This petition is being sent out to help the flood victims in the towns of Islip and Brookhaven. Many people including myself have major damages to their homes and have lost so many belongings due to the historic rainfall in our area on August 13th 2014. Most people, like myself are not covered by their homeowners insurance because it is considered flood damage, we need our Senators and Governor to step in and send financial aid to all of these people who have lost so much and have no way of fixing the damage themselves! Thank you

I first wrote the Mayor and City Commissioners on June 22, 2014 in regards to a jetty pollution/smell issue at Smather's Beach. I received respectful and much-appreciated emails back from Mr. Wardlow & Mr. Weekley, for which I am grateful. Mr. Wardlow forwarded my letter to Public Works, from which in turn I received a dismissive email response that didn't at all address or attempt to resolve the issue. Please see below for my original email nearly 2 months ago and my responses from Mr. Wardlow (thank you) and Mr. Greg Veliz. This area has continued to smell and be an eyesore. This issue also happens not just during the summer, but during the other 3 seasons as well. It just is at its worst "smell-wise" in the hot summer months. This area is filthy 365 days a year, except for the infrequent, very few days when the trucks come and pick up some (never all) of the trash/seaweed. This was a problem well before I moved to my current location across from Smather's Beach 6 years ago. I have lived in Key West for over 25 years, where both my children were born and raised. My issue remains unsolved. My issue, again, is the jetty that is situated at the furthest east end of Smather's Beach, near the airport, on S. Roosevelt Blvd. across from the bridal path. This area is located in both districts 3 and 4, I believe. This jetty collects massive amounts of seaweed and trash, and my issue is how infrequently it is cleaned. When I heard back from the two commissioners, one shared my concern. Commissioner Weekley (thank you) even told me he took the other commissioners to that spot once to let them witness this smell and eyesore. When I received an email back from Public Works, the email said the beaches were cleaned 365 days a year and the trash and seaweed collected there was blamed on the summer winds. I am not talking about the beaches being cleaned, which I am aware includes raking or cleaning the beaches every morning. I am well aware that a truck comes on a too infrequent basis and picks up this seaweed and trash that collects by this jetty. My issue, and the issue of my neighbors and neighboring Sheraton Hotel and Best Western and the issue of every tourist and Key West citizen who walks along S. Roosevelt Blvd., is that this seaweed pick-up is not frequent enough and not thorough enough. Any one of us could take a walk or bike ride tomorrow night, or any night or day, along S. Roosevelt from the airport to the start of Smather's Beach and we would: 1. Gag on the SMELL, which the rotting seaweed and TRASH are emitting. This is unhealthy to breathe in. We can get scientists to prove that the ammonia released by this is unhealthy for humans to breathe. 2. Be disgusted by the SIGHT of all the trash there and think that Key West is a city that doesn't care about it's cleanliness. 3. Not in any way want to TOUCH our feet or body in the water by wading into our ocean in this area, due to the filth. I'm not just talking about the seaweed, which of course I realize is natural, but the trash that collects in it and sits there for weeks at a time. 4. NOT want to live in my condo complex at Key West By the Sea, because the stench can be smelled from even the back C buildings every time one steps outside or opens a window. This stench and eyesore also hurts our property values. No way could anyone sell a condo here in the summertime; no buyer, unless they had lost their sense of smell, would buy here at that time. The majority of tourists would also not choose to stay at The Sheraton, again, and probably not the Best Western, Doubletree or any motels/hotels along S. Roosevelt, especially any tourist who chose to take a walk to Smather's Beach from their motel, as I imagine a huge percentage of them do. 5. Wonder if this pollution and garbage were unhealthy for the sea life as well, including our sea turtles. I am sure we could get scientists to prove this as well. I realize the Homeless population is a huge issue this election, and I am not complaining at this point about the number of homeless on Smather's or Higgs Beaches. This problem with the jetty trash and pollution is just as big as an issue as the Homeless issue. I do intend to follow this up with a petition signed by all my neighbors and board members of Key West by The Sea as well as the management of Sheraton Hotel and the hotels/motels by the airport, as well as every concerned citizen I can find in Key West. I am now semi-retired and have the time to do this and intend to focus on this until the November election and beyond. I just submitted this email to the Key West Citizen and I intend to see if I can get this issue and petition in the paper (update: it was in today's paper dated 8/20/14). I also intend to stop everyone I see walking on the beach, tourist and locals alike, to sign this petition, which I have already drawn up and made sure it is legally binding. I intend to ask to be placed on the agenda for up-coming city and county commission meetings (update: I was allowed to speak for 3 minutes at last night's, 8/19/20, commission meeting and am being sponsored by 3 of our commissioners: Wardlow, Weekley and Vaniz (thank you!!!), to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting on 9/3/14.) In conclusion, this jetty is often the first thing all Key West visitors see when they leave the Key West airport. It does not make a good impression on 3 out of our 5 senses. I personally have had friends and relatives visit who commented such things as "Why doesn't Key West care enough to keep this area clean on a daily basis?" I realize cleaning this area on a more frequent basis, in a thorough manner (which means completely at each seaweed/trash pickup) on, for example, a twice a week basis, will cost money. As a taxpayer, I, and many others, believe it will be money well spent. There is no doubt in my mind that Key West is losing tourist dollars due to this eyesore and smell. I also would like to believe that...

Some residents across Oahu run non-licensed commercial operations such as backyard weddings, bed and breakfasts, and tourist businesses in residential areas. The increase of the illegal operations places a strain on neighborhood resources, increase traffic volume, and can cause safety hazards. If passed, this Bill would ensure that violators engaging in illegal commercial activities in residential areas would pay any accrued fines from their activities or seek Council approval for a settlement less than the full amount. For more information or to read the Bill in full context, visit: http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-151286/BILL050%2814%29.htm I am asking my colleagues to pass this Bill without delay. Join me in showing your support! Mahalo

IBEW constitution article II SEC 3 statesUpon petiton filed with the I.S.T. by any twenty eight 9280 L.U.'s in good standing-not more than four(4) L.U. from any one L.E.C. district-the question of holding a special I.C. shall be submitted to a referendum; but petitionsfor a vote must specify the place, time, and date at which this special is proposed to be held, and the question must be specified by each of the twentyeight (28) L.U.'s in good standing before any referendum shall be taken. No specialI.C. shall be called except in this manner IBEW Members are feeling that the I/O has been losing its focus on its members and we need better representation for the members.

In addition to being a unique and beautiful place on its own terms, the Arctic has a strong influence on weather worldwide. Protecting it is a matter of survival not just for polar bears, but for all of us.

More and more teens are killed evey year by their own reckless driving. They are too concerned with their cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and not paying attention to what they're doing and killing innocent people in the process. My 15-year-old cousin was killed recently by a reckless teen driver whom she was in the car with. He was speeding, not paying attention, and lost control. The car was cut in half by a tree; the driver and passenger survived. All three teens in the back died, including my cousin. Also, I want the teens to have their temps for a year before they can get their licenses. So, at age 17, they would get their temps, and at 18, their licenses. All people no mater what age must have their temps for 1 year before obtaining their licenses if they have never had a driver license before.

Big banks like Bank of America helped cause the mortgage crisis that crashed the economy in 2008. Now Bank of America could get a multi-billion dollar tax break for its wrongdoing. Sketchy mortgage practices put hundreds of thousands of American families in dire straits. Bank of America just announced a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice for some of those improper practices that will reportedly include paying $10 billion to the government. But thanks to a loophole, big banks can deduct these payments from their taxes, unless they’re specifically forbidden to do so. Bank of America could get a tax break of almost $3.5 billion in this case, while the rest of us pick up the tab. We don’t get to write off the costs of fines from our taxes. When big corporations do something wrong, they should pay the full price for it. Tell your Senators to support the Government Settlement Transparency and Reform Act (S. 1654), introduced by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). This bill would restrict corporations from deducting any of the costs of their settlements for wrongful behavior from their taxes and require greater public disclosure of these write-offs.

ExxonMobil has plans to drill in the Arctic with a Russian partner Rosneft Oil, a target of U.S. sanctions. They have taken 20 billion of our tax dollars to help them. After the Exxon Valdez , Mayflower , Yellowstone River, Brooklyn and Baton Rouge oil spills, ExxonMobil has never demonstrated safety or remorse. I am asking Americans to boycott this dangerous and unconscionable corporation.

According to the North Pacific Research Board, the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas “sustain some of the most productive and highly diverse ecosystems in the world.” In order to maintain the same level of diversity and productivity that we find now, we believe that the Arctic must be protected from rampant development, which will not only degrade the ecosystem but also accelerate the warming of our earth.

The streets were a "river of fire" and "the whole sky was burning." That's how citizens of Lac-Mégantic, Canada described the scene after an oil train derailed and exploded in their downtown last summer. 47 people died that night. The Obama Administration is accepting public comments until September 30 on its new proposed oil train regulations. These new rules are not nearly strong enough and actually protect Big Oil's profits, while sacrificing the safety of threatened communities and the environment. After a record year of oil trains exploding, derailing, and spilling, it's time to stand up to Big Oil before the next disaster strikes.

We are recuperating from a nearly four year struggle against gentrification in my hometown of Peekskill, NY. The all Democratic Party mayor and council completely forgot there was a constitution, appealed to race-based fears and even turned violent as our support picked up. The people of Peekskill deserve fair treatment and decent housing.

If humans continue cutting or removing trees, without replacing them, causing more damage to the already tainted air supply for earth, then humans will eventually be extinct.