The idea of animal therapy has been laid on my heart since I was diagnosed with OCD. After being encouraged by my therapist to adopt a pet, I was able to save a local dog that had been subjected to the horrible conditions of a puppy mill. When I adopted my dog, I thought I was saving him, but in reality he saved me. Together we have worked to overcome my issues, and now, he has a forever home. If the government would institute a program that allowed local shelter dogs to be trained as therapy animals, then both animals and suffering people would be helped.

Q: When do WORLD CHAMPS get paid far less than LOSERS? A: When they're women playing World Cup Soccer. That's right, the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team — which recently won the World Cup in a final that was the most watched soccer game in American TV history with approximately 23 million viewers — is paid far less than the men at nearly every level of competition, from playing "friendly” matches, to qualifying and playing in the World Cup. Now, several members of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team are taking action to level the playing and paying field by filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) because the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the reigning World Cup champions far less than their male counterparts. Equal pay matters on every field. Believe it or not, what happens on the sports playing field directly impacts corporate field. A new study found the correlation between women’s success on sports playing fields and success in the workplace is indisputable. "Girls who play sports have greater social and economic mobility, grow up healthy and confident, and perform better in school. In fact, 74% of executive women agreed that a background in sports can help accelerate a woman’s leadership and career potential.” - Fortune Magazine. So support the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and all women, and sign on now!

I am a military spouse and mother of a child who is affected by Sensory Processing Disorder. As a family we struggle with everyday life tasks and we struggle to have her medical expenses covered because her primary care manager does not recognize sensory processing disorder. We struggle to have the school recognize that she is not just a bad child and that there is a real problem since it is difficult to get this placed in her medical record. This has been researched since the 1950's and 1960's and should no longer remain in the dark. Too many children, teens, and adults deal with this daily struggle of overloaded senses. Our federal law, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 04), defines a specific learning disability as “a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations.” While SPD may affect the child’s auditory, visual, and motor skills and his/her ability to process and sequence information, it is not, at present, specifically identified as an eligible, qualifying disability. Thus, it does not necessarily make a child eligible for special education and related services, such as occupational, physical, or speech/language therapy. Help me spread the message and get health coverage for this disorder.

I am starting this petition to warn Justin Bieber about how Rep. Walker is using Bieber's coming presence to try to cloak the North Carolina anti-Trans law in a semblance of legitimacy.

I am starting this petition because Kaniela Ing brings a breath of fresh air into our local government. He continually uses his well-guided heart to make courageous, moral, conscious, and just decisions that serve the people of Maui. These stances sometime go against special interest. He is now under attack by the local establishment and special interests and we need the help of people from all around the world to fight back and say we love Kaniela! When we stand together we win! I stand with Kanieala Ing, Bernie Sanders, and Tulsi Gabbard!

Stand with OBXPridefest against the discrimination of LGBT North Carolinians and visitors. We ask Governor McCrory and the NC General Assembly to immediately repeal HB2.

I don't want to receive my Bachelors while some poor tenor is forced to sing the musical abomination that is "Shine on Forever". Change the lyrics or the tune to which it's set, I don't care. Had I known about this awful song before I accepted, I would not be attending CWRU. Please, for the love of all that is good music, fix this now!

The NYC Landmarks Commission is endangering historic houses by their current practice of summarily rejecting new applications so as not to increase their substantial backlog of cases (for which they have received a great deal of criticism in the press). Tell the LPC Chair that when the homeowner and the local community support designation of a historic home, as is the case with the Stone Gatehouse, that they should act to protect the property. If the LPC does not act, our historic treasures may one day fall victim to the wrecking ball!

Late last year, Central States Pension Fund retirees, widows, and spouses were notified that their hard-earned pensions might be slashed by as much as 70 percent. These proposed cuts are made possible by the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, a law that torpedoes 40 years of established federal private pension law and could ultimately impact millions of American workers and their families. Between now and May 7th, the Treasury Department is expected to rule on Central States' dangerous proposal. Please stand with retired truck drivers, dock workers, office workers, spouses, widows and others who could be affected by the law by urging the Treasury Department to reject the unfair and ill-conceived cuts proposed by the Central States Pension Fund. If these pension cuts are approved, hundreds of thousands of lives would be affected, setting a dangerous precedent for future cuts in other multiemployer plans, affecting more than a million people.

Late last year, Central States Pension Fund retirees, widows and spouses were notified that their hard-earned pensions might be slashed by as much as 70 percent. These proposed cuts are made possible by the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, a law that torpedoes 40 years of established federal private pension law and could ultimately impact millions of American workers and their families. Please stand with retired truck drivers, bakery workers, dock workers, office workers, spouses, widows and others who could be affected by the law by urging the Treasury Department to reject the unfair and ill-conceived cuts proposed by the Central States Pension Fund. If these pension cuts are approved, hundreds of thousands of lives would be affected, setting a dangerous precedent for future cuts in other multiemployer plans, affecting more than a million people.

United To Save The Mission Coalition, an alliance of Mission District community groups working on saving our neighborhood from over-development and the complete displacement of existing residents, is expressing our strong opposition to the 1515 South Van Ness Avenue project by Lennar Corporation. The proposed project is to be situated at the corner of 26th and South Van Ness Avenue. This project is the largest new project that is currently under development. It consists of 165 units, of which only 20 are affordable. Among our concerns are: Loss of PDR Space: This project, if approved, would eliminate the sizable PDR space currently being used by McMillan Electric. The ongoing loss of light industrial spaces that preserve job opportunities and anchor the middle class is acute, as the Planning Commission has recognized with its intent to develop a plan for 1 to 1 PDR replacement for every Eastern Neighborhoods development. It is counterproductive and short sighted to expedite new residential developments in front of Commission efforts to ameliorate the negative impacts of new residential developments. Higher Affordable Housing Requirements Are On The Ballot: The voters of San Francisco will be weighing in shortly on higher inclusionary standards for new developments. While the outcome of Jane Kim's ballot measure remains to be determined, the wishes of the city's residents, should they choose to support higher affordable housing requirements and pass a measure implementing interim controls, should be respected by the Planning Commission and the city's political leadership. Sliding in massive new projects right before the election that come nowhere near to meeting the potential new interim standards, project disrespect for the democratic decision making process in the City. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Is Incomplete Regarding Calle 24 Cultural District Concerns: The City and the Commission recognized by creating the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District the unique character of the particular neighborhood bordered by 22nd Street, Cesar Chavez Street, Potrero Avenue and Mission Street. The 2014 designation addressed issues of design, architectural guidelines and neighborhood vision/direction for the benefit of all San Franciscans, and mentioned socioeconomic diversity as a key ingredient in the preservation of the District. A robust and responsible planning process requires full consideration of the design, architecture, traffic and socioeconomic aspects of 1515 South Van Ness Avenue and its compatibility or lack of compatibility with the intentions of the City for the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. Superseding guidelines still under development renders all the good intentions behind the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District functionally moot. The stakeholders in the creation of the Latino Cultural District have had no opportunity to find out if any of these questions were examined in the EIR, or to review and respond to the EIR. Phase One of MAP 2020 Wraps Up In The Summer of 2016: Both the Planning Department and the Office of the Mayor are participants in the MAP 2020 process, which is expecting to wrap up Phase One planning in the summer of 2016 and move into Phase Two to put in place the policies, legislation, programs, and financing needed to implement the Plan. The stated intent of the plan is to “strengthen and retain low to moderate income residents and community serving businesses” (including PDR and non-profits). The MAP process may well identify both policy and legislation that would significantly alter projects like 1515 South Van Ness Avenue and add protections for affected residents and businesses that don't currently exist. Both the Planning Department and the Mayor's Office should take into account the MAP 2020 strategic plan and its possible impacts and not rush the project through without considering the MAP 2020 process underway. The Interim Controls Template Is Brand New: 1515 South Van Ness would be the firs project to go before the Planning Department under brand new interim controls. Stakeholders in the community haven't had an opportunity to see and review the Interim Controls template nor to see any reporting/response that Lennar Corporation has made regarding the project and the new template. A public review process should make these criteria transparently available to all stakeholders in the project including impacted residents and businesses. Lennar Corporation Has A Troubled Track Record: The history of Lennar and the City of San Francisco is so lengthy that a complete description here would be beyond the scope of this letter. But it should not be controversial to state that toxic issues at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard were significant and the Treasure Island redevelopment has also been a troubled process. The City of San Francisco has given much to Lennar in development opportunities in large swaths of the City, and we question whether this developer has earned yet more concessions from the City in this request to green-light this new development ahead of multiple civic planning processes to protect this area of the City and a ballot initiative on the June ballot. Given all of these factors, we would like the City to explore whether Lennar could transfer their interest in this property to the City for the construction of 100% affordable housing on the site. At a minimum, United To Save The Mission firmly requests delaying the approval of 1515 South Van Ness until: 1) Proposition C has been voted on by San Francisco's voters 2) 1 to 1 PDR replacement has been decided 3) Interim controls are in place and reviewed 4) The Calle 24 Latino Cultural Special Use District is in place 5) MAP 2020 is implemented 6) Negotiations with Lennar for possible site acquisition have been completed United to Save The Mission

Wisconsin was a landslide victory for Bernie Sanders and our superdelegates need to listen to their constituents.