It is important for the well being of our students, staff & families to have the administrators remain in their positions. The Board members do not understand the job descriptions of these employees. They are looking at the bottom line number & are worrying too much about the possibility of town taxes going up.

Our democracy is in extremis as Donald Trump and members of Congress have actively attempted to subvert democracy and deny the will of The People. Reseating the United States Representatives who provably attempted to overthrow a fair election would be an abdication of duties by Congressional Leadership. Reseating these 126 representatives would also be sending a clear message that attacking our democracy will not yield consequences and thus will ultimately lead to its demise. It cannot be overstated that reseating these United States Representatives, in essence, aiding and abetting an insurrection, is itself an act that would be in violation of the 14th Amendment to our Constitution.

We have been part of a campaign to stamp Harriet Tubmans image on the $20 bill to cover that of Andrew Jackson. Obama/Biden set up a printing before leaving office to have a woman on the $20. That woman was to be Harriet Tubman. The plates were made, the printers ready for the next printing of the $20 bill. This should have happened at the end of Obama/Biden Administration. It ran into the Trump Administration for bureaucratic reasons and so Trump decided to stop that possibility. He did not want someone like Harriet Tubman (Black Moses) on U. S. Currency. We then started the campaign to put Tubman on the $20 bill. It went across the country and many people created a stamp and took it with them stamping $20 bills wherever they could. You could buy a stamp on Etsy as well as other places. We hope Joe Biden will take this up and reinstitute what He and Barack Obama set in place at the end of their term and the Harriet Tubman $20 will become a reality. It is extremely important that U. S. Currency like everything else in the United States reflects the diversity of its citizens. It is also important that its currency reflect the best in the United States history and not the worse.

As parent advocates we are pushing back on rumored Education Secretary nominee Lily Eskelsen García, who's a fierce opponent of school choice. As Jeanne Allen, president and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, notes in Forbes, "She has compared choice for poor kids to 'snake oil,' and has argued that 'everything about ‘school choice’ leaves students out in the cold.'"

Over the past four years, Americans watched as Donald Trump used fear and racism to divide our country and expand the inhumane immigration detention system, separate migrant children from their parents, and deprive refugees seeking asylum of their freedoms. We chose a new vision for America. One where we reject xenophobia and are committed to building a modern and functional immigration system that dismantles cruel policies, recognizes the humanity of immigrants, unifies families, and honors our freedom. That is why we must urge the Biden-Harris administration and every member of Congress, to take immediate action to protect immigrants who call this country home. In order to transform our nation’s immigration system, the new administration must: 1) Undo the cruelty of the Trump administration: Starting on day one, the Biden-Harris Administration must dismantle the punishing policies of the Trump Administration, starting with a moratorium on deportations, new arrests and detentions. Trump and his cronies weaponized an already merciless immigration system with 900 executive actions that inflict pain and terror on immigrant communities, and stained our moral fiber. 2) Create a roadmap to citizenship: Millions of undocumented immigrants live, work, and contribute to the United States every day and call this country home. Congress must immediately work on legislation in the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration that creates a roadmap to citizenship for every immigrant who calls this country home. It is long overdue and supported by an overwhelming number of Americans from all walks of life. 3) Build a new immigration system that is fair, humane, and functional: The Biden-Harris administration needs to transform DHS, CBP, ICE, and the other parts of our federal immigration system into a just immigration system that sees immigrants as full human beings, treats immigrants fairly, unites families, and welcomes immigrants as new Americans. It is time that we knit a landscape of people from different places and of different races into one nation. Together we can build a country where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential, no matter our race, birthplace, age, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It is time that we make the United States a place where “we the people” includes all of us. Join the new nationwide coalition that is coming together to fight for these demands under the We Are Home campaign: Community Change/Action United We Dream National Domestic Workers Alliance Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Farm Workers United Farm Workers Foundation America’s Voice Detention Watch Network FIRM/Action FWD.us The Immigration Hub LA RED/Faith in Action Make the Road Action Mijente NAKASEC NILC UNITE HERE UnidosUS UndocuBlack Network

Without adequate information or any input from the parents of TK age children (most of whom have other children currently attending West Side) the decision was abruptly made to end access of out-of-district children to the TK program at West Side. Our current understanding is that this was done for economic reasons. This change in priorities will negatively affect many of the families who currently have their siblings enrolled at school. Some families may have to take on the financial hardship of a 3rd year of preschool for their child. Keeping high quality programs available to families currently enrolled at West Side should be a priority during these difficult economic times for as long as the district can afford it. Not to mention, by not allowing siblings from out of district to attend the TK program we are opening up our families greater chances of exposure to the COVID-19 virus if they are enrolled in TK elsewhere. This has the potential to affect all of our families. I believe the district can find a way to afford to keep the program; to date, they have not clearly and adequately demonstrated their financial shortcomings to make the drastic measure of discontinuing the TK program, nor have we been made aware of other cost-saving measures they have taken that do not directly affect staffing, student services and our families. Having the two TK and kindergarten program benefits in-district, as well as out-of-district families and is part of why many have regarded our school as one of best early education programs in Healdsburg. Please consider signing this petition to show your support. We as parents chose West Side school because of the sense of family, community and diversity within it and pulling access to this program from the public is a disservice to us all.

The nearly 8% or $3 million + increase in the Elgin Police Department budget is excessive. This money should be reallocated to support community based services such as the creation of an Elgin Health and Human Services Department that would include mental health, addiction treatment, housing, food distribution, nutrition, education, recreation, job development, public transportation, accessibility to resources, infrastructure, etc. The Elgin Police Department’s proposed budget for 2021 is well over $51 million. This is absurd. Crime statistics are trending down. The community needs expanded social services not weaponized control. Over policing is a clear manifestation of systemic and structural racism. The community needs to hold the City Council, City Manager and Mayor accountable to prioritize community well being with investment in basic human dignity and the expansion of systems of social justice. El aumento de casi 8% o más de $ 3 millones en el presupuesto para el Departamento de Policía de Elgin es excesivo. Este dinero debe reasignarse para apoyar servicios comunitarios como la creación de un Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Elgin que incluiría salud mental, tratamiento de adicciones, vivienda, distribución de alimentos, nutrición, educación, recreación, desarrollo laboral, transporte público, accesibilidad a recursos, infraestructura, etc. El presupuesto propuesto por el Departamento de Policía de Elgin para el 2021 supera con creces los $ 51 millones. Esto es absurdo. Las estadísticas sobre delitos están a la baja. La comunidad necesita servicios sociales ampliados, no un control armado sobre la población. La vigilancia excesiva es una clara manifestación de racismo sistémico y estructural. La comunidad debe responsabilizar al Concejo Municipal, al Administrador de la ciudad y al Alcalde de priorizar el bienestar de la comunidad con la inversión en nuestra dignidad humana básica y la expansión de los sistemas de justicia social.

The proposed draft code is drafted in a manner that treats solar as a pariah, instead of helping to foster a positive relationship between agriculture, the environment, solar and the community. A well drafted solar code can help ensure that farmers and the community can benefit from additional sources of income, new agriculture, soil preservation and protection from irreversible permanent development. Farmland that hosts solar will not be sold for single family homes The Town of Moreau's 2014 farmland protection plan, projects the population in the R-5 zone could increase by 40% between 2010 and 2050. The report projected increase is the equivalent of 135 new homes. The plan also projected that the district would lose 770 acres to housing and an additional 800 acres for utilities and roads to serve the new residential development. In one scenario it was determined that a total of 5,028 new single-family dwelling units could be constructed at full buildout. A total of 1,561 could be built within the Town’s agricultural zoning districts. Within the R-5 zoning district, approximately 770 single-family homes could be built. With five (5) acre minimum zoning requirements, this would equal 3,850 acres of new residential parcels. Solar panels don’t require town services, they don’t go to school and they never call the police. Solar panels don’t require new roads or road maintenance by the town. Well designed solar farms allow agriculture to exist between the panels. Solar is a temporary land use unlike other forms of permanent development.

The Big 10 is clearly bending the rules here so they can allow a "reputable" football program to be in the championship. No other conference would do something this ridiculous. Indiana hasn't made it to a major bowl game since 1968 and they are scared that IU will not bring in as much revenue as OSU. We want to do right by all of the Hoosiers around the world and want to ensure that we have the chance to not only play in the Big 10 championship but the College Football Playoffs.

Oscar Cain Jr was a passionate leader and even traveled to Ferguson to support the Black Lives Matter community during protests for Mike Brown. He was well loved in the community and was a part of many different organizations that dealt with issues such as voting rights and housing equality. He was a strong advocate for police use of body cameras and spent much of his time educating and speaking about this issue. Ironically, Cain, a father of two small children, was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer that did not have his body camera on. Marquee Kelley, the Atlanta Police Officer who shot and killed Cain, claims someone told him they saw a man with a gun, and that when Kelley spotted Cain and tried to arrest him, Cain fled into a dark wooded area. According to Kelley’s story, he saw Cain with a gun in his hand so he shot Cain. Cain was shot in the back. He became the 7th activist who marched on the frontlines in Ferguson to die under suspicious circumstances. APD officer Kelley’s entire written report regarding the incident was three sentences and because Kelley’s body camera and dash camera were turned off when he shot Cain, there is no audio or video evidence of the shooting. Oscar Cain Jr was known to lead marches saying, “I am somebody and I deserve full equality. Right here. Right now.”

Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council found that the current Gibbstown site is out of compliance with federal, state, and DRBC rules governing pollution of the Delaware River from PCBs. The Gibbstown facility would be built on the former Dupont-Chemours-Repauno chemical site, which has historically served as one of the top 10 biggest PCB loading point-source facilities in the Delaware Estuary. PCBs are present on the land of the proposed Gibbstown facility as well as in the abutting Delaware River sediments. If the project were to be approved at Wednesday’s meeting, it would violate the Clean Water Act’s “Total Maximum Daily Load” program that establishes the maximum amount of toxic PCBs allowed to enter the section of the Delaware River where this project would be located. New Fortress Energy and its subsidiary Delaware River Partners have failed under the Clean Water Act to put in place an enforceable plan to prevent PCBs from seeping into the River -- despite a DRBC directive to do so. As you know, PCBs are a toxic chemical and known human carcinogens -- one of only a handful of chemicals ever banned in the United States. Releasing PCBs is an environmental and public health threat. Consumption of PCBs has been linked to adverse impacts on reproductive, immune, and endocrine systems, and can be especially dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children. The fact that the proposal is in violation of the strict water quality laws and regulations for toxic PCBs underscores that the review by the Delaware River Basin Commision has been inadequate. The current review has also failed to sufficiently consider public safety issues, harm to endangered species in the river, and the climate change impacts. Furthermore, we believe that it is critical that you delay any decision until President-elect Biden’s Administration has the opportunity to have his representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers review this project. The project would be the first in the country of this size to transport highly-explosive liquified gas by trucks and trains through densely populated areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and along the Delaware River corridor. This component of the project stems in no small part from the Trump Administration’s rule to rush approval of transporting highly-explosive liquefied gas by rail. Currently, all four of your State Attorneys General are legally challenging the Trump Administration’s rule and it could be struck down in court. It would defy all logic to approve the Gibbstown export facility while your own State Attorneys General seek to overturn how the liquified fracked gas would be transported. The Biden administration will have to deal with the consequences of the decision you are facing and should be afforded the opportunity to review the project. Given that he will assume office in one month, it is common sense to wait -- and not leave him with a likely Clean Water Act lawsuit and a polluting project that you have approved. Finally, since the DRBC’s last meeting in September, the Irish High Court struck down all the permits for New Fortress Energy to import the gas from Gibbstown to Ireland. There is no urgency for you to make this decision on Wednesday. Please do not approve a project that will violate the Clean Water Act and reverse decades of work to eliminate PCB pollution in the Delaware River. Protecting this river, a crucial resource and the drinking water for over 15 million people, is a sacred duty that deserves the greatest possible care.

Pickleball is ‘America’s Fastest Growing Sport’ and one that is enjoyed by players of all ages and abilities, spread by the grassroots enthusiasm of its participants. It is a sport more appropriate to the “People’s House” than Tennis, which developed under the aristocratic patronage of the Royalty of both England and France. Pickleball originated in the United States, created through old-fashioned American ingenuity and creativity when a planned family badminton game had to be cancelled due to the lack of correct equipment. While the large, space-hungry tennis court demands a high level of athletic conditioning, Pickleball is played on a much smaller court which allows for more efficient use of public land (in parks nationwide as well as in the White House lawn) and can be effectively played by a much broader spectrum of America’s casual athletes. Pickleball is also a much more community-based, social sport than tennis, encouraging people of all backgrounds to find common cause and enjoyment together. Changing the White House tennis court to multiple Pickleball courts would be an inspiration to increased fitness achievable by all Americans, as well as a of symbol both American ingenuity and the effective and efficient use of our public lands.