Glenn Broadnax, suffering from anxiety and depression, walked into traffic near Times Square on September 14, 2013. When police attempted to remove him from the street, Mr. Broadnax reached into his pocket for his wallet. The police officers reacted by pulling their weapons and shooting at Mr. Broadnax. They missed, hitting two nearby pedestrians. Mr. Broadnax was initially charged with three misdemeanors, but prosecutors have convinced the grand jury to indict him for the assault of the two bystanders. The district attorney's office reasons that "[T]he defendant is the one that created the situation that injured innocent bystanders." At least one of the shooting victims has spoken out against this charge through her attorney. When police use deadly force in crowded areas without a clear and present danger, a tragedy has occurred. When the state places the blame for that tragedy on an unarmed, emotionally disturbed individual, the tragedy is compounded by injustice. For more information: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/nyregion/unarmed-man-is-charged-with-wounding-bystanders-shot-by-police-near-times-square.html http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/man-police-shot-at-charged-with-assault.html

Many eCig users know that eCigs have helped them quit using tobacco products. We would like to see the ordinance involving eCigs change and not be bundled with traditional tobacco products. Zero regulation is not our goal; instead, a separate regulatory framework that takes into account the benefits of this relatively new technology is desired-starting with the allowance of the sampling of eJuice flavors, with no nicotine, inside stores whose only product is eCigs and eCig supplies. For this to be more suitable to the public as a whole, an 18+ sign should be placed on any entrance and all patrons must be carded to ensure that nicotine products are being sold to adults only.

I am the CO of the Mid-Peninsula American Dream Council, MoveOn division. My members, my core council and I are all opposed to this open forum policy since it dilutes the MoveOn brand. Our legislative team has worked long and hard to develop working relationships with our Congresswomen and local politicians. When we, acting as the council and a part of MoveOn delivered petitions to their offices, our positions received a hearing. Now, we can deliver a petition and on the same day another group can deliver a petition against us and both will bear the MoveOn signature. There is no way we will be able to command the respect and attention we have worked to establish under these circumstances. We have followed MoveOn down every twist and turn its taken for the last 2 years, even picketing offices of friendly politicians because MoveOn wanted concerted action. We have gone to trainings and held trainings only to see nothing come of those efforts. (99% , anyone) We have accepted MoveOn's reducing the support it gives the councils we have worked so hard to build. Now we are being asked to share a progressive web site with organizations and people who are opposed to our goals and when we complain are told, "it doesn't matter." It matters to us a great deal and we will not accept this cavalier disregard of our complaints. The least the staff could have done was conducted a vote to register opinions. It needn't have been of all the membership, just the people on the original phone call-instead we got to talk about Thanksgiving. The staff disrespected us and our members and they apparently did it with the board's approval.

I’m Keisha Kuma, a mother of three from Georgia, and I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Insurance companies use to label me a pre-existing condition. And now, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is telling me this disease is “my fault.” He really said that someone with an undetectable, debilitating and chronic disease is at fault. He actually compared my disease to a car wreck: A pre-existing condition would be you then calling up your insurance agent and saying, 'I would like to get collision insurance coverage on my car.' And your insurance agent says, 'Well, you never had that before. Why would you want it now?' And you say, 'Well, I just had a wreck, it was my fault and I want the insurance company to pay to repair my car.' And that's the exact same thing on pre-existing insurance." He tried to walk back his comments claiming it was a “poor analogy” but clearly he just doesn’t get it. He’s the same guy who said he would do everything in his power to be an “obstructionist” of Obamacare. Will you stand with me to tell Mr. Hudgens that his actions are unacceptable and sign this petition calling on him to resign? When I was first diagnosed in 2010 I was admitted into the hospital for 10 days to learn how to walk again after the left side of my body went numb. Walk again I did. I was able to focus on getting better because I wasn’t worried about the doctors or the bills piling up. I was able to focus on the things that mattered because I had great insurance. I didn't have to worry about becoming a financial burden to my family. But many Americans were not so lucky. Before Obamacare, insurance companies were allowed to deny people like me health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Now the 129 million Americans who are like me and have a pre-existing condition - which is NOT their fault - do not need to live in fear. But the man responsible for making sure Georgians like me can get health insurance is do everything he can to turn me back into a pre-existing condition. We can’t trust him to do his job and implement health care! If Republicans in Congress and Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens had their way and repealed the law, we would go back to the old system where nearly 1 in 5 people who applied for coverage in the individual market was denied coverage. I'm not ready to accept this. And I'm not willing to go back to a world where my health was dependent not on a condition I have, but the whims of insurance companies putting their bottom line over my health. Join me in protecting Obamacare by demanding Hudgens resign or be removed from office. Thank you for your support, Keisha Kuma

Access to safe, comprehensive healthcare is essential to the lives of Michigan women and their families. That’s why Governor Rick Snyder, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and the Michigan Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all agree: the proposal to ban insurance coverage for abortion care is wrong for our state. We cannot imagine telling a victim of rape or a pregnant woman whose child will not survive that she should have had the foresight to purchase extra insurance to cover her medical care. Join the majority of Michiganders: Oppose legislation that restricts access to the medical care necessary to preserve and protect women’s lives.

During the Jodi Arias trial, Judge Sherry Stephens had no control of the case -- inside or outside of the courtroom. Judge Sherry Stephens has made a mockery of due process and our entire judicial system. The impetus to the circus atmosphere surrounding the case was Judge Stephens and her refusal to sequester the jury, against the State of Arizona's own recommendations, as affirmed by County Attorney Bill Montgomery. The result was a jury subjected to trial-by-media. Additionally, Judge Sherry Stephens refused to admit exculpatory evidence into trial and allowed the State of Arizona's speculation to be admitted into evidence. Furthermore, Judge Sherry Stephens refused to admonish prosecutor Juan Martinez for his numerous violations -- in and out of the courtroom -- violations that should have resulted in a charge of prosecutorial misconduct as well has his removal from this trial. For these reasons and more, we feel that Judge Sherry Stephens is unqualified to handle this case, is heavily biased and not impartial, and we respectfully request the dismissal of Sherry Stephens from the Jodi Arias penalty phase proceedings. We request a new judge who is impartial, per our 6th amendment guarantee, as a new jury will be selected for the penalty phase. A new judge will also refuse to allow prosecutor Juan Martinez to utilize his antics that have been approved by Judge Sherry Stephens, and, as result, tainted the court of public opinion, the media, and, most importantly, the jury. We would like to see action taken on this immediately by the appropriate authority or authorities. Thank you for your consideration, and thank you for considering our constitutional rights that must be preserved.

The Government has known for at least 75 years that asbestos causes cancer, but it has never funded a program to help diagnose and treat veterans, many of whom contracted the disease while serving their country. The time for the VA to help vets exposed to asbestos in the line of duty is long past due. We're simply asking that the VA fulfill its duty to these brave men and women by funding the "Elmo Zumwalt Research and Treatment Center" at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, asap.

Sample Email: To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: Friday December 6 Agenda Item 13-375 Message: I urge the mayor to purchase the coast line from Olowalu to Lahaina for the purposes of preserving it for recreational, cultural, scenic and environmental purposes. The Maui County Council has a last opportunity this Friday Morning to approve the purchase of 2.5 miles of shoreline, 186 acres, to be used to create a continuous beach park from Olowalu to Puamana, at the beginning of Lahaina. It is likely that if this acquisition is not approved before the seller's end of year deadline, the land will be subdivided and the shoreline will be covered permanently by continuous private walled beachfront estates. This would be a tragic missed opportunity. The Mayor informs us that the funds are available if the Council approves the purchase this Friday morning. If you can attend Friday's 9am County Council meeting, please take the time to attend and offer personal testimony in support of the purchase. This will probably be the last opportunity to do something great for future generations. This land is 277 acres of the former Waihee Dairy, with 1.5 miles of shoreline was slated for golf course and luxury housing development. It was conserved in perpetuity through the hard work of community members and government visionaries who believed in the importance of preserving some of Maui's disappearing coastal lands in perpetuity for recreational, cultural, scenic and environmental purposes. It is permanently open for public shoreline access and being restored to 100% native species habitat for all manner of endemic plants, birds and other species. Let's work together to preserve a major section of West Maui's rapidly developing shoreline!

My name is Neil Heslin. My son, Jesse, was in first grade -- just six years old -- when he was killed December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The gun used to kill my son and 19 other children that bright December morning was a Bushmaster XM-15, a civilian version of a military weapon. This gun is a profit center of Freedom Group, which makes Bushmaster and other brands of assault rifles. Cerberus Capital Management owns 94% of Freedom Group and collects the tainted profits. One year ago, Cerberus made a promise to sell its interests in Bushmaster. But now Cerberus executives are dragging their feet instead of honoring their promise, quietly trying to keep profiting off the assault weapon that killed my son. On September 24th, I went to the company’s headquarters in New York to remind the executives about the promise they made, but they ignored my request for a meeting. Help me make it uncomfortable for investors to profit from gun manufacturers like Freedom Group, to profit from murder. I ask Cerberus again to cleanse itself of this blood money and uphold its promise to sell off its interests in Freedom Group and Bushmaster, not just in memory of my son, but in the hope of saving lives. Please join me to make it possible to hold Cerberus accountable. Remember Jesse and sign this petition. Thank You. Neil

In October, parents, students, teachers, school staff, 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 around the country 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 parents, teachers and schools staff, 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 Congress 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.

Our sister state, Oregon, has beaten us when it comes to higher education reform. In fact, as the Seattle Times reported in June, “[Washington State] has cut funding to colleges and universities by about 50 percent since 2009, and Washington now ranks near the bottom in funding per student among all the states.”

We need legislative action to stop the monthly tax-free mass transit limits from being lowered. This hurts everyone that really needs it. Effective January 1, 2014, the monthly tax-free mass transit limit has been reduced from $245 to $130.