I've belonged to the NYSC in my neighborhood for eight years, and I'm angry that I have to pay extra now that they're dropping their rates. Since they're the biggest chain gym in NYC, I'm sure many other people like me - steady customers that NYSC is taken advantage of instead of rewarding for our loyalty. Let's ask Gallagher and Giardina to waive or refund the new enrollment fee for their loyal customers.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control agents involved in the brutal nighttime assault on honor student Martese Johnson had no regard for the upstanding University of Virginia student's safety when they viciously slammed the 20-year-old's head onto a brick walkway, causing blood to spray in several directions and pool in rivulets beneath his gaping forehead, while passersby looked on. It was later revealed that the young man had been arrested after his valid, state-issued identification was found to be "overly suspicious." Martese was ultimately arrested for "public intoxication, swearing, and obstruction of justice," of which many believe he is innocent. This type of policing is dangerous, divisive, and has no place in American society.

For the past 15 years, Parents for Public Schools has been lobbying our elected officials to make fair school funding a priority. With an ever decreasing tax base and an increase in the number of children living in poverty in Syracuse, the impact of funding inequity has reached crisis proportions. The Syracuse City School District is dependent on the state for the majority of the school funding and the residents do not vote for a school budget. It’s time to take the politics out of funding education and make sure all schools receive the resources their students need.

Implicit bias is based on the idea that social behavior may not always be under a person’s conscious control. Much of our behavior is driven by stereotypes that operate automatically and therefore, unconsciously. The reinforcement of these stereotypes deepens the unconscious bias.

Freedom of religion is already protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions. According to the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, this unnecessary, pro-discrimination bill would lead to "unending litigation" on the taxpayers' dime. More than 200 Georgia faith leaders, Georgia's GOP former Attorney General, more than 10,000 petition signers, a bi-partisan pair of district attorneys, and scores of legal scholars have come together to oppose this hateful legislation. We respectfully urge our lawmakers to do the same.

Plentiful sun, wind, geothermal power and waves make Hawai'i a unique leader in alternative energy, and yet we are still the most oil-dependent state in America. In May the legislature passed HB623, a bill to make Hawai'i the first state in the nation to adopt a 100 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard. If Governor David Ige signs the bill, Hawai'i utilities will generate 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2045, with milestones in 2020 and 2040. This sets a precedent for the nation and the world, but will we adopt renewables broadly and quickly enough before we burn all the oil we've already found? Add your name if you think our energy crisis should be our and our legislators' top priority.

Omaha, NE First National Bank, of which there is a subsidiary in Kansas, has an elaborate display about the pioneers which ignores Native Americans. They perpetuate the tendency of American business to ignore contributions of invisible "people of color". The Bank has acknowledged the oversight. However, they were extremely noncommittal about when the correction would be done. That the Native Americans were overlooked in the initial planning is inexcusable. If you agree that First National Bank is obligated, by being a public commercial entity, to provide a timely, accurate display and should correct their web site and place a public display advising of their oversight, please sign the petition.

I now have a toxic chemical (trifluralin) on my property from a neighbor's property due to lack of enforcement of label instructions by the state, local governments, the EPA, the FDA and Hawaii DOA. My community organization, The Mililani Town Association, (MTA) is constantly spraying toxic chemicals in public places near homes, schools, etc., without even disclosing what it is they are spraying.

Good and decent people know that the deplorable conditions of puppy mills are not humanely acceptable. Yet, they continue by folks who care nothing of animal welfare but see it as a way to make some dollars. The people who mistreat animals to make money by breeding them endlessly, lack of food/water and medical care, can be considered disrespectful and dishonest, but many get away with it because of the lack of consequences due to weak and unenforceable laws. Its time to either outlaw inhumane puppy mills, or regulate them.

Please require all Michigan employers to provide paid sick days. It's the right thing to do!

The current state of New York’s 2015 executive budget reinforces doubt about the state legislature’s dedication to keeping New York’s state colleges accessible and properly funded. Student activist groups, such as New York Students Rising and Democracy Matters, as well as teacher’s unions, have been calling on the state legislature to make good on their promises about higher education. At 1.2 trillion dollars and growing, the youngest generation of this country holds more debt than any other group in history. This is unacceptable and it is the responsibility of our state government to begin addressing the situation.

In response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge that a Palestinian state will not be created in the West Bank and Gaza so long as Netanyahu is Prime Minister of Israel, the Obama Administration is publicly weighing whether to lift the US “diplomatic shield” at the United Nations that has protected Netanyahu’s policies from criticism by the UN Security Council. [1] The US “diplomatic shield” has meant that the US has automatically threatened to veto any resolution opposing Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank or pressuring the Israeli government to end its military occupation of Palestinians in the West Bank. If the US “diplomatic shield” protecting Netanyahu is lifted, the UN Security Council can take the lead in advancing a diplomatic resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict – which is exactly what the UN Security Council is supposed to do. [2] Urge President Obama to follow through on his threat to lift the US diplomatic shield protecting Netanyahu by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/israels-america-united-116203.html 2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/un-security-council-israel-palestine-_b_6905006.html