Safety of our children, pets and ourselves.

Not only is Rochester police union president Mike Mazzeo wrong to defend the officers who killed Daniel Prude – it’s his behavior and way of thinking that makes accountability for police and necessary reform impossible in Rochester, and across the country. Rochester’s Mayor, Lovely Warren, is calling on Mazzeo to resign. Please add your voice to this petition to help us broaden the pressure for his removal. Here is Mayor Warren’s statement: “For 30 years, the problem with policing in Rochester are cops like Mike Mazzeo that watch the video of Daniel Prude’s death and see nothing wrong. Who believe there is nothing wrong with driving Mr. Prude’s head into the street. Who believe there is nothing wrong with other officers standing by, joking and failing to intervene while Mr. Prude is dying. Who think it’s fine to just casually ignore him as he takes his last breath, and then callously and falsely inform his brother who begged for him not to be harmed. Mike Mazzeo and his ilk exist only to protect and serve themselves, and certainly not the people of the City of Rochester. It is time for Mike Mazzeo to resign, because his archaic ways of policing are no longer wanted in the City of Rochester.” Mike Mazzeo is doing everything he can to confuse the story about what happened and shift blame away from the officers responsible for Prude’s death. In a lengthy press conference, Mazzeo repeatedly insisted that these officers followed their training “to a T,” saying that if there’s a problem it’s not with the officers but with their training. Mazzeo didn’t explain if it’s part of protocol for officers to kneel on the neck of a handcuffed man, to never check on his condition or give him medical aid, or to laugh and mock at him as he is in clear distress. Mazzeo deflected criticism by telling reporters and the public they don’t understand police training, but when pressed, he admitted he doesn’t know the details of the training himself. Mazzeo claimed that he hadn’t seen the video of Prude’s death until it became public -- but city officials provided emails showing that he’d received the footage via email months ago, in April. Mazzeo has attempted to shift blame by going on the attack against Mayor Warren, calling on her to resign and saying that her administration is undermining the police response to protests in response to Prude’s death. It’s a textbook example of the playbook police unions use to shield violent and dangerous cops who are caught abusing their power and breaking the law: - When police are caught doing something that is clearly wrong, say they were following protocol and blame their training - Deceive and lie to obscure and confuse the truth about what happened - Attack city officials, activists, and others in a position to hold police accountable After blaming the system, politicians, and the public – everyone but police officers themselves – police unions will do everything they can to block meaningful changes to the system, and attack the leaders pushing for those changes. Police unions play a key role in maintaining the broken system that puts officers above accountability and endangers the lives of Black people, other people of color, and entire communities. If we want to transform policing in any meaningful way, it’s time to stand up to police union heads like Mike Mazzeo. Join us in broadening the call for his resignation.

When the punishment does not fit the crime: Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) wastes money; wastes lives, and spends $22,620 to kill a young dog. MCAS will immediately kill this young dog as soon as all legal deadlines end in mid-September. Protest this politically motivated action and support the rescue, adoption, and foster offers that have been made to allow him the life he has never had. Blaze, a young American Pit bull impounded at 10 months of age, has been held in maximum security at Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) since May 19, 2017. Over 3 years have gone by. He is not a “dangerous dog.” Blaze has not caused a “serious physical injury.” He was never used as a weapon and has caused no one ‘s death. The bite incidents (2) that resulted his incarceration in 2017 were well within the range of incidents that occur throughout the community, were preventable, and situational, secondary to living in a chaotic multi occupant household. There is no need to kill him to keep society “safe.” MCAS’s plans to kill him are retaliatory, driven by a need for absolute control and a commitment to the idea that killing is the best way of teaching a lesson to those with the courage to a challenge MCAS’s authority. The fundamental policy at MCAS is that that no one may ever question the validity of their decisions or offer alternative solutions. The rejection of public input and inclusive thoughtful solutions began with a regime change five years ago when the newly hired director began to systematically re-write all policies to exclude all professional consultations, rescue and public input, once important parts of decision making. It was in fact a hostile takeover, unfettered by oversight targeting removal of the public from its own government. The immediate escalation in killing that followed has been covered up, disingenuously explained away way as “socially responsible,” when no data has been presented that the community is “safer” with more killing. Killing just requires less effort. The agency, not the homeless animals unfortunate to be there, is “unhealthy and untreatable.” No questions are asked by government. Complacency and collegiality trump fact finding every time. The agency requirement that Blaze be killed when safe humane alternatives exist is a continuing pattern at Multnomah County Animal Services and is about vengeance, a revenge for which MCAS as of September 07, 2020 has willingly incurred boarding costs of $22,620. Blaze’s exemplary behavior under stressful agency generated circumstances has been extraordinary. Nearly all of Blaze’s life has now been spent in solitary confinement where he is only permitted visits behind a kennel door without contact allowed for 15 minutes or less, with those closely supervised by an animal control officer. The goal to discourage visitors has succeeded. But despite the fact that nearly all of his life has been spent in solitary confinement, Blaze has survived. His daily kennel monitor reports document a cheerful welcoming behavior and efforts to seek out positive attention from other animals and people passing by the outside of his cell. MCAS refuses to allow him to be evaluated by an expert professional with a diplomate in veterinary behavior medicine and rejects the opportunity to create a behavior plan and allow him to go to a 501(c)(3) placement partner as did previous administrations. This resort to autocratic rule is occurs because MCAS can simply run out the clock. MCAS’s deliberate refusal to acknowledge and respond to consultation and rescue offers from volunteers, community professionals, and rescues in all cases now is unconscionable. “Winning” by deliberately shutting out the community has led to increased killing throughout the county without any safety agenda served. Please contact the listed responsible parties in charge of this agency where every democratic principle has been removed. Ask that Blaze be permitted to live and help us in this county advocate for a humane democratic shelter, one that does not kill arbitrarily when safe and humane options exist and partners with the community that pays its way. Documents available upon request. Gail O’Connell-Babcock, PhD [email protected] Foster Pets NW Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog --- Contact list for responsible parties: Wade Sadler, MCAS Director: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-6233; (503) 988-7387 Jamie Waltz: Interim Director Dept.Community Services: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-7968 Interim Chief Operating Officer Peggy Brey: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-2999. -- The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners County Chair Deborah Kafoury: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-3308 Sharon Meieran, Commissioner District 1: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5220 Susheela Jayapal, Commissioner District 2: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5219 Jessica Vega Pederson, Commissioner District 3: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5217 Lori Stegmann, Commissioner District 4: [email protected] Phone: (503) 988-5213

According to recent reports from the Washington Post, the U.S. military has quietly stepped up airstrikes in Afghanistan — increasing civilian casualties and harm — while weakening its own requirements for transparency and accountability. This has meant a lot more people have been hurt or killed. A 10-year old boy lost a hand; a family left impoverished by the killing of its principal breadwinner. The U.S. military denies its role in these devastating incidents, despite clear evidence to the contrary. Endless wars are possible when people refuse to reckon with and account for the suffering they’ve inflicted. The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) holds the power to investigate and expose the truths of this endless military occupation. As we come up on the 19th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, it’s beyond time for the committee to do its job and hold hearings on any U.S. military cover up of civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

Trump’s Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf reportedly told intelligence analysts to downplay assessments on Russian election interference because they were making the President "look bad." Wolf’s politicization of the most fundamental and non-operations operations of government is the stuff of authoritarian regimes — twisting basic information used to make life or death security decisions just to appease Trump’s vanity. Incredibly, Trump wants to nominate Wolf as DHS Secretary and put him in this role permanently. But no one who believes this is acceptable behavior for the head of a government agency should have the job.

Because no one should lose their Condominium because the Manager of the Association loses entire year history and hires an attorney when they had no proof to pursue in court and add up excessive fees. The attorney uses his connection with the court to win a judgement and 4 Judges are protecting the 1st Judge. The manager failed to record payments made toward the judgement. The Condominium Board member who is a lawyer uses his law firm and connection with Cook County Sheriff office to remove me from my home of 13 1/2 years. Stating falsely that no payments were made when in fact payments were received and the manager never recorded and denied receiving them. The Sheriffs acted on this false information and showed up and remove me from my home. The association changed my locks and I have been fighting them ever since. They have removed all my earthly belongings I am homeless. November 14, 2019 Judge asked the board members partner only $89.00 is due? He said yes. I paid $90.00 on December 3, 2019 in front of the new judge. Now this judge has stated I can’t get a satisfaction of judgement paid and don’t ask any more. I pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance every month. This association, President the crooked accountant and Board member lawyer with his conflict of interest are determined to take my unit. Illegally renting it out without permit from the village of Glenwood, Illinois. I purchased my property and my mortgage company and I own my unit. No unit homeowner should have to endure homelessness because of unscrupulous attorneys and unethical judges.

The University's inaction in the face of ResStaff’s explicit concerns and action items over the last few weeks has made it clear that public health is not the priority. The University has repeatedly referred to the Wolverine Culture of Care, but has not extended this same care to us. If U of M administrators do not want to live up to the Michigan Difference, we will be the difference ourselves. Health comes first. ResStaff will not stand for anything less than policies and adequate resources that reflect this priority. As of Tuesday 9/8/2020 at 9PM, University of Michigan ResStaff have decided to strike on the basis of these demands: A. Regular access to testing for all of ResStaff (not only symptomatic individuals) B. Providing sufficient, effective PPE to ResStaff and Students C. Enforcement of social distancing and face coverings inside and outside of residence halls and dining halls D. Enforcement of currently unenforceable guest policy by non-student employees that can be seen by future employers or academic institutions E. Hiring and staffing to normal capacity for all facilities and housing teams F. More specific public and ResStaff communication and transparency G. Hazard pay for ResStaff H. A formal statement of no retaliation from Housing Administration should a ResStaff Union be formed A more detailed list with sub-items, as well as other resources, can be found on linktr.ee/umichresstaffreform. Tell University Housing to stop prioritizing its wealth, and start prioritizing the health of its students.

Postmaster general Louis DeJoy reportedly violated multiple campaign finance laws -- by paying back employees who donated to his favorite political candidates. That’s right: according to an explosive new Washington Post story, DeJoy -- a Trump mega-donor who has been trying to gut the USPS from the inside -- may have also sought to undermine our elections with illegal contributions. “Straw-donor” schemes like DeJoy’s violate the integrity of our political system. The House Oversight Committee has announced that it will investigate DeJoy in the coming weeks -- and if the allegations against him are true, he could face felony charges. But while this investigation unfolds, we must make sure Louis DeJoy can do no further harm to our democracy. Over the past few months, DeJoy has made drastic changes to overburden the USPS ahead of November’s election. We've seen the stories all over the news: public mailboxes being removed by the truckload, sudden personnel shake-ups, new restrictions for postal workers that limit their ability to bring us our mail every day… And now, it turns out his efforts to subvert our democracy may have begun long before he became postmaster general. The USPS Board of Governors has an obligation to defend the Postal Service from DeJoy’s dangerous schemes. If you agree that DeJoy must be immediately suspended, add your name now.

Right now, the Trump administration is in a mad dash to build a border wall before the elections in order to rally an increasingly violent racist base of supporters, seizing public and private lands and tossing aside over 40 federal laws. The flagship piece of the wall runs right through the city of Laredo, TX a densely populated city right on the Rio Grande river. If built, the wall would stoke further anti-immigrant hatred across the country, and impose destruction on border towns and cities for generations. There is no "national emergency" happening in Laredo. That is a manufactured story created by the administration. Laredo is actually safer and more peaceful than most US cities. The wall serves no actual security purpose. In truth, the wall is a symbol meant to stoke racism across the country. It also has lasting, devastating impacts on the communities in which it is built. The border wall in Laredo would carve a path of destruction through Laredo, TX destroying public spaces, historic structures, public parks, private homes, places of worship, even a children's home run by Catholic nuns. The wall is not just a fence, it would be a 30 foot tall prison wall more than twice the height of the Berlin Wall. It is a 200 foot wide security corridor, that would militarize the entire waterfront of Laredo, which is precious to the people of Laredo, and has been theirs for for 265 years. Laredo depends on the Rio Grand for 100% of it's drinking water. If built, the zone would not only cut off all 250,000 residents from accessing their river, the now federally owned zone would void over 25 federal laws protecting water, land and air quality. Stand with the vets who are defending their city. Please sign this petition to have our vets' backs. Also, CLICK HERE TO WATCH an epic video of the actions that vets and the community are taking to stop the wall. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=325605755230333 Thank you! FOLLOW US on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vets-United-To-Stop-The-Wall-111198500719227 Once you sign the petition, there are 3 other things you can do: 1) Send the vets a PERSONAL LETTER OF SUPPORT https://forms.gle/L2rZdn2e8YJc1EcP7 2) SIGN UP with No Border Wall Coalition for updates on the Vets' actions: www.noborderwallcoalition.com All solidarity is welcomed, Deepest thanks, Vets United to Stop The Border Wall, The No Border Wall Coalition, Laredo, TX

Now is the time to have paid sick leave for all Michigan workers! The COVID crisis has magnified just how vital paid sick leave is, and how unprepared we were when the pandemic hit. Paid sick leave has been proven to be an effective policy to reduce the spread of the virus. Paid sick leave for all workers is critical as we re-open, is the best way for businesses to stay open and would help get the nation working again while supporting public health. While Congress passed emergency paid leave for many, it was temporary and limited, omitting as many as 106 million workers nationally and 1.7 million working Michiganders, many of them essential workers and on the front lines risking their lives and further exposure. Many of these workers are disproportionately people of color, women, and low-wage workers. Michigan Paid Leave for All (MiPaidLeave4All) is a coalition of individuals, businesses, community groups and nonprofit organizations that have committed to organize and fight for the right of EVERY worker in Michigan to have access to paid sick time to take care of themselves and their loved ones when illness strikes. The coalition is composed of civil rights, economic justice, faith-based, and women’s rights organizations. Together, we are united in a long-term fight in Michigan for establishing Paid Leave for All. Combined, these organizations have decades of experience strategizing, organizing, and mobilizing on behalf of racial, economic and gender justice in policy making. We firmly believe that no singular group can bring about this change. Together, however, through a coalition built on trust, we will be able to fight for and amplify policies that enable workers to have the ability to care for the families they work to support and sustain without losing their jobs, incomes, or livelihoods. As a coalition of your collective constituents, we expect our goal of achieving a public health policy that affords paid leave for all Michigan workers to be heard, listened to, and supported by you. We know that working individuals, their families and the state are strongest with time to heal from illness or injury, to welcome a new child, to help a loved one recover, or to ease their passing. We believe that everyone should be able to take time to care for themselves or a loved one without risking their job or paycheck. Being there for family is what matters—no exceptions. Right now the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave for members of its workforce. Current laws have failed to keep up with the needs of our workers, families, or our businesses in the 21st century. Having widespread access to paid leave would also give workers the confidence in their employers to abate their fears and concerns about getting exposed to COVID-19 (and other likely communicable illnesses) while on the job. Despite existing protections from retaliation for workers who are exposed or who may need to take time off to quarantine because they or a close contact has been exposed, many workers are still concerned that without adequate paid leave policies, they will have to choose between risking their physical health and their financial health. It’s a zero-sum situation and lose-lose situation for our workforce and the power to rectify that is at our collective fingertips. This is a workers’ rights issue, an economic justice issue, a racial justice issue, and a gender equity issue. And as a matter of equity, it’s time for paid sick leave for all of Michigan workers, not just those who already are lucky enough to have access to it. Because of dedicated community organizing Michigan has a Paid Sick Leave law; however, the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that it is inadequate. We must update and expand it in the very short term in order to cover every working person, to provide paid leave for a longer period of time than the current law provides, and include health pandemics, as SB 961 sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss does. We urge you to support SB 961 so that Michigan is never caught unprepared again, whether the crisis is national or personal.

The Delaware River Basin Commission was established in 1961 by the Governors of your states and President Kennedy to protect this vital river basin that provides drinking water for over 15 million people. Yet right now the DRBC is failing to live up to its mandate with New Fortress Energy’s Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal project that will set a dangerous national precedent for the transportation of extremely volatile fracked gas by trucks and rail tank cars to export the gas overseas. The company is using the Delaware River as it’s testing grounds for an expedited plan to get around federal safety regulations instead planning to send hundreds of trucks and rail tank cars per day across the river watershed for export overseas from the site of an old DuPont munitions plant in Gibbstown, NJ. Trump signed an Executive Order last year to fastrack LNG by rail and his administration issued a special permit for this project. The DRBC wrongfully approved this project without looking at all the facts or providing the public with adequate input to express concerns and expert testimony over a year ago. This project has been cloaked in secrecy. Recently in July, the DRBC’s Hearing Officer ruled that they had done nothing wrong in handling this permit application or approval after formally hearing the case from a regional organization - Delaware Riverkeeper Network. The DRBC Hearing Officer ignored the potential impacts that this project can have on the water quality of the river including how the proposed site for the export terminal has PCBs and how these and other pollutants at the site could be disturbed by dredging the river. Furthermore, concerns about disturbance of pollution from the old DuPont munitions plant, including contamination with toxic and carcinogenic nitrobenzene, and others such as aniline, and mercury, have not been adequately addressed. The Hearing Officer also refused to accurately consider impacts on the ecosystem of the river including the federally endangered Atlantic sturgeon, rare freshwater mussels and their habitats at this location. Lastly, the DRBC refuses to look at the impact the over 1600 truck trips and up to two 100-car trainloads of LNG per day could have to the river basin as well as public safety. If there is a release of LNG in an accident, the fire burns so hot it can’t be extinguished, the vapor cloud can explode and cause catastrophic damage for miles, and people nearby can die. In fact, 22 rail tank cars have the equivalent force of the Hiroshima bomb. Thousands of people are speaking out. A large group of doctors and health experts and scientists have written about the dangers of the facility to public health. Let’s heed their warning. We ask you to reject the Hearing Officer’s findings, rescind the existing permit and stop this project!

George Floyd was murdered by the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25, 2020. On June 12, 2020, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously promised all Minneapolis residents a voice in envisioning a new system of public safety [1]. They said: “Police violence… [has] led to community destabilization, a decrease in public safety, and the exacerbation of racial inequities in Minneapolis” [1]. They said: “Together, we will identify what safety looks like for everyone” [1]. They said: “Our efforts to achieve transformative public safety will not be deterred by the inertia of existing institutions, contracts, and legislation” [1]. The Minneapolis City Council has not delivered on any of the promises they made on June 12. Instead, the City Council has been working quickly and quietly to rehouse the Third Precinct with a million-dollar lease at 2633 Minnehaha Avenue [2]. Although this particular lease fell through [5], the City Council has chosen: • to continue their plans to relocate the Third Precinct • to ignore their promises for an extensive community engagement process [1] • to deny residents any opportunity for official public comment on this project [3] • to cut corners and not complete the Racial Equity Impact Analysis for this project [4] Let’s stop them! To get involved, email us at [email protected]. Sources: [1] Minneapolis City Council Resolution No. 2020R-152. Available https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/MetaData/17459/2020R-152_Id_17459.pdf. [2] Minneapolis City Council Request for Committee Action 2020-00852. Available https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/RCA/6658. [3] https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Calendar/Council/upcoming. [4] https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/RCA/14663/Lease%20for%20Third%20Precinct%20REIA.pdf [5] https://www.startribune.com/deal-for-temporary-third-precinct-site-for-minneapolis-police-is-off/572432432/