1.3 million Americans stand to lose unemployment checks by year's end. Congress must pass legislation approving an extension before they going on their taxpayer funded vacations.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is undertaking an unnecessary and highly controversial data sharing program with a private, non-governmental entity, called inBloom, Inc. They are creating a massive database for the storage and eventual release or sale of information, including confidential and sensitive “personally identifiable information” (PII) of millions of New York State school children. NYSED is capturing and uploading this information without first obtaining consent from parents or legal guardians. In many cases, data is being captured and uploaded without even parental or guardian knowledge. This information consists of more than 400 data points per child and will be stored in a “cloud,” hosted and managed by inBloom, or vendors of inBloom’s choosing. These data points include: the student’s name, address, academic record, test scores, detailed disciplinary record, attendance/ absence record, economic status and income information, special education status (i.e., IEP, 504), parent and family circumstances, medical and health records, and more. NYSED’s actions violate the privacy of New York State’s public and charter school children, as well as those of their parents and legal guardians. Parents and guardians have the right to decide who has access to confidential information about their children. Parents and guardians have the right to review any PII about their child currently on file with their local school district and NY State. They have the right to be notified of any intention by NY State to share and/or sell confidential PII about their children. If they do not wish to have this information stored or disseminated, they should be given the right to have this information withheld or removed from the State's database, and/or any database of any entity engaged by the State. The potential dangers to children by the transfer of their PII to cloud storage are substantial. The data can be hacked, sabotaged or otherwise compromised. Even the “authorized release” of this data by the State and/or inBloom could result in significant harm, including stigma and discrimination against children as they progress through their elementary or secondary education, college, future employment and life. NY State is the only state in the country that is uploading this highly sensitive, confidential PII with inBloom. All other states that originally contracted with inBloom have cancelled their programs due to the privacy and vulnerability concerns stated above. We the undersigned oppose the creation of this database and the collection, storage, and release (potentially to for-profit companies) of any and all confidential and private PII without the express consent of parents or legal guardians. Accordingly, we demand the following: • Immediate cessation of all transfer of PII to inBloom, and/or its partners, and/or affiliates; • Immediate termination of NYSED’s contract with inBloom; • The swift passage of strongly worded legislation that 1) protects the privacy of students and safeguards PII, 2) provides parents/legal guardians with the opportunity to decide who has access to PII about their children and the right to withhold such information from NYSED, 3) requires explicit written consent of parents/legal guardians before NYSED can disclose PII, and 4) imposes civil and criminal penalties on those who violate State privacy laws. • Review and restrict the number and type of data points NYSED is allowed to obtain from school districts; review the financial and emotional costs to the students, parents and taxpayers of New York State related to NYSED’s current contract with inBloom, and the current uploading of PII; and assure the immediate termination and punishment of any government official found to have caused harm. We call on the officials listed above to stop NYSED and inBloom and put an end to the invasion of student and parent privacy. We are resolved to protect the children of New York State.

I am starting this petition because I believe that it is inappropriate, whether you disagree with Slutwalk or not, to discuss under-aged girls in such a way in public when you are probably three times their senior.

To help slow down and prevent this influx of police officers stereotyping and primarily targeting minorities because of their fear of them. Many of us cannot even walk home without being harassed and it is ridiculous when our critics talk about us "looking suspicious" and basically stooping to the level of the officers. I want to start this petition in order to address and call out this racist officer of the 103 Precinct, and make sure this is not something that is "settled out of court". Paying off the people they know they profiled is a primary reason this continues to happen. I do not want that to be a recurring thing and want to be the person to help stop that.

We are sick of being ripped off for basic services including trash pick up.

There are way too many children dieing because of gun violence. We are the most armed country in the world, so saying that owning guns prevents violence is an absolute falsehood.

The people must take action to curtail gun violence as much as possible and make responsible gun ownership in NJ the standard by which other states can aspire to emulate. The gun manufacturing industry understands that these random spree shootings like Aurora Co., Sandy HooK Elementary, etc will not stop without action being taken. Still it has done nothing. To the contrary, the industry seeks to blame society & lobbies legislatures to allow its products to be enhanced in ways that only further this violent activity. Divesting state pension funds from the gun industry will send a clear message that New Jersey is taking an active role to end gun violence and irresponsible gun ownership in our society.

Some cities and states have divested funds from the gun industry into other areas. Illinois should be able to do the same.

Deaf audiences in Seattle have made attempts since 1989 to educate the Seattle Men’s Chorus about the appropriate placement of ASL Interpreters, but have been ignored. Mr. Gallagher is popular and well liked with the hearing audiences, but he is not an effective interpreter. The purpose of an interpreter is to provide access to Deaf audience members, which has not happened. Seattle Men’s Chorus has as consistently prioritized their personal relationship with Mr. Gallagher above those of the needs of the Deaf audience, which he is supposed to serve. Please see this Open Letter for more information - http://openlettertosmc.blogspot.com/2013/12/open-letter-to-seattle-mens-chorus.html

In 2005, I was one of the founding educators of Validus Preparatory Academy in Bathgate, Bronx, New York. Not long after the Academy opened, two of my students were shot in random acts of violence. They were promising young people who had overcome huge hurdles to attempt what is almost impossible in the South Bronx--a lifestyle of success, of raising a family, of living a good life. They didn't get the chance. Nadairee Walters, age 17, and Martin Jackson, 18, lost their dreams for no good reason except that guns on the street are the norm in too many communities. Additionally, I'm also an educator who frequently works with children in the early grades. They are so full of life and promise, love and laughter. It is no cliche that they are our future—and in caring and protecting these young lives, we show the best part of who we are as a people. For months after December 14, 2012, I was haunted by the vision of some of my little students being cruelly slaughtered and dying in fear, pain, and without the comfort of their parents' love. We owe it to our children and ourselves to do everything possible to truly make sure our saying "never again" is a solemn vow rather than an aspiration. Please add your name to this petition urging Governor Cuomo to make sure New York state has no investments in the gun industry.

This petition is being started because too many of our American citizens are being killed by guns that are not owned legally.

My son is in custody for over two months on a bogus DUI and is being represented by an incompetent public defender who did not show up at the hearing, who has ignored his phone calls and who has advised him not to have a jury trial even though he wanted to. Blood results show "negative" for blood alcohol. DUIs destroy lives, being compelled to face incompetent attorneys over bogus DUIs is a problem I have found out not only faces my son. Investigation of DUIs at West Jordan and other places in imperative.