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.

Mississippians face the danger of employment discrimination on a daily basis. There is no State-level protection for discrimination on the basis of: • Race • Sex • National Origin • Sexual Orientation • Gender or Gender Identity • Disability • Age Mississippians have to rely on federal laws to protect them from discrimination in the workplace. It is time for Mississippi to join the 48 other states where employees are protected under state law. Claims with only federal protections are administered by Federal agencies and may require a costly visit to federal court, and only a handful of Mississippi cities offer any protection on the basis of sexual orientation. Providing state level protections for Mississippi employees is good for the state, good for employers and good for employees. The Mississippi Legislature has a fiscal interest in keeping Mississippians employed, as taxpayer money spent on unemployment and welfare social welfare can be costly. Furthermore, employment discrimination has been linked to greater prevalence of costly physical and mental health issues, which could increase the costs of health insurance for employers. Employment discrimination and hostile work environments also reduce worker productivity Mississippians deserve the freedom to provide for themselves and their families without intrusion into their personal lives or discrimination at work. The best way to ensure we keep Mississippians working in safe, discrimination free workplaces is through state level protections administered by the State of Mississippi.

Petition Background Mid 2013, news reporter Mr. Mike Baker (AP) wrote “Washington ethics law allows public officials to accept free meals on ‘infrequent occasions.’ But the biggest beneficiary of lobbyist expense accounts received meals, drinks or golf on 62 occasions over the first four months of the year.” After reading about lawmakers’ voracious appetites I filed a formal complaint with the Washington State Legislative Ethics Board. I named the entire Washington State Legislature in my complaint. In response, the Ethics Board scheduled four public hearings to define the term “infrequent occasions”. Huge victory! The first three public hearings focused discussion on the number of free meals that would be allowed lawmakers a year. At the third hearing on August 19th a preliminary vote limited free meals for lawmakers to twelve a year. The fourth and possibly final hearing scheduled on Tuesday, October 14th will focus on whether to create a reporting system to account for the twelve free meals. The Ethics Board is currently seeking public input regarding the right of the public to know, through a reporting system, who is buying meals for their representatives. They need to hear people care about this issue. 6-16-14 Seattle Times’ Posted by Thanh Tan on editorial board blog: “To avoid the appearance of being influenced by lobbyists with deep pockets and fine dining tastes, lawmakers absolutely should track and reveal when they accept free meals, and lobbyists should do the same. Those records should be accessible to the public, too. I’m talking about an easily searchable database via the Public Disclosure Commission; something better than the handwritten, scanned PDF files that are currently filed by special interest groups on the PDC’s website.” I have been working to raise awareness of hunger in our state and our nation. When I read that some of our lawmakers freely accept gifts of food while being less than generous in fully funding emergency feeding programs, it felt like a betrayal. Members of the legislature are paid a per diem of $120 a day to cover their expenses while in session. This live link takes you to a video of the Ethics Board hearing on 8-19-14 regarding free meals for Washington State lawmakers. http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2014080036 6/1/13 – Seattle Times: “Olympia lobbyists pampering lawmakers with free meals” http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021104631_freemealsxml.html 7/30/13 - Seattle Times Editorial: “Legislative probe should spur more transparency”. http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2021497459_editethicsinvestigation29xml.html 8/21/14 – Seattle Times – Danny Westneat - Some legislators have an insatiable hunger for free meals http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024371423_westneat24xml.html

Save thousands of lives in Africa ! CDC estimates perhaps 1.4 million lives might be lost....