~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MARCH 2016~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you so much for all of your support! Our mission is to spread awareness against classism on campus by emphasizing the student need for this pantry -- as many other liberal arts campuses have free food initiatives and closed systems with food "waste" -- we should have this included in our structure as we promote ourselves as a campus that is accessible to many types of students. Although it is too early to declare victory, and we will continuously work on sensitively spreading awareness about the initiative and marginalized narratives related to food insecurity. We have gained institutional support and revved up the process, and expect to have the pantry set up as soon as right after Spring Break. Today we will have a meeting with some people who manage food on campus (the SUB, Diversions, and the Cellar) and tomorrow will be working in the space that we are most likely to use to help ensure that we can use it. At the same time, we're working on finding plans B and C etc. for space in case there are more roadblocks. Please read about the pantry in the newest issue of the Trail and stay tuned for more updates about the project, where to find it, and when it will be open. Keep checking the UPS Garden facebook page for updates too! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FEBRUARY 2016~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We, the UPS garden and allies, want to localize our campus's food salvage programs, which donate the diner's leftover food to food banks in Tacoma, as well as give out produce from the garden to the public for free in a more systematic and accessible way. Please sign this petition so we can show the institution that this initiative represents the beliefs of the student body. There are hungry members of our community, students and non-students, who need free food. When we've given DCS the garden's produce, they have re-sold it to students. The garden is open to the public all the time, but we need to strengthen our initiative for free food -- which shouldn't be in opposition to the university, but right now seems to be. Last semester at the student market we raised about $60 in hopes of simultaneously being able to get institutional support for a food pantry on campus. We are no longer searching for institutional support to initiate the mission but rather want to go ahead as soon as possible. If this is not an effective way to implement change in the institution's mind, it can, at least, help us defend ourselves once we get the food pantry started either way (hopefully soon -- this will be by word of mouth as to protect the resource for now). Spread this petition -- we are ready to set everything up and want to give out more free food in a more efficient way ASAP.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning to spend $3.3 billion taxpayer dollars to add express toll lanes to I-275, I-75 and I-4 in an effort to reduce congestion. But FDOT has acknowledged that the express lanes alone won’t solve congestion and will significantly increase traffic. The surrounding community is also fiercely opposed to the project as it would result in demolishing historic homes, businesses, community centers and parks. At a time when we are strapped for transportation cash, our existing roads and bridges are crumbling and transportation trends are changing, we must reorient transportation funding away from wasteful highway expansions and toward the repair of existing roads and bridges. At the same time, we must make critical investments in other transportation options, such as transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects, to meet Florida's current and future transportation needs. Tell Governor Scott to halt this wasteful highway boondoggle. Add your name.

Governor Malloy has proposed spending $11.2 billion taxpayer dollars to expand I-95 across the state. While he has said the project will reduce congestion, official studies dating back to 2002 explicitly recommend against widening the highway saying it will “make congestion worse, extend traffic delays and increase pollution.” Those studies also offered 150 other solutions to address congestion. At a time when our state is strapped for transportation cash, our existing roads and bridges are crumbling, and transportation trends are changing, we must reorient transportation funding away from wasteful highway expansions and toward the repair of existing roads and bridges. At the same time, we must make critical investments in other transportation options, such as transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects to meet current and future needs. In order to halt this wasteful boondoggle, add your name.

On January 1, 2016 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as the SNAP/EBT program, has changed its eligibility requirements. Such criteria changes will effect those who are 18-49, homeless, underemployed, unemployed for extended amounts of time, and citizens who are pending disability. These new changes will allow very few citizens to receive SNAP benefits for a period of 3 months in a 3 years. The new criteria is biased and does not fix the problem but only worsens it. Mothers who receive SNAP are not subjected to the new special work requirements. Please visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/able-bodied-adults-without-dependents-abawds Please support this petition; we need to be the voice for the voiceless!

On January 1, 2016 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as the SNAP/EBT program, has changed its eligibility requirements. Such criteria changes will effect those who are 18-49, homeless, underemployed, unemployed for extended amounts of time, and citizens who are pending disability. These new changes will allow very few citizens to receive SNAP benefits for a period of 3 months in a 3 years. The new criteria is biased and does not fix the problem but only worsens it. Mothers who receive SNAP are not subjected to the new special work requirements. Please visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/able-bodied-adults-without-dependents-abawds Please support this petition, we need to be the voice for the voiceless!

The closure of White Oak River Road for nine months will affect the residents in ways such as extra hazardous travel, high traffic areas, and safety issues. The residents need a road to bypass construction during the closure time through Onslow County, where our tax dollars go.

Many low income families are targeted by the Department of children and Familie's case workers, being bullied with threats of removing children from their homes I agree there's certain circumstances where children are in a dangerous situation However some removals can be avoided. Recently a nurse at a local hospital became engaged in a confrontation with a patient's Family member, being vindictive the patient said the nurse contacted the department of children and Families and filed a complaint,the family has since continued to be harassed by the DCF's Case Workers.

To halt any proposed trash and recycling programs that prohibits unlimited trash and recycling in the City of Methuen.

This building was part of President Roosevelt's New Deal and was built out of the Work Project Act (WPA), using government money for the Community of Costilla. The purpose of the WPA was to put people back to work to get them out of the Great Depression. This building was property of the Community, how the school district ended up with ownership is up for question. It was built around 1941 or 42. The first class to start in this building was in 1943 starting from the 7th grade. We are asking the School Board to stop the demolition of this Historical Building until past and present members of the community can look into funding mechanisms so that we can renovate the building for the use of the Community.

Spokane City is considering allowing zoning changes which would allow developers to build more apartment complexes in Indian Trail without making substantial traffic flow and road changes. Multifamily development has greatly increased traffic congestion on the single lane road, and compromised the safety of children and other pedestrians.

As a mother of a 30 year old autistic son, I see first hand the limitations of housing for autistic adults. The number of people diagnosed with autism continues to climb, but the number of services have not. What is going to happen to these individuals as they age while their elderly parents are no longer able to care for them? As a state, we need to pass legislation to provide housing for this special population.

The bill passed by the GOP majority to cut social security disability by 19%, effective the end of 2016. This could in fact make me homeless, yes I am affected by this ruling. That is a massive cut.