Many Americans believe slavery ended over a century ago. Although it is no longer legal, or socially accepted, it never ended. Slavery no longer manifests in a traditional sense. It does not look the way it did during the 300 year Transatlantic Slave Trade. Today Slavery takes the form of the business of human trafficking. It is modern day slavery. There are more than 27 million individuals who are victims of human trafficking. It is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. The business of Human Trafficking generates approximately 32 billion dollars a year in profits, second only to that of the international drug trade. Experts estimate that in America alone, there are over 100,000 children who are sexually exploited every year. Yet, law enforcement locates less than 2% of these children every year. If they are found, these children are often charged with crimes and treated as criminals. Perpetrators of this heinous crime prey on children with low self-esteem, which places many children at risk, and makes them vulnerable to becoming victims of sex and labor trafficking. The perpetrators of Human Trafficking abuse children physically, psychologically and emotionally through manipulation and force. We need to change our social perceptions, and see these children as helpless victims. Changing legislation will help change these perceptions, and provide the necessary support, and safe harbor that American children deserve. Sign this petition to support Senate Bill 75 so we can better identify the victims, and prevent, prosecute and protect our children from this organized abuse.

It's been a long time coming but now it's here. The Supreme Court has deemed it unlawful to sentence a juvenile to life without parole. But many juveniles who were sentenced in the past, and who have now served 25 years or more, are still being imprisoned. They should be let out, if they have done their time.

Every weekend the residents of this area are awakened by the sounds of drunken violence and mayhem and have suffered ill effects ranging from loss of quality of life to property damage. People are fighting and being beaten in the streets, and the 40th precinct is too under-resourced or unwilling to address it until someone dies. Stop this neighborhood from becoming the next hotspot of violence in the South Bronx.

It will be visually disruptive and we believe violates the "Resource Management Plan for the Soderberg Homestead Open Space" It also will not meet the goals outlined by the county to "provide more direct access to Horsetooth Falls and alleviate parking congestion at the upper trail head".

Democracy isn't simply, "One Person = One Vote". The fundamental principle behind our Democracy is the notion of Equal and Fair Representation. This is essential and foundational to a Democratic society. However our election process has devolved into a system that forces and manipulates our Representatives into a skewed ability to listen to their constituents and forces them to listen instead to the special interests and select few who can get them elected or re-elected. Let's join together to put an end to this system that pits our wallet against the wallets of Million and Billionaires and completely undermines our representatives ability to listen to us with respect and equality. I believe that the political climate is ripe now for a big change in how we elect our representation.

When the old Oak Mountain Gym was closed, it displaced several young wrestlers and eliminated summer freestyle and grecco roman wrestling. This sport is far to important to dismiss. We were not familiar with wrestling until my oldest son was approached by the Central Middle School wrestling coach, Tim Duffey. This was a very difficult time as we were at a crossroads, and the decisions my son was making were irresponsible. Coach Duffey knew my son needed wrestling. Through wrestling I have witnessed a boy transition to a young man. He has been taught self-discipline and self-respect. He has gained confidence and maturity. He has learned grace and humility. Wrestling has helped build all the characteristics that will eventually lead to my son being a productive adult. It is my hope that my youngest son has the same positive experience as well as all the boys that have the opportunity to participate in such a dynamic sport. This is why my family is so passionate about wrestling and urge that whatever can be done by the community should be.

Climate scientists around the world are virtually unanimous in telling us that climate change is real, and serious, and nearing tipping points, beyond which we may never regain a livable climate. Climate change deniers are virtually unanimous in getting their information from those who profit from the current situation, and who are trying to perpetuate American confusion about climate. We need leadership from President Obama now, to end climate confusion, and to get Americans focused on climate progress.

1911 was the last time Congresspeople were added to this body. Since then we have almost tripled our population. To have a representative government we need a reasonable ratio between those making the laws and those being governed. This is a graphic of the ratio over the last century: https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/405470_343792848966205_1186479552_n.jpg

As noted in a recent report of the Children's Defense Fund, U.S. children and teens are 17 times more likely to die from a gun than their peers in 25 other high-income countries combined. In 2010, children and teen gun death rates in the U.S. were over four times higher than in Canada, nearly seven times higher than in Israel, and nearly 65 times higher than in the United Kingdom. [CDF, "Protect Children not Guns Overview," p.1] The events in Newtown, CT in December 2012, were unimaginable, and yet, thus far, our nation has been unable to make legal and cultural changes to sufficiently protect children from the effects of gun violence. A campaign to develop awareness is necessary. We must never forget the horrible massacre of school children and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary in December of 2012. We must also be mindful of the children we may or may not hear about but whose death by gun violence most assuredly is felt deeply by their families, friends and communities. The proclamation of December as "National Children and Gun Violence Awareness Month" will honor the memory of those we have lost and build the awareness needed to create lasting change.

We support a return to excellence in California Schools. Top performing states spend $16,000 - $22,000 per student per year. California’s goal - for 2021 - is to spend less than half that amount per student. Meanwhile, California spends $60,000 per year per prison inmate, and one-half of our inmates are high school dropouts. Since 1980, we’ve built 19 prisons and 1 university.

I recently visited a sanctuary for abused farm animals. There I found cows, chickens, sheep and goats who had once been subjected to horrendous conditions, and were fortunate enough to be rescued and transported from hell to heaven. The animals which affected me the most, though, were the horses. Never before had I seen horses running free in a field. They looked so alive, flowing in a setting that was natural for them; they were in their element. When I returned to the city later that day, I again saw horses - but this time in a very different situation, drawing carriages full of people on a sweltering hot day. I looked at their heads hung low, their eyes full of sadness, their bodies full of pain. What I saw were broken spirits. There's nothing worse in life than a broken spirit, a living creature who has lost all hope. No one - human or animal - should be subjected to living out a life of such pain. And why are they in this position, anyway? Because some people think of horse-drawn carriages as quaint, romantic. Because some people capitalize on this imagery and make big profits off of it. We can't just stand by and allow this practice to continue. Please don't take horse-drawn carriage rides, don't add to the profits of cruel and exploitative carriage companies. E-mail City Councilman Mark Squilla today ([email protected]) and tell him and Philadelphia City Council to ban horse-draw carriages - for good. Let's help these horses to live out the rest of their lives in a sanctuary where they, too, can run free in the fields.

STOP FAST TRACK LEGISLATION ON THE TRANS-PACIFIC-PARTNERSHIP TRADE AGREEMENT