To keep Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch from being sold. His fans would love to be able to visit, just like Graceland in Tennessee; and just like Graceland, Neverland could bring in a lot of revenue for the State of California, which we know is needed. This would bring well needed taxes to our state plus jobs, which are needed. It also would bring visitors from all over the world, who will need hotels, food and shopping, which will bring in more income to the State of California.

Too many innocent people have been injured or killed while going around Lake Merced.

This summer, a team of kids has shown what great things can be accomplished with heart and hard work. When the Taney Dragons come home from the Little League World Series, Philadelphia should give them the championship parade they deserve. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, but these kids, their parents, and their coaches have done our city proud, going further in this championship than any Philadelphia team ever has. The Taney Dragons have broken records: the first Philadelphia team to win a state Little League championship, and the first to become regional Mid-Atlantic champions. They're exciting national and international baseball fans with their incredible talent and teamwork, inspiring a new generation of Philly kids to believe they can accomplish great things, and reminding us all of Philly's fighting spirit. They feature a groundbreaking female pitcher who is one of the best of any gender. They are racially diverse, and many of them attend Philly's public schools. As their biggest fans - their parents - like to say, "They're tough and gritty, those kids from the city!" We know the Taney Dragons didn't make it all the way, but they're already true champions, and Philly should throw them a championship celebration.

A radical anti-wolf group has applied to the Bureau of Land Management for permission to hold a wolf and coyote killing "derby" on public lands surrounding the Salmon, Idaho, area. This is the second derby in the same area organized by the group Idaho for Wildlife. The contest has historically awarded prizes for the most carcasses and for the largest wolf carcass taken by participants. Contests like this have no place on public lands. They put individuals, pets, and native wildlife at great peril and are in complete opposition to responsible, ethical hunting. Please ask the Bureau of Land Management to deny permission for the proposed wolf and coyote killing derby in the Salmon, Idaho, area.

It is only fair to the people that drive the streets of Chicago that a moratorium be placed on the automated traffic violation system, or red light camera system, until it has been determined that the process is fair and just. Fair and just practices should be the goal of government in Illinois, as it aims to protect the welfare and safety of everyone living in and visiting Illinois.

The Pawnee Buttes are two, erosion created, landmarks located in Weld County Colorado. North by northeast of Greeley Colorado they are the prominent features of the Pawnee National Grasslands. They have historic, ecological, anthropological and geological significance. They are endangered by development and mechanized use, and need to be preserved for posterity.

The Town of Shelburne, the Village of Shelburne Falls and the surrounding Hilltowns are still relatively healthy places to live. But we are in the midst of a major build out of antennas by AT&T and others who are willing to disregard the research demonstrating serious health damage from wireless radiation (EMF) in the name of "universal coverage" while continually redefining what is "adequate" coverage (3G, 4G, etc.). Now a local entrepreneur named Christopher Gray wants to install antennas in our communities to provide wireless internet signal through his company Hilltown Networks. While we certainly want to do as much of our spending locally as possible, it can not come with health costs for the entire community - including anyone who does not need Mr. Gray's services but is unfortunate enough to live within line of sight of the Shelburne fire tower where he wants to install one of his antennas in exchange for providing free internet service to Town Hall OR unfortunate enough to live next door to someone who becomes a Hilltown Networks customer and will receive radiation from his or her neighbor's receiver as it continuously searches for signal with its' own signal (cell phones work the same way). Some relevant points: 1. There are now more than 6,000 independent studies which demonstrate biological harm from high frequency radiation (EMF/RF). 2. The vast majority of people whose health would be impacted by another source of EMF through Mr. Gray's proposal already have access to high speed wired internet through Comcast (ie, all the residents of the village of Shelburne Falls and people who live along Route 2). The Shelburne Cable Advisory Board and others have been working for years for a town-owned wired solution which can happen if we don't "settle" (see link below for how Shelburne citizens can advocate for this). 3. Although there are certainly people in Shelburne Center who would take Mr. Gray up on his offer, there are, no doubt, many others who would not appreciate another uninvited source of electromagnetic pollution. 4. There will be no end to the wireless proposals coming to one Board or another in Shelburne. The Mass Department of Utilities ordered WMECO and other utilities to install "smart meters" on every residents' home on June 12th. Given the challenge that the town is going to face to provide a relatively safe environment for its' residents as these mandates/proposals continue to come in, the sooner the town is able to develop its' own sense of ideal levels of EMF exposure and from which sources we are willing to tolerate this exposure, the better. Given the big picture, saying yes to Mr. Gray when we are closer than we've ever been to a wired Comcast or town-owned solution would not be in the best interest of the majority of residents - particularly children whose thinner skulls and developing nervous systems make them especially vulnerable. For collected EMF resources and a special link to advocacy tools for Shelburne residents (other citizens in similar situations are also invited to use them), please visit: www.ptco.org/emf

As a Pitt County native who left and returned after 20 years, I have observed the persistent poverty and hopelessness of many residents in these counties. Our children need the mentoring and coaching that college advisers do so well. Help the LR&BJ Redden Foundation enable more youths to get better educations and employment opportunities. Everyone benefits!

Since 1990 Volusia County has been warned by FWS and the State about its violations of the ESA with beach driving. V/C callously ignored the warnings, and the agencies involved took no action. Both the environment and humans have paid the price for their political decisions. According to data, children under six have been the most severely adversely impacted by the inactions of those without the moral courage to address it. FWS propagandizes its duty to protect the environment, when in fact, from my personal experience their practice is somewhat different. Taxpayers funding these agencies should be outraged that most of the good coming from FWS/DOI is litigation driven. I was a plaintiff in the original lawsuit against V/C for its violations of the ESA in 1995. The permit was expedited to keep that action from going to trial. Had it been tried, beach driving would have been banned and lives would have been saved and much human suffering avoided.

We, the citizens of Philadelphia, believe the state’s takeover of our schools through the School Reform Commission has weakened the voices of parents and community in the operation of public education in Philadelphia. We have gathered 40,000 signatures to place this measure on the ballot that would return local control to Philly. We now call upon the Philadelphia City Council to stand aside and put the amendment on the November ballot to abolish the School Reform Commission and return local control of Philadelphia’s schools. They should also encourage their constituents to support the amendment.

Over the last 4-5 years, Detroit Public Schools, has had 3 Emergency Managers. All have come in with 6 figure salaries, brought in an executive staff with 6 figure salaries, closed schools and left with the school system still millions of dollars in the red. Their solution to balance the budget is to cut employee salaries, raise health care premiums and increase class sizes, which is detrimental to students and staff. Teachers took a10% pay cut last year and now they are imposing another 10% pay cut this school year. DPS cannot cut its way to prosperity, particularly at the expense of the employees,whose salaries and benefits are not the reason it is on the brink of bankruptcy. I'm starting this petition to bring this attack on education to the forefront. We must stop the politicians from raping the education system!

My partner of 23 years, Cesar Valenzuela, was killed at work in February. He was driving a baggage tug at Los Angeles International Airport, working for airport contractor Menzies Aviation, a company with a history of broken equipment and unsafe working conditions. He was run over after being thrown from the poorly maintained vehicle he was driving. The official safety report was released today. The company found to have violated basic safety rules. The vehicle didn’t have a working safety belt. Menzies discouraged workers from wearing seatbelts. Inspections weren’t done properly. My partner’s death could have been prevented. Cesar should be alive today. His death leaves me without the man I love and leaves my two children without a father. Los Angeles World Airports’ Board of Airport Commissioners has the power to remove a company’s license to operate because of serious safety violations. It is time for LAWA to act and hold companies accountable for unsafe working conditions at LAX.