The draft South Madison Plan Update's height map for the John Nolen Drive and East Olin Avenue corridors and proposed new land use for the Olin Triangle will likely have profound impacts, including potentially negative impacts on Olin Park and Turville Point Conservation Park, two of Madison's "natural gems:" including: • Altering the view from within the parks and from points all around Madison • Increasing bird strikes along an important migratory route due to the amount and height of building glass • Compromising the uses and enjoyment of Olin Park and Turville Point Conservation Park and the Wingra Creek parkway and bike path.

Violent insurrectionists attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, seeking to overturn the results of the election, leading to a number of deaths and hundreds injuries in one of the bloodiest day in the history of the U.S. Capitol. Republican members of Congress spoke at their rally, have cheered and honored them, and have obstructed efforts to investigate this insurrection. Since last year, there have been reports of Republican representatives and their staff who may have been communicating with the insurrectionists in the days before and during the violence. In October 2021, the Rolling Stone reported that two of the rally organizers confirm that members of Congress—including Republican Representatives Greene, Gosar, Biggs, Brooks, Boebert, Cawthorn, and Gohmert—and their staff coordinated directly in the planning of the protests and even dangled promises of presidential pardons for acts of lawlessness. If the January 6 Committee turns up credible evidence that members of Congress aided and abetted violence aimed at overturning our elections, Congress must vote to expel them immediately.

Our plants and animals are under grave threat as we face a 6th mass extinction. We are losing species 1000 to 10,000 times faster than we have in the past--and most of these extinctions are occurring due to human activities (like this airport expansion). We must do everything we can to protect important habitats like this--especially when there are alternatives. Save the bees and other pollinators. We are all connected.

Texas recently enacted the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the country, outlawing all abortions after 6 weeks with no exceptions. Mississippi is taking their own anti-abortion law to the Supreme Court — a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade and put dozens of new anti-reproductive healthcare laws on the map. And while it may not surprise you that racism and misogyny have run rampant within the United States for decades, you might not realize we’ve been exporting it too. For nearly 50 years, the Helms Amendment has blocked people around the world from having control over their own reproductive healthcare. It’s the worst of a paternalistic U.S. foreign policy at work: spreading harmful ideology under the guise of humanitarian assistance. But that could change soon. For the first time since 1973, the House passed an appropriations bill that DOESN’T include the Helms Amendment. And IF it passes the Senate, we can make 2021 the year we finally wipe this outdated, imperialist policy from our books and build a world where people can create their families — and build their futures — in the ways that work for them. Add your name to tell the Senate: It’s time to #RepealHelms

Right now the Biden administration is in the middle of the “Nuclear Posture Review,” where they’ll assess and evaluate current [read: Trump’s] U.S. nuclear weapons policy. They hope to complete it by early next year, and that means right now we’ve got a narrow window to impact their findings. And although this president has long supported nonproliferation efforts, there are worrying signs that hawks inside the administration might succeed in keeping the dangerous status quo. That’s why we’re calling on activists like you. Together, let’s remind the Biden administration of the widespread public support to end nuclear weapons use and remove these deadly devices from the world. Add your name to Tell President Biden: We want a world free from nuclear weapons!

Throughout the recent electoral redistricting process undertaken by the Montgomery County Redistricting Committee, the Derwood community repeatedly told the Redistricting Commission that it was vitally important that our community not be split across multiple districts. When the initial three maps were released on October 13th, we were pleased to note that two of the three maps kept Derwood intact and placed us in districts which shared many common issues with our community. This is important because it helps ensure equal representation of all communities within a district. We were optimistic that our concerns were being addressed and going forward our community would be fairly represented by its Councilmember. This optimism crashed to earth on October 20th when the Redistricting Commission approved a map which splits Derwood. A portion of Derwood, west of Shady Grove Road and north of Muncaster/Muncaster Mill, has been included in the Upcounty/Midcounty district. A district which shares a lot of commonalities with the Derwood community. The remainder of our community, however, has been appended to a district which includes Aspen Hill and Glenmont and extends to Wheaton and Forest Glen! One only needs to look at Google maps to see that this portion of Derwood is separated from the rest of the proposed Wheaton district by Rock Creek Regional Park, Lake Bernard Frank, and Lake Needwood and shares a lot of commonalities with the proposed Upcounty/Midcounty district while sharing little to none with the proposed Wheaton district. We have no idea whatsoever why this portion of Derwood has been included in the proposed Wheaton district except to increase the population of this proposed district which even with the inclusion of this portion of Derwood is undersized. If this proposed map is implemented, Derwood would reside in the forgotten periphery of this district. The Councilmember representing this proposed district will be more concerned with the majority, its interests will drive the agenda of the Councilmember, and Derwood will be marginalized. During the Redistricting Commission’s October 20th meeting Commissioner Stein, author of this map, stated that "We should not be drawing maps to advantage one part of the county and disadvantage another part of the county", however, Commissioner Stein has done just that to Derwood. This portion of Derwood is truly in another part of the county when compared to the remainder of the proposed Wheaton district. We should never seek to enfranchise one part of the county while disenfranchising another. For reference, the web site of the Redistricting Committee is here: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/BCC/redistricting/index.html

We all deserve the basic right of being able to survive with our wage, of being able to afford to feed our families, pay the roof over our heads, and be able to eat, like every other working professional. We are professionals who should be compensated fairly.

Trump was banned by Facebook and Twitter for a reason. He is dangerous, and we have seen that his use of social media incited the deadly white supremacist-led insurrection on our Capitol on January 6, 2021. He also proved negligent in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, using lies to promote anti-vaccine and anti-mask sentiments. Apple should not give Trump a platform which will give further voice to his harmful ways. Apple must do the right thing immediately. As a longtime consumer of Apple products, I must say that my faith in your company is weakened knowing that you support this app currently. I can't imagine that Apple is OK with the negative association and public reception of Trump's nefarious ways. Since other tech companies have done the right thing and stopped him from spreading disinformation, Apple must follow suit. Do not be his outlet for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, misogyny, anti-vax, or any other form of hate. We are watching you, Apple.

We, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power Boston Branch, unequivocally denounce the executive order released by the Janey administration which essentially reauthorizes and gives a progressive veneer to the same disproven clean-sweep methods carried out under the previous administration. The order serves only to embolden the racist, sexist, ableist, and poor-hating Boston police department and Suffolk County sheriff to further their programs of harassment, rights violations, incarceration, and forced treatment. The notion that the woefully inadequate city shelter system is a valid alternative to the encampments ignores the fact that many unhoused neighbors have chosen to risk scorching heat, freezing cold, and unsanitary conditions simply to avoid that system. The increased police activity outlined in the order is in effect a declaration of war against people experiencing homelessness and people who use drugs. State violence and neglect is the root of this public health emergency; its increase will run antithetically to its resolution. Further empowering police to forcibly detain people under the guise of sections is a gross misappropriation of power. Police are not medical professionals, and under no circumstances should be charged with making such decisions. Further, with the long history of people who use drugs meeting untimely ends under the "care" of law enforcement, or from fatal overdose after release, it is unconscionable to subject another single person to such a system. We recognize the intersection between the experience of houselessness, the consumption of substances, and the rising count of new HIV cases in the Commonwealth. We recognize that the same reactionary puritanical and paternalistic thought that stood between our Poz siblings and compassionate care in the 80s and 90s, is the same thought that keeps our shelters woefully inadequate and restrictive, and the same thought that stands between our siblings who use drugs and the services necessary to protect their health. We call on all organizations and individuals to join us in demanding public health solutions and social-supports instead of further violence, neglect, and criminalization! We issue the attached demands, and assure the powers that be that we will not be silent in the face of this crisis. We will ACT UP! We will FIGHT BACK!

We all deserve the basic right of being able to survive with our wage, of being able to afford to feed our families, pay the roof over our heads, and be able to eat, like every other working professional. We are professionals who should be compensated fairly.

The Boundary Waters Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota is America's most-visited Wilderness, a wildland refuge critical to people and the planet. Anishinaabe people (also known in this region as Chippewa or Ojibwe) have lived in the area for countless generations and have a deep relationship to these lands and waters. Indigenous people continue to harvest wild rice in the Boundary Waters region and maintain treaty rights to hunt, fish and gather. As sovereign nations, tribes play a central role in protecting the Boundary Waters and have called for its protection. This wild and beautiful place is threatened by proposed sulfide-ore copper mining, but we can protect this place if enough people take action. Visit www.SavetheBoundaryWaters.org to learn more.

Earlier this year, Democrats in Congress passed an unprecedented Child Tax Credit as a part of the American Recovery Package, which delivers direct payments to tens of millions of Americans every month. This benefit immediately produced historic results: According to one analysis, the August payment of the expanded Child Tax Credit lifted 3.5 million children out of poverty. The expanded Child Tax Credit is extremely popular among all Americans, is proving to be the single most significant measure to slash childhood poverty, and has benefitted tens of millions of middle- and working-class families—but unfortunately, it's expiring soon. That's why we must fight to make it permanent—and President Biden's Build Back Better legislation, which Congress is currently debating, does just that. Democrats and Republicans recognize the impact of this program—and right now Congress has the chance to make it permanent. New research from Columbia University shows that with a permanently expanded Child Tax Credit, American children would be healthier, learn more, and would be less likely to be neglected—and taxpayers would earn back 84 cents for every dollar invested. At a time when the rich are getting richer but working families are struggling to make ends meet, it’s time for Congress to take bold action. Sign the petition, and demand that Congress make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent.