• Minnesota: Don't Send Cops to #NoDAPL Protest at Standing Rock
    According to the ACLU Minnesota has deployed over 40 law enforcement personnel to Standing Rock. According to MN Governor Dayton, this is in compliance with a compact between states in the case of a "state of emergency". However, this is not a "state of emergency". When police moved in with tanks and riot gear, using sound cannons, pepper spray, mace, rubber bullets and water cannons, this became a militaristic style police action in support of big corporate oil (Energy Transfer Equity) and against the peaceful protestation of the people of Standing Rock who are standing in protection of their treaty, sacred land and water rights (the Water protectors). (Hundreds of Native American protectors have gathered at the site since April to protest the pipeline’s construction on land they claim is tribal under the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie.) Tax funded Minnesota state resources: including Sheriff, Police, Fire and Equipment, should not be used to support a privately owned pipeline nor to oppress an indigenous people. This is one of the poorest counties in our nation, and they are being taken advantage of in leu of putting the pipeline near the community of Bismarck where it was originally planned.
    172 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Sherri Mann
  • Investigate Birmingham City Corruption
    Birmingham has had a large growth in construction in recent years, allegations of corruption tied to construction and Mayor Bell's brother is concerning in light of what kind of city we want to be and who benefits from revitalization.
    135 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Juliet Easlick
  • STOP THE RECOUNT! We Trust Our Voting System...
    AS A Registered Voter I am tired of People Speaking For Me And Telling Me That I don't Trust That My Vote Didn't COUNT When It DID. Tired Of The BS That The Other Candidates Like Jill Stein and Hillary Clinton Are Imposing Their Will On US Americans! WE HAVE SPOKEN ALREADY! STOP TRAMPLING ON OUR VOTING RIGHTS AND TELLING US WHO TO VOTE FOR~
    10 of 100 Signatures
    Created by S.C. Fukui
  • Stop daylight savings time.
    I'm so tired of the change for no reason.
    14 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Beth Wildermann
  • New Vacation Rental Ordinance for Palm Springs Needs Further Changes
    The Palm Springs Vacation Rental Subcommittee (consisting of Councilmembers JR Roberts and Geoff Kors) has completed the draft ordinance changes and will be presenting the proposal to the rest of the City Council this Wednesday, November 30th, 2016 at 5:00pm at the Palm Springs City Hall, Council Chambers. Please attend this important meeting if possible. There are MANY changes being proposed, and I advise all parties to review the document link at the bottom of this petition. After reading the lengthy list of new suggested changes, if you disagree, I suggest you sign the petition to let the City Council know you are dissatisfied. Some of the more controversial changes include (but are not limited to): - Limit the number of contracts to 28 per year. - Non owner occupancy is considered a contract, even if no monetary compensation occurs (i.e. friends and family using a vacation rental will count against the 28 maximum contracts per year). - Only 1 financial interest in a vacation rental allowed per natural person, or trust of a natural person (i.e. only one vacation rental allowed per natural person or trust). - No corporate ownership interest allowed. - EXISTING owners who own multiple vacation rentals and/or corporate owners will only be allowed a 4 year period, to Jan. 1, 2021, to terminate use as a vacation rental (i.e. the grandfathering clause has been given an expiration date!). - Maximum of 2 occupants per bedroom, up to a maximum of 8 occupants per vacation rental. It appears the "plus 2" provision for couches will be eliminated. - 1 car per bedroom, up to a maximum of 4 cars per vacation rental. - Annual building and safety inspections upon renewal of permit. - Increase in annual fees from $234/year to $900/year. The city plans on the formation of a Vacation Rental Enforcement Department, which will have a budget of approximately $1,700,000/year. This will be paid for by the increase in the annual fees noted above. A list of applicable fines is also included in the 48 page document. Additional specific enforcement changes are likely. *I encourage everyone to read the ordinance changes themselves, at the link provided below. My interpretation of these proposals may inadvertently differ.** It is unlikely the City Council will end up with an ordinance change that pleases the entire community. There is rare consensus on this topic as it relates to improved enforcement methods to help reduce noise and associated complaints. Most appreciate the extensive efforts to examine this topic and search for long overdue improvements for families and neighbors negatively impacted. However, many of the provisions included in this draft could be changed in order to reduce the economic and socio-economic threats that will likely accompany this change in policy. Also, many in the community have expressed serious concern that a third party economic impact study, which was shared with members of the City Council during the public comments portion of the recent study session, is not being considered. This economic impact report is set to be completed in December, and yet the City Council is electing to move forward with a potential vote without examining the last but very important aspect of this issue - the economic risks to residents and businesses associated with this possible decision. Contractors, landscapers, housekeepers, pool maintenance persons and many others will see their work levels diminish, yet the city has not provided any documentation of the proposed effects of this ordinance change. Analysis has also not been shared that estimates the short term and long term consequences on the real estate values as a result of increased inventory of sellers choosing to leave the market. Many feel such a study would be the responsible way to wrap up several months of hard work that the Vacation Rental Subcommittee has dedicated to this topic. Lastly, the city appears to be sending mixed messages on its course for the future. Ten "Vacation Rental Objectives" were created the past several months, in which the Subcommittee attempted to vet many of the possible changes through. However, what is the "Mission Statement" or list of objectives for the future of Palm Springs? How do the proposed vacation rental changes match with the long term vision and goals for the city? Does the city have one? The city has succeeded in attracting visitors through the fantastic efforts of events such as Modernism Week. However, how does this change in policy affect our overall brand? Has the Subcommittee examined any studies into how many people visit Palm Springs for the sole reason they can stay in a mid century modern home? Many questions remain, and further research efforts should be made before drastic changes are enacted. Here is the link to the 48 page document/ordinance change created by the city: http://ci.palm-springs.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=48863 If you feel compelled, you can email the City Councilmembers with your specific concerns or suggestions. It is suggested you do so well before the Wednesday night meeting, to give them a chance to read your correspondence: Mayor Robert Moon [email protected] Councilmember JR Roberts [email protected] Councilmember Geoff Kors [email protected] Councilmember Ginny Foat [email protected] City Clerk James Thompson [email protected] Regards, Brian Wilson
    1,791 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Brian Wilson
  • Make our Middle Schools Safe
    We, the parents and residents of Longmeadow, MA, support and recommend the submission of a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). Based on an independent review by JCJ Architecture, Glenbrook and Williams Middles Schools are beyond the ability of the town for routine repair and pose multiple health and safety risks to our children. The following list is only a fraction of the concerns that the review noted must be addressed: -security concerns due to an open configuration -no fire suppression -maintenance of fire alarms -inadequate HVAC and air quality -failing roofs -inadequate handicap access -asbestos containing materials -original plumbing We view these issues as severe safety concerns that require a commitment from the Select Board to approve a SOI to MSBA. The submission of the SOI is simply the beginning stages of a renovation project which is likely to take upwards of 10 years and thus has no impact on the priorities of the town with regard to the DPW project and the Senior Center.
    249 of 300 Signatures
    Created by [email protected]
  • Disabled Parents Can
    David Rae's autistic 12-year-old daughter is in crisis, severely depressed, and attempted suicide in school in the beginning of October. The family denies the father the ability to see or speak to his daughter, despite court agreements.
    141 of 200 Signatures
    Created by David Rae
  • "Day One, My First Hour in Office, Those People Are Gone" Support Sanctuary Cities
    This petition is to support all of the sanctuary cities that are taking a stance against president-elect Trump's proposed mass deportation policy. I'm concerned for all of my friends and neighbors and the rest of the people in our country who will have their lives turned upside down.
    220 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Ron Zemel
  • Boycott Sunoco to support NoDAPL protest
    To try to protect water and the rights of indigenous people to their land. And stop illegal and near-deadly force against peaceful protesters by law enforcement.
    82 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Jennifer Zaft
  • Electoral College: Don't elect Trump unless he divests his business interests.
    We need to save the Presidency and our country from the huge conflicts of interests that Trump is bringing with him. The deadline is December 18 as the vote of the Electoral College is December 19 th. We will ALL be affected if there is no restriction put on him. It could be the end of our democracy if he is not stopped. THIS MAY BE OUR LAST CHANCE.
    102 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Wayne Van Der
  • Nuclear Launch Authorization
    To allow one person (the U.S. President) the ability to launch any or all of our 2000 nuclear missiles at a moments notice is extremely dangerous. Such an action could take hundreds of million lives (think 5 times all those lost in both World War I and World War II) and possibly destroy the Earth's ability to support human life. Furthermore if a country launched an attack of any size against the U.S. our triad of nuclear delivery systems (submarines, airborne bombers and ground based silos) would survive in sufficient quantity to destroy the attacker. The real danger is a mistaken launch. A single person might receive wrong or misleading information, be affected by personal bias, or suffer an accident or sickness affecting judgment resulting in a launch without just cause thereby unnecessarily devastating our world.
    167 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Don Slack
  • Join The Kratom Coalition For Those Suffering
    Several states, so far, have banned kratom by putting its active ingredients on the controlled substance list. Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Vermont, Indiana, and Wisconsin have banned the active ingredients in kratom. Illinois and Louisiana have banned the substance altogether. Kratom has saved the lives of many people. Kratom is not an illicit 'drug' nor is the act of its use illicit. Its main active ingredients are the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, and there is evidence that these have analgesic effects without producing a 'high'. The body of this argument will be found in the testimony by the commenters attached to this petition, so I conclude with this: Kratom saves lives. There are people who suffer fibromyalgia, lupus, CRPS, MS, epilepsy, IBS, Crohn's Disease, Endometriosis, Chronic pain, Sjogrens, and those recovering and rebuilding their lives from illicit drug use. These same people cannot get doctors to help them. Several patients with these illnesses are turned away from doctors, whether because the doctors did not know how to treat them or the DEA shut these doctors down for treating their patients' pain with the only medication that is available in the kratom-illegal states: opioids. This has to stop! Please make Kratom legal in the 'illegal' states! Please keep kratom legal in all U.S. states.
    485 of 500 Signatures
    Created by Heather Merchant