• Allocate The 18.5 Million Abandoned Properties to Initiate "An En Masse Homesteading Movement"
    Many people who cannot afford it -- more than anything else -- simply want a place where they can grow organic food and homestead their own property -- to have a place where they can be part of the solution and not have to cause environmental degradation by the way they are living. Rather than having over 18 million houses either rot OR simply be purchased and rented out or sold back to the American people, let's get right to the solutions-- making sure people have food and housing and control over their own lives and destinies. Statistics: *** There are approximately 3.5 million homeless people.[1] *** Approximately 50,000 veterans are homeless[2], and about ~1.4 million veterans considered "at risk of homelessness" due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.[3] *** Since 2007, banks have foreclosed around eight million homes. *** There are 18.5 million abandoned properties just "sitting there" throughout towns and cities of all sizes. 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are struggling to live on low incomes. *** The National Economic and Social Rights Initiative along with Amnesty International are asking the U.S. to step up its efforts to address the foreclosure crisis, including by giving serious consideration to the growing call for a foreclosure moratorium and other forms of relief for those at risk, and establishing a housing finance system that fulfills human rights obligations.[4] How "The Homestead Subsidization Act" Will Help People Domestically And Abroad: *** Immediately end homelessness with houses to spare. To create independence for people rather than dependence. *** Greatly reduce peoples' grocery bills. *** Greatly reduce the incessant filling of landfills AND the filling of oceans with plastic waste because "gardens aren't wrapped in garbage". *** Greatly reduce humanity's carbon footprint (less hauling of food great distances, reduce dependence on resource-intensive animal agriculture, and so on). *** Greatly reduce peoples' dependence upon food stamps (aka SNAP or EBT), thus saving tax dollars. *** Help create a healthy and ecologically sustainable food supply to help replace the GMO and animal agriculture-based food supply we currently have in place, thus creating a healthier Citizenry. *** To create a diverse organic agricultural economy with unique micro-economies. *** Alleviate strain on communities trying to keep up with poverty in their areas. *** Relieves people from what will become unnecessary excess labor: trucking and other forms of commercial hauling, garbage collecting and waste management, and so on) in a way which is "more beneficial to all people than the current paradigm is to anyone". [1]: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html [2]: National Alliance to End Homelessness. The State of Homelessness in America. 2015: http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/fact-sheet-veteran-homelessness [3]: National Coalition of Homeless Veterans: http://nchv.org/index.php/news/media/background_and_statistics/ National Economic and Social Rights Initiative Home Page: https://www.nesri.org/ Amnesty International Home Page: https://www.amnesty.org/en/ [4]: Article by The Mind Unleashed, “18,600,000 vacant homes in the United States. Enough for every homeless person to have six!”: http://themindunleashed.org/2014/02/18600000-vacant-homes-united-states-enough-every-homeless-person-six.html
    49 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Alexandra Distance Marie Wilson
  • No More Flints! Demand Safe Drinking Water for All!
    Access to safe drinking water is a human right. The people of Flint, Michigan have been denied that right. And too many other communities across the country have aging water pipes and not enough resources to fix problems with their water systems. Many of our nation’s water systems are over 100 years old — and the EPA estimates that each year we are falling $22 billion short of what is needed to upgrade them. Without increased federal support for community water systems, more communities will be in crisis -- and Flint's crisis shows just how much is at stake. We can fix this by supporting legislation like HR 4479, the Families of Flint Act, that would provide grants to fix the infrastructure in Flint to ensure that lead and other contaminants that pose a threat to public health and the environment are no longer present in the drinking water. The bill would also provide the Flint community with health services to identify and help children with lead poisoning. We also need legislation to provide mandatory, long-term, dedicated funding to ensure access to safe, affordable, public water for all communities across the country.
    2 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Sarah Alexander Picture
  • Remove Poles in Larkspur at Magnolia Ave and Ward St
    [UPDATE: ON MARCH 2, 2016, THE LARKSPUR CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED REMOVING THE POLES AT MAGNOLIA AND WARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!] The installation of the poles seems to have bypassed the extraordinary scrutiny of the Planning Commission. According to City Manager Dan Schwartz’s comments in a recent article in the Marin IJ, “The poles were considered a utility project, which didn’t require the same treatment as a remodel or upkeep of architecture.” The fact that the city considered the poles, designed to allow the City of Larkspur sell advertising to non-profit groups, to be a “utility” is a gross misinterpretation of the word. It seems clear that the installation of the poles should have gone through the planning commission and been subject to Larkspur Municipal Code Section 18.41.120, Design Review and Heritage Preservation Board Review, SD Storefront Downtown Regulations that states: All proposed new structures, additions and other modifications to the exterior of a building shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 18.64 LMC, Design Review, and for those parcels in the combining heritage preservation district, review and recommendation by the Heritage Preservation Board, per Chapter 18.19 LMC. (Ord. 933 § 3, 2004; Ord. 929 § 38, 2004; Ord. 841 § 1 (part), 1993). Furthermore, according to Larkspur Municipal Code Section 18.60.060 F, Signs, Permitted Identification Signs for Places of Business: The maximum height of freestanding signs shall be ten feet measured from finish grade elevation at the sign base to the uppermost part of the sign or supporting structure. The existing poles stand 25 feet high, 15 feet higher than is allowed for such a sign. Add your name to have these poles removed.
    57 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Keao Caindec
  • Put a stop to harassment through ACS
    ACS needs to reevaluate the way they do things... It is sickening that reports can be made anonymously and exes or anyone that wants to spite you are able to continuously file report after report... When does it end? ACS should at least know who is making the report each time, and if seeing a pattern, especially year after year of the same nonsense and all unfounded reports, they should not continue to harass, investigate, and interrogate the parent/s... It's beyond unfair and a change needs to be made...
    109 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Lorraine N
  • Snow Lake Shores, MS Utilities
    We are being charged ridiculous amounts on our utility bills.
    40 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Bobbie
  • Support the installation of an outdoor exercise gym in Rainier Beach
    Rainier Beach Community Club submitted a proposal for funding from the Neighborhood Parks and Street Fund, which has advanced to the second round in the selection process. To demonstrate community enthusiasm for this project, Rainier Beach residents need to demonstrate to the City of Seattle their interest and commitment for occasional and regular use of the outdoor exercise gym. Please sign this petition and show your support on Monday, March 21, 2016 (6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S Holly St, Seattle, WA 98118. A sub-committee of the Southeast District Council will be reviewing each of the eleven applications. We will give a 5 minute presentation of our proposal and testimony from supporters will be heard.
    92 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Joyce Greenberg
  • Tell WMATA's Board of Directors: Don't Put MetroAccess Services in Jeopardy
    The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority provides safe, quality public paratransit through MetroAccess so that everyone can get where they need to go, like work, the doctor’s office or just to run errands. The staff is friendly and well-trained and the vehicle fleet is adequately equipped to provide a high level of service to persons with disabilities. But now, WMATA is considering contracting with companies like Uber and Lyft to provide these services to communities in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. This is concerning because neither company ensures drivers have adequate access for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. This partnership also may lead to the creation of a system that will segregate passengers into those with mobility challenges and those without—leading to a lower class of service for wheelchair users. The working conditions and regulation of Uber and Lyft also bring into question if they are the right fit to provide public transportation services. We applaud WMATA for making efforts to give passengers quality transportation options. Now, it’s up to us as riders to make sure the solutions it implements will work for all passengers, prioritize safety and promote good working conditions and decent wages.
    39 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Nadia Ibrahim, Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2016
  • Urgent action needed for our drinking water
    Flint, may have opened our eyes, but the problem goes well beyond one city in the Midwest. Our aging and corroded water infrastructure throughout America is failing at an alarming rate.[1] And the stakes couldn’t be higher: the very water we drink. Thankfully, a bill was just introduced that would go a long way toward fixing this problem.[2] Take action now, and let’s convince our senators to support much-needed upgrades for America’s drinking water. 1. "Drinking water systems imperiled by failing infrastructure," Associated Press, Sept. 26, 2015, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5e1a4c0c661f4c6cb94d3b6b71e4a337/drinking-water-systems-imperiled-failing-infrastructure. 2. "Cardin bill would more than triple funds available to states for crumbling and polluted water infrastructure," Sen. Ben Cardin press release, Feb. 11, 2016, http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-bill-would-more-than-triple-funds-available-to-states-for-fixing-crumbling-and-polluted-water-infrastructure.
    472 of 500 Signatures
    Created by Margie Alt, Environment America Executive Director
  • Hear the Voices of the Homeless : Visit Tent City in Uptown
    In a recent interview, Laura, homeless resident of Tent City, begs Rahm Emanuel to hear the voices of the homeless. Laura wants help for the homeless with housing, food, and employment. There are human beings, citizens of America, who are not being helped and are freezing cold. The deadline is as soon as possible considering this a pressing issue.
    73 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Danielle Coleman
  • Congressman Schrader: Your Constituents Don't Want a 3rd Bridge in Salem
    On February 17th, at a Community Leaders Roundtable, Salem Mayor Anna Peterson requested Congressman Kurt Schrader's help with getting approvals and funding for a 3rd Bridge across the Willamette in Salem. We need to send our Congressman a message: Mayor Peterson does not speak for us. We oppose a 3rd Bridge, and we don't want or need the Congressman's help to perpetuate this expensive boondoggle.
    107 of 200 Signatures
    Created by NO 3rd Bridge
  • Paul J. Wiedefeld: Fix NextBus for J4 Westbound Service
    I commute from Silver Spring to College Park several days per week. Additionally, several friends and colleagues rely on the J4 to get from Silver Spring or points further east to Bethesda for work. Bus commutes can be challenging, and the NextBus service makes it much more feasible, especially in cold or treacherous weather and for persons with health conditions exacerbated by long periods waiting outside.
    11 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Laura Place
  • Bloom Township: Save St. James Hospital
    We, the undersigned residents of Bloom Township, oppose the approval of the certificate of need application requesting an expansion of the St. James-Olympia Fields Hospital until provisions are made to retain emergency room services and 24 hour access to care for the needy at the St. James-Chicago Heights Hospital campus.
    513 of 600 Signatures
    Created by Leticia Gonzalez