Hawaii's affordable housing shortage has reached crisis proportions. We are number 1 for homelessness per capita in the nation. Our college-educated children are priced out of the market. Politics as usual helped cause the current crisis. This is the time to tell our lawmakers that NOW is the time for them to act.

Update 4/12/16: Last night the Maryland legislature passed the Freedom to Vote Act, and it goes on to the Governor to sign. Note that this is only a partial victory: the legislation was watered down a lot so it no longer includes automatic voter registration. It does, however, make it easier to register to vote in Maryland for college students and others accessing state services- so this is a partial victory. The legislature has adjourned for 2016, so we can try again next year for full automatic voter registration. - The Maryland Senate is considering a new bill (HB1007), the Freedom to Vote Act. It has passed the House and may come up for a floor vote in the Senate today (Monday) before they adjourn for the year. This bill would automatically register Maryland citizens to vote when they get or update a driver's license. It would also require Maryland’s public colleges and universities to allow students to register to vote through the online portals they use to sign up for classes. Automatic voter registration has been a success in Oregon and was recently passed in California. It's time for Maryland to make it easier, not harder for eligible citizens to register to vote. References: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/it-could-get-much-easier-to-register-to-vote-in-maryland/2016/03/03/46351bf4-e14c-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/automatic-voter-registration-oregon-huge-success

This petition is to cause attention to be brought to the Shelby County judicial system that not only wrongfully charge our black males but also, when there is no case or no evidence, falsely put together evidence so that they can get a conviction. Edgar Smith was charged with first-degree murder July 2014 when a store surveillance tape, which showed that the perpetrator was clearly not him, was lost or mishandled by the prosecutor. Now, weeks before the trial, the prosecutor has an "edited" tape that shows Edgar in the scene and a new witness who can identify him. Edgar is not the only black male in the Shelby County Jail system who has been held for years under false allegations or by the prosecutor mishandling the evidence. We are tired of having our black males taken away from their families for years just to set them free without restitution or getting the public defender to make them feel like it's no matter if you are innocent or not, you need to take this deal because there is no hope.

Jon, Your impact on the American people cannot be overstated. While the host of the Daily Show, you were a reassuring voice of hope, justice, and common sense for many millions of ordinary people in the face of demoralizing establishment politics and corruption. This election is critical to the future of this country. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who represents the average American, working to end discrimination, improve wages, provide universal healthcare, protect the environment and ensure a brighter future. With your help, Bernie can win the White House and take back the government from the wealthy donors and super PACs. Please publicly endorse Bernie Sanders.

The Strafford School Board should focus on finding a common ground with our teachers. Once an agreement has been reached, the townspeople will have an opportunity to vote for or against the agreement, but in the interest of continuing to bargain in good faith, the negotiation process should remain confidential.

Dark money "Push Polls" are bombarding us with how Marylanders approve of what Governor Hogan is doing. No one expects him to get reelected because for all the world he doesn't understand what the Governor's powers are and he squanders state legislature funds and their time to override his vetoes.

I encourage everyone to pee on the South.

TO: Office of the Attorney General 40 Capitol Square, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30334 K. David Cooke, Jr. Macon Judicial Circuit 2nd Floor, Grand Building 661 Mulberry Street Macon, Georgia 31201 Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi, and Alicia Garza. Black Lives Matter http://blacklivesmatter.com Loretta E. Lynch Attorney General of the United States U.S. Department of Justice/Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001 Judge Howard Z. Simms Superior Court Judge 601 Mulberry St Macon, GA 31201 State Office Georgia NAACP State Office 100 Edgewood Ave, SE, Suite 1610 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Rev. Al Sharpton National Action Network House of Justice National Headquarters 106 W. 145th Street New York, NY 10039 Macon, Georgia Superior Court Judge Howard Simms, and K. David Cooke, Jr. Bibb County Georgia District Attorney must go. The community has stood by quietly, helpless, and observed these individuals giving prejudicial sentences to young citizens in our community. Judge Simms has the chutzpah to verbally abuse most defendants in his unrelenting and harsh sentencing methods. Judge Howard Simms and District Attorney David Cooke, Jr. are two sides of the same coin. These two gentlemen must go; they have destroyed families all over Macon, Georgia just to score political points, and notwithstanding, most defendants are innocent who could not afford an applicable legal defense. Simms and Cooke should have conducted themselves to the standards in the code of professional responsibilities. These are high standards, which they have not met. A lawyer, judge, and a district attorney who violate the code must be charged with professional misconduct. Judge Simms has verbally abuse defendants and most family members in his reckless verbal assaults. When a judge acts inappropriately while overseeing a case, we have the option of filing a complaint. Complaints are not something to be taken lightly and should be filed only when the judge has truly acted in a way that violates ethical standards. He has! Judge Simms violated this standard in the State of Georgia VS. Devontae Haywood. Judge Simms has constantly humiliated innocent defendants more often than not. All the while he rightly owned his own personal misdeeds. Judge Simms has his own unprofessional skeleton bones in his closet. Judge Simms did not uphold the integrity of the judiciary here, and he has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, the Rules of Civil Procedure, and the criminal statutes. Not to mention, Judge Simms and District Attorney Cooke violated Mr. Devontae Haywood's civil and constitutional rights. Anytime a judge sentenced an innocent defendant to prison, that judge has committed a crime. These are all violations of Canon 1. A nondiscriminatory judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety with his unseemly disrespect to the court. Judge Simms demonstrated impropriety with the appearance of impropriety. These are all violations of Canon 2. Judge Simms sentenced Devontae Haywood, an innocent and petrified child, to an elongated prison sentence. This made no sense based upon the facts and the law. We believe he has shown the appearance of impropriety. Canon 2-A states; • A Judge shall respect and comply with the law. • A Judge shall promote public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary. • A Judge shall promote public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary. Judge Simms defamed this young child. Judge Simms conveyed an act of communication that caused Mr. Haywood to be shamed, ridiculed, and lowered in the estimation of the community and he has suffered a damaged reputation. Judge Simms is notorious in defaming defendants just to get his fifteen minutes of fame with the media, or he is desperately trying to get himself a reality show at the expense of innocent and wrongly accuse defendants. Mr. Haywood could not afford a good defense attorney. His court appointed attorney (Larry Fouche’) was unproductive and ineffective at best, and extremely amateurish at worse. Moreover, Attorney Larry Fouche’ openly communicated to Mr. Haywood that prior to this inequitable sentencing phase; the prosecutor did not have any physical evidence against him. He frightened Mr. Haywood and told him by going to trial it could lead to a life sentence, which is why they hoodwinked and tricked him to take a plea. To this day, we don’t know whether Attorney Larry Fouche’ was working for Mr. Haywood, or the district attorney, or Judge Simms. What we do know, he only spoke five sentences or less, which were scarcely perceptible to Mr. Haywood defense. Mr. Larry Fouche’ needs to be investigated by the State Bar of Georgia. Judge Simms must tender his resignation as a judicial official in the State of Georgia. District Attorney Cooke must apologize to the citizens of Macon, Georgia, and then relinquish his position as District Attorney, where he has caused great pain and sleepless nights to this community. He has brought a great shame to this district attorney office. We are not going away! We will not kick the can down the road! This is not a sugar high! This will not flame out! This is a watershed moment! We are seeking justice! Dr. M.L. King Jr. writes, “Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.” The Prophet Amos states, “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24). Successful movements always start with one person!

Why should I pay tens of thousands of dollars in Federal Income Tax each year and have no one to vote my interests in Congress? Same argument on behalf of all my fellow and sister citizens of DC.

Corporations should not allow foreign entities to dictate morally and legally wrong discriminatory regulations targeting a specific group of people. This "regulation" prohibits only Cuban-born Cuban Americans from traveling via cruise ship to Cuba.

Voter disenfranchisement strikes at the very heart of our democracy. Ever since the Voting Rights act was struck down, Republicans have been passing laws to suppress mainly Democratic votes. A sister from Ohio, and all of us, are personally affected by this.

Pro and Amateuer MMA Fighters and Kick Boxers, etc are being used and abused in the USA and in California. It's time to fight for equal rights of all Fighters. (A fighter is a fighter). All Fighters lives and rights matter. Stop this violation of equal rights. MMA fighters, both Amateur and Pro as well as Kick Boxers are fighting on the same card as Boxers. They sell way more tickets and bring in way more fans than the Pro Boxers do. They are told they have to sell a certain amount of tickets or they can't fight. The Promoter has to pay 88 cents from each ticket sold to the Boxer's Pension fund and 1 cent to the Neurological Examination Account. The tax collected for the Pension only goes to the Boxers even though more money was taken in from the Pro/Amateur MMA fighters and Kick Boxers. The MMA Fighters and Kick Boxers receive no pension or contract rights. The 1 cent collected from all ticket sales for the Neurological Examination Fund only benefits the Pro MMA fighter and Pro Boxer. Amateur fighters don't get scanned even though they strike the head and get struck in the head with the same force as a Pro MMA fighter. The Amateur MMA Fighters fight more, get knocked out more and probably struck in the head more than the Pro MMA fighter. This is why I created this Petition to protect the health and safety and equal rights for all fighters. What if you were a minority and worked for a company where money is taken out for a pension but only the white workers get a pension. This is wrong. So is what is happening to MMA Fighters and Kick Boxers. Sign this petition and tell a friend to sign and spread the word so all fighters will be treated equal. We first request the State to honor the Federal Ali Act which our State says only applies to Boxers. At the same time the State requires Kick Boxers and MMA fighters to abide to the boxing laws of our business professions codes that says Boxers. The Ali Act is a Federal Law already in place that protects the rights of Boxers. A Kick Boxer is a Boxer. A MMA fighter uses boxing in the ring. This law should apply to all Professional Combat Sports. If you can please amend this bill and change the word Boxer to Professional Fighters. If that can't be done then we request the Kazja Kumite Bill be approved to protect all fighters equally. Kazja Kumite Bill This law will protect all Professional fighters equally. Such as Boxers, Kick Boxers, MMA Fighters, San Shou, and Draka fighters etc. A Fighter is a Fighter no matter what style of combat therefore they all should be protected and treated equally by the Kazja Kumite Bill. Existing law, the State Athletic Commission Act, creates the State Athletic Commission and makes it responsible for licensing and regulating boxing, kickboxing, and martial arts matches and wrestling exhibitions. Existing law prohibits a promoter from having a proprietary interest in a boxer or mixed martial arts fighter without the approval of the commission. Existing law creates the continuously appropriated Boxers' Pension Fund and requires the commission to establish a pension plan for boxers and to deposit the moneys collected by the pension plan into the fund. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to protect all fighters including mixed martial arts fighters, kick boxers etc from exploitive, oppressive, or coercive contracts and to support the establishment of standards to protect these fighters. This bill would require a promoter to provide specified a copy of any written agreement with a professional athlete as well as a written and sworn statements regarding his or her financial interests statement, made under penalty of perjury, that no other agreements between the promoter and athlete with respect to that contest, and a list of any fees charged or reductions in the amount paid to the athlete, to the commission before the promoter can receive compensation from a boxing or mixed martial arts contest. By requiring a statement to be made under penalty of perjury, the bill would expand that crime and would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the commission to establish a professional code of conduct for licensees, would also require the commission to suspend, revoke , or refuse to renew the license of a fight promoter who enters into a coercive contract, as defined, with a fighter, who has been convicted of a felony or a gross misdemeanor other specified crimes , or who has been subject to specified law enforcement actions, investigations, or allegations. This bill would require the commission to establish a professional code of conduct for licensees engaged in certain other actions . This bill would also extend the scope of the Boxers' Pension Plan to include professional mixed martial arts fighters, kickboxers etc and would rename the fund as the Professional Fighters Pension Fund. By providing for new moneys to be deposited in a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. This bill would also exempt documents provided to the commission by promoters from disclosure to the public based on a finding by the Legislature that these documents contain proprietary business information. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to protect all style of fighters from being subjected to exploited, oppressive, or coercive contractual practices that violate the athletes' freedom to work and their ability to support themselv...