car came very close to hitting my dog and me while speeding down Fourth Avenue. I am pleased to see that new 25 mph signs were put up on Gedney, but the real truth is no one who is a reckless driver is going to pay attention to these signs. I am proposing that speed bumps be considered, as well as other helpful speed slowing techniques, such as narrowing Gedney Street and giving us the sidewalk we so desperately need, crossing lanes ( like the ones on Main St) and putting up electrical police signs that monitors speed on these roads. I have spoken to other neighbors who agree that the reckless driving in this area is getting out of hand. And with so few sidewalks, it makes it much more dangerous to walk on the road. I wanted to make this proposal to you with the hopes that the village will pay closer attention to what is happening in our community and make it safer for everyone. I am hoping to provide you with signatures from my neighbors to show unison around the changes we need. I am hoping my neighbors and I can advocate and participate to make the same changes possible. Again, thank you for your time and consideration on this important issue. I think we all want Nyack to remain a vibrant and safe place to reside. Sincerely, Erica Sobel and neighbors of Nyack ____________________________

A plan for a dog run next to the playground at the north end of Blackwell park is being pushed through without feedback from the community. Many parents are concerned that children actively playing around dogs poses a serious safety hazard. Furthermore, many children have dog phobias and their emotional, as well as physical safety, should count for something.

This petition is important so that the NYC agencies and all those involved, keep their promises made to the communities they represent, especially when the funding was to enhance the community well being.