Senator John Bennett of Oklahoma recently stated his belief that we should be wary of American Muslims and that Islam is "a cancer in our nation that needs cutting out." He has refused to apologize for these and other offensive and inflammatory remarks that will serve only to persecute Muslim Americans who are supposed to be free to practice their religion. Senator Bennett is condemning an entire religion and it's American followers for the evil acts of a violent fringe minority in a different part of the world. We need to send the message that his remarks are unacceptable from a member of the Senate. If Senator Bennett will not apologize for his offensive and divisive behavior, he should resign.

All District Memo 14-05 states the following: TO: All District Employees FROM: Keiba Crear, Chair, Board of Trustees Thomas F. Fay, Deputy Director/COO DATE: August 20, 2014 SUBJECT: Anonymous Letters Earlier this week, a number of anonymous letters were distributed to individuals, branches and departments throughout the District. These letters make several accusations. Similar, anonymous letters were received by Board members in June. Since the accusations involved personnel, each accusation was discussed and addressed in the closed executive session at the June Board of Trustees meeting. All Board members were present for that discussion in addition to the District’s legal counsel. The District is committed to ensuring that all staff concerns are promptly and thoroughly investigated. Due to the nature of anonymous accusations, the District is necessarily limited in its ability to address such concerns. Staff is reminded that the District has a comprehensive Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and a Policy of Zero Tolerance for Harassment and Discrimination in its Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, which set forth the procedures for raising a complaint or concern. These policies also state: The District strictly prohibits any form of retaliation against an employee who files a complaint or cooperates in an investigation. Therefore, if someone has a complaint of any nature, he or she may contact Tom Fay, Deputy Director/COO, in person or in writing at 7060 W. Windmill Ln., Las Vegas, NV 89113, by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at xxx-xxx-xxxx. All complaints will be reviewed and investigated with appropriate action taken. In accord with the District’s policies, complaints may also be brought to the attention of any Human Resources staff member or any other supervisor or manager. In addition, represented employees have a detailed grievance procedure which is contained in each of the District’s collective bargaining agreements. Any disputes concerning potential violations of the collective bargaining agreements should be raised through the grievance process, in accordance with the agreement’s provisions. Finally, at one point staff had been instructed to collect the letters and send them back to Human Resources. At this time there is no need to collect these additional letters. However, if branch staff feel more comfortable or feel that it is prudent to send the letters, they may send them to Tom Fay, Deputy Director/COO via courier. They will be kept on file with the other letters that have been received. If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please contact Tom Fay by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at xxx-xxx-xxxx

Homelessness affects everyone! During the depression people helped others! It is sickening that we are fining those who would want to help. My daughter has a college degree but is out of work. My niece has a masters but can't find a job that pays enough to even barely live. I am ashamed of our country. CEOs that make millions. Disgusting! Homelessness has children involved too.

Public debates permit electorate to make an educated and responsible vote.

Our 24 year old son, Joshua Van was murdered on February 17, 2014 at 6:38 pm in an area of Oxnard that is riddled with crime. There have been no arrests in his case and there have been several other violent crimes (800 plus) committed in the area where Joshua was killed and other high crime areas in Oxnard. Many of these crimes go unsolved because there is not enough information available to catch the offenders. The lack of justice also stems from the break down in relationship between the public and the police. The public is either afraid of the criminals or worried that the police won't do enough to make the community safe. A CCTV camera system installed in urban areas has proven to reduce, deter and prevent crimes as well as help police solve crimes. Locally, it has also been proven that an increased police presence has helped reduce crime. However, the City doesn't have enough money or bodies to increase police presence in the high crime areas. The installation of CCTV cameras is much less expensive solution. In addition, the installation of CCTV cameras also helps to restore the public's faith in the police department's ability to help to promote safety. Overall, the installation of a CCTV camera system may help to create a better relationship between the community and the police because our communities will be safer and our children will stop dying at the hand of violent offenders.

When I became concerned for the safety and well being of myself, my family and my property - I filed for an order of emergency protection against a neighbor that was terrorizing my family. Chicago's North side Victim Advocacy Support Program provided advocates that helped me navigate the confusing system and processes involved; without this assistance, I would have given up. This program provides critical support and advocacy for victims of violent crime, including domestic violence and stalking to countless individuals in Chicago. It is imperative that victims have resources available to them; the elimination of such a vital program would be seriously detrimental and must be prevented.

The Morcellator device that routinely minces uterine tissue, during a hysterectomy or myomectomy, to be removed through small keyhole incisions has been dangerously peddled to women by their " trusted" GYNs as a cosmetically pleasing option. Many GYNs pushing the benefits of small scars and a shorter recovery onto women do not bother to inform women of the DEADLY 1:350 cancer spreading risks. Nor do they bother to advise women that an abdominal hysterectomy that would excise their uterus intact, would assure a very good chance of a complete cure should they encounter a hidden cancer like a deadly sarcoma. As a result, in the last 2 decades hundreds to thousands of unsuspecting women have unfortunately and unnecessarily horribly suffered till their death, leaving their children and family members irreversibly devastated with grief and sorrow. As one victim of morcellation (of many with upstaged sarcoma) and also a Physician Assistant specializing in the OB/GYN profession for eleven years, I find it criminal that use of this horrid faulty oncologic device that seeds cancer has grown in popularity within the GYN community for over two decades despite the multiple medical journals explicitly siting the deadly dangers. There are currently 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the US yearly, with 40% due to fibroids. Use of the Morcellator on these women would amount to 2 women each day that would be given a death sentence. The oncological faulty Morcellator device was advanced into the GYN surgical field through FDA's 510K medical device quick approval. Deadly harm and suffering has already ensued; we can't turn the clock around for many women who have already paid with their lives. But what we can do, with your help is put an end this medical nightmare. We have made some strides: on April 17th the FDA discouraged use of the morcellator, Johnson and Johnson as the largest manufacturer removed the device off surgical shelves and a couple of east coast insurers have refused to pay for the procedure. But we need the support of our Congressman, Senators and President because we the public are up against powerful corporations and GYN societies which wish to continue this travesty against women. These powerful entities are siding with "profits" rather than the patient. Please join us on the side on best healthcare practices for women to ask for a finite ban on the Morcellator by the FDA and the revamping of their faulty 510K to assure that another medical atrocity does not recur in the future.

Prescription Bottles are generally made of #5 plastic, which most cities do not take by curbside recycling and it ends up in the garbage/landfill. Join me in asking major companies to continue showing environmental leadership by launching a program where customers can bring their prescription bottles back for recycling. An effort like this would be HUGE and would reduce the waste of the thousands of prescriptions being picked-up daily and around 4 billion prescriptions filled in retail U.S. pharmacies per year. Plastic #5 is also known as PP-Polypropylene and is highly resistant to photo degradation and will not decay for at least a few hundred years.

Studies show that "aviation accounts for about 11 percent of carbon dioxide pollution from the U.S. transportation sector and is one of the fastest growing sources of carbon pollution, rising three to five percent a year." Urge the EPA to work on a solid action plan to cut aircraft and aviation pollution as soon as possible!

Tell the FDA to uplift it's ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood. The American Blood Centers, American Red Cross, American Medical Association, several Members of Congress and dozens of organizations have called on the Food and Drug Administration to change its policy and allow members of the gay community to donate blood to people in need. A recent study that was on Yahoo! News also found that the gay ban costs hospitals 219,000 pints of blood each year. Furthermore, The United Kingdom and several other countries lifted their ban on members of the gay community from donating blood years ago and it is time for our country to do the same and continue to show leadership. The FDA already screens donated blood to ensure sure it is as safe for the receiving party and gay men should be able to donate their blood and save a life -- just like anyone else.

I am a member of the West Asheville community that will be affected by the White Oak Grove Apartments project, located at 275 and 281 Hazel Mill Rd in West Asheville. I am concerned that the construction of this 108 unit apartment complex will have a negative impact on my community. The project will overload Hazel Mill Rd, is out of character with the rest of the neighborhood which is largely single-family homes, and will likely reduce property values in the area. The White Oak Grove Apartments project should be stopped.

This creates a bad precedence that allows public officials to Demand a Police Action for Parody on the basis of Vendetta. Parody is a Protected Act of Free Speech by the U.S. Supreme court. I mean, Tina Faye parodied Govenor Sara Palin and Sara Palin HATED it. But what if we were to go to jail for it? This Mayor wanted this guy Nailed to the wall and got a SWAT team to his house. With no real evidence other than a few posts pretending to be the mayor, because he was bored.