The staff at Uniondale Public Library are dedicated and they work hard. They are not rich people, they are the working student, the single parent, the person struggling to make ends meet. We should have had a contract by now, the staff is suffering and deserve a fair contract. Sign the petition and let administration know that this is NOT how you treat your staff.

We knew the big banks would play dirty when officials in Richmond, CA announced a game-changing plan to stop the wave of foreclosures decimating their city. But we didn’t know they would stoop this low. The banks want to bully Richmond out of our plan to seize or buy underwater homes by threatening to make it more expensive for people to borrow money to buy homes if our plan passes. They know that if Richmond successfully implements their plan, other cities will follow -- and that would threaten the banks’ power. Thing is, there’s another name for this kind of bullying: redlining. It’s a tactic that was used for decades to maintain neighborhood segregation and keep people of color out of home ownership -- and it’s completely illegal. By threatening us, the banks are betting that our plan will lose political support not only in Richmond, but nationwide. That’s why we must hold them accountable for threatening illegal action right now. Sign the petition calling on the U. S. Department of Justice to investigate the banking industry’s threats. Decades of redlining kept qualified borrowers in working class communities and communities of color from having the opportunity to own a home. Then came reverse redlining, otherwise known as predatory lending: the banks peddled high-cost bad loans to unsuspecting borrowers. The result? More than 4 million Americans have lost their homes and decades of hard-earned wealth -- mostly in black and brown neighborhoods -- has been wiped away. Cities across the U.S., with Richmond leading the way, are developing a smart strategy to save homes from the bank-caused foreclosure calamity by acquiring troubled loans through purchase or use of eminent domain. This plan would effectively rewrite the rules of the game -- levelling the playing field so that homeowners have a fighting chance to keep their homes. The plan we have to save homes is fair, sensible and has the potential to help tens of thousands of families across the U.S. It’s a win-win solution that reduces foreclosures and blight, helping to stabilize home values and improve property tax revenue for our cities. The big banks and their allies are doing everything they can to intimidate Richmond out of pursuing this plan -- like any bully, they want to keep the game tilted in their favor. They’ve threatened the city with lawsuits, they’ve spread lies about the impact of the program. But their latest tactic -- threatening to make credit more expensive for homebuyers in any city that passes a similar plan -- is way over the line. Don’t let the bullies of Wall Street derail a program that will help communities across America recover. Please sign this petition calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Wall Street’s plans to discriminate against cities that use the laws at their disposal to fix bad loans and save homes.

In October, teachers, students, parents, community organizations, civil rights advocates and faith leaders met in Los Angeles and together endorsed "The Principles That Unite Us." Now, on Dec. 9, we're taking action in New Orleans as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing. We need our elected leaders to sign on to the principles. By signing this petition, you'll be telling the local board that you're united with us and that they should get on board. Together, we can reclaim public education as a propeller of our economy, an anchor of our democracy, and a gateway to opportunity for every child.

In October, teachers, students, parents, community organizations, civil rights advocates and faith leaders met in Los Angeles and together endorsed "The Principles That Unite Us." Now, on Dec. 9, we're taking action in Philadelphia as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing. We need our elected leaders to sign on to the principles. By signing this petition, you'll be telling Governor Corbett that you're united with us and that they should get on board. Together, we can reclaim public education as a propeller of our economy, an anchor of our democracy, and a gateway to opportunity for every child.

In October, teachers, students, parents, community organizations, civil rights advocates and faith leaders met in Los Angeles and together endorsed "The Principles That Unite Us." Now, on Dec. 9, we're taking action in Illinois as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing. We need our elected leaders to sign on to the principles. By signing this petition, you'll be telling Illinois State Senators and Representatives that you're united with us and that they should get on board. Together, we can reclaim public education as a propeller of our economy, an anchor of our democracy, and a gateway to opportunity for every child.

In October, teachers, students, parents, community organizations, civil rights advocates and faith leaders met in Los Angeles and together endorsed "The Principles That Unite Us." Now, on Dec. 9, we're taking action in Austin as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing. We need our elected leaders to sign on to the principles. By signing this petition, you'll be telling local officials that you're united with us and that they should get on board. Together, we can reclaim public education as a propeller of our economy, an anchor of our democracy, and a gateway to opportunity for every child.

To boost the economy.

Art Works Studio School and Art Works Now is an art education and social justice nonprofit that recently acquired 4800 Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville– with plans for a mixed-use project between Art Works and Pizzeria Paradiso. Recently, however, they found out that the property is eligible for historic site status. There is a hearing on December 17th to decide that status. Our community is asking that this property not be designated historic. Art Works believes they do not have the financial resources to properly steward an historic site; and the nonprofit has shown great respect for the narrative of this property and pledges to do so in the future. This issue came up because Art Works sought to add a small addition to the roof of the existing building to allow for a stairwell to replace the existing staircase that cannot be brought to code in its current location. If the property is designated historic, there will not be room at this site for both partners to occupy the space. Without the partnership, Art Works will not be able to afford to continue with this project and the building will continue to be vacant. Art Works has worked diligently with their architect to create a design that is sensitive to the existing building and its aesthetic.

Like I previously stated, this is about saving the young people. It's time you start stop GIVING A DAMN and work towards another solution. If you don't give a damn, who gives a damn about what you trying to do on other issues. I certainly don't.

In October, teachers, students, parents, community organizations, civil rights advocates and faith leaders met in Los Angeles and together endorsed "The Principles That Unite Us." Now, on Dec. 9, we're taking action in Corpus Christi as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing. We need our elected leaders to sign on to the principles. By signing this petition, you'll be telling local officials that you're united with us and that they should get on board. Together, we can reclaim public education as a propeller of our economy, an anchor of our democracy, and a gateway to opportunity for every child.

In October, teachers, students, parents, community organizations, civil rights advocates and faith leaders met in Los Angeles and together endorsed "The Principles That Unite Us." Now, on Dec. 9, we're taking action in Pittsburgh as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing. We need our elected leaders to sign on to the principles. By signing this petition, you'll be telling Gov. Corbett that you're united with us and that they should get on board. Together, we can reclaim public education as a propeller of our economy, an anchor of our democracy, and a gateway to opportunity for every child.

Breaking news: House majority leader Eric Cantor is working on a hawkish bill that would torpedo President Obama's interim agreement with Iran by setting unrealistic goals for the final deal. If he succeeds he’ll tie President Obama’s hands, destroy negotiations and edge us closer to another senseless conflict in the Middle East. This isn't a fringe bill - it's one that is gaining ground amongst Democratic members of the House and if we do nothing will become bipartisan*. We know diplomacy works - we've seen it in action over the last few weeks. The good news is we can squelch Eric Cantor’s plans by helping make sure our representatives do the right thing and support the President’s diplomatic efforts with Iran. We know that public pressure when it comes to foreign policy works - after all it was everyday people like you and me taking action that helped ensure that military action wasn’t on the table with Syria. Now we have a chance to not just fight back against a potential conflict - but to proactively build peace and diplomacy. This bill could hit the house floor as soon as next week. If we don't act now Congress could shatter the deal with Iran now and we would lose this once in a generation opportunity. The interim deal with Iran is a win for everyone - Iran has agreed to opening itself up to the potential of daily inspections and in turn the US has offered some relief from sanctions**. That’s why 64% of the American public, 100 rabbis and leading military and national security experts support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran***. By publicly pushing our representatives to do the right thing and support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran we show solidarity with everyday Iranians. A new poll released today showed that for many Iranians building democracy is their highest priority*. Notable activists have repeatedly said that the best way to support their work is by working towards diplomacy and the reduction of sanctions**. Diplomacy with Iran - is the best way for us to support change makers in Iran and in our national interest. Please sign this petition urging your representatives to back President Obama when it comes to Iran. *Fears mount that Dems will undermine White House on Iran. December 6, Washington Post blogs. *Cantor pushing for bill to define Iran deal, National Journal, December 3. **We have a deal with Iran, a good one. Slate. November 24. ***Americans support an Iran deal 2:1, Washington Post, November 20; 100-plus sign Rabbini call: “step by step towards shalom with Iran”, The Shalom center, November 24; Military and National Security Leaders Agree, American Security Project, November 26. *Iranians lukewarm on Rouhani, oppose Syria intervention, Logelog, December 6. **An Open Letter to President Hollande on the Geneva Talks, Iran Wire, November 20; Iranian