Do you commute through Shady Grove Metro Station? Have you experienced its crowded -- and dangerous -- trains and platforms during rush hours? Do you ask yourself how you could advocate for positive change to this important public resource? Here's your opportunity! Sign this petition to let your elected state and county representatives know that you want them to seek and secure the necessary funding to improve the infrastructure of Shady Grove Metro Station, based on the September 2015 capacity study completed by WMATA (http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/Shady_Grove_Final_Report_09-25-2015_with_Appendices.pdf), the Shady Grove Sector plan, (http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/shadygrove/), and the overall growth in Montgomery County and surrounding areas. Improving the infrastructure of Shady Grove Station will improve public safety, security, and smart growth.

The New York Times reports that Republicans in Congress are nearing a budget deal with the White House that could include cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Three years ago, the national conversation was about cuts. Together, we changed that. Now, expanding benefits for millions of Americans is the mainstream Democratic position. Democratic presidential candidates have called for expanding Social Security benefits. 42 of 44 Senate Democrats voted for the Warren-Manchin resolution that called for expanding Social Security benefits. And a national poll by the Progressive Change Institute shows expanding Social Security benefits is popular among 2016 70% to 15%. The President and Congress must see that any deal that cuts Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits would be unacceptable policy -- and would be wildly unpopular with voters. We will share this petition with them to make sure they do.

We are hearing reports that Congress is rushing towards a deal that will prevent the U.S. Government from defaulting on the debt ceiling and keep the government funded through the 2016 elections. But, if The New York Times is correct, there could be cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits in the deal. We don't know all of the details yet, but people who rely on Social Security are already stretched thin, and just found out that they won't receive an annual increase this year. We need to make our voices heard to keep cuts out of any potential deal: No cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits!

We need Council to support increased funding for affordable housing. At the October 27, 2015 Council meeting the City Council will vote on several measures that will help kick start the development of new affordable housing. Please sign the petition requesting funding NOW! For more information: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2015/10_Oct/City_Council__10-27-2015_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

Many seniors do not receive enough Social Security benefits to cover basic food and rental costs. With increases in Medicare and no cost-of-living raise (COLA) in 2016, the amount of monthly SS benefits does not remain the same but is actually lowered! Why should seniors pay for the extravagant national debt and be deprived of basic commodities? The Obama administration is the only presidency in which seniors did not receive a COLA not once but three times — 2010, 2011 and 2016. The only recourse for 2016 is an Executive Order to give seniors a COLA that will offset rising Medicare hikes since Congress has failed to act on the issue of Social Security. President Obama is a lame duck President and could help to reverse this unfortunate policy that does not give seniors even a small basic COLA to offset soaring Medicare costs by applying pressure to Congress, and demanding they stop dragging their feet and issue funding for the COLA in 2016? Please right this wrong and expand instead of cutting Social Security benefits to seniors. Thanks! For more information: No Social Security Raises Even if Medicare Soars - NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/16/us/politics/medicare-premiums-social-security-cost-of-living.html?_r=0 Social Security is screwing over America’s elderly - NYPost: http://nypost.com/2015/10/17/social-security-is-screwing-over-americas-elderly/.

I have always loved playing hockey on the lakes in the winter and I love playing at the Ice House in Fort Wayne but it is far and expensive to drive there. I hope someday my children enjoy the opportunity to play hockey or figure skate. I believe the rink would be a huge asset for the County and the people in it. I have a passion for Hockey and winter sports but no means to begin a start up. I hope this petition can inspire others to contribute to bettering the County.

Neighbors and I are getting sick and uncleanliness is a health concern.

Some people on Disability do not drive, so we see no benefit from "lower gas prices" and we are tired of being the punching bags of the GOP, when we have real challenges just to survive!

Most of the US citizens are affected by this. I am a 56 yr old worker who is once again losing a job to corporate greed after 25 yrs of service. I work for a fortune 500 company who is moving South where they can pay workers 8.00 an hour part time and not pay benefits. I have no choice but to take early retirement to keep insurance on myself, husband, and 2 grandchildren. In doing so, I am losing 28 percent of my retirement and will have to take a lower paying job. I am very afraid that the reckless borrowing of social security is endangering the ability to provide for my family in the near future. If it is not there, many elderly will starve and go without much needed medication. This is not meant to be used as tax money. We worked and paid in to it to insure the ability to provide for us and our family in old age or disability. PERIOD!

My brother just passed away over a 15 year battle at the age of 34 on September 5, 2015 because of addiction. I can't take it any more. I want to look into raising money or talking to the Mayor or state rep about opening a place like a rehabilitation center that can help these people. The rehabilitation centers out there are full--no beds available--and I'm sick of hearing that they'll only take you if you have insurance and keep you for only 7 days, maybe a month maximum. That's a disgrace. People are dying because of being turned away. I would love to work at a rehabilitation center and help these people in honor of my brother open one in the Bridgewater, MA area. I'll run it if I have to. I have a degree in the medical field.

The cost of living has increased while the social security benefit has shrunk relative to expenses and lost retirement. Seniors cannot pay a mortgage, student loans, buy food, or pay property taxes. Most people are dead or have health problems by age 66 or 67. Job demands are ridiculous now and extremely hard on the older workers. People deserve to enjoy a portion of their lives and be able to have a life-sustaining amount of money coming in after it has been paid into for a lifetime.

"Syria’s civil war is the worst humanitarian disaster of our time. The number of innocent civilians suffering — more than 11 million people are displaced, thus far — and the increasingly dire impact on neighboring countries can seem too overwhelming to understand." [1] Mayor Murray, will you stand with 18 other mayors around the country, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and the mayors of Los Angeles and Chicago? Please encourage the President to allow more refugees into the country and please pledge to take in these refugees to Seattle. [1] http://www.mercycorps.org/articles/turkey-iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis