The Biden Administration has just released a U.S. intelligence report that clearly states that "Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi." (1) But while the U.S. government has placed sanctions on many of the assassins involved, the Biden Administration has not placed sanctions on the man who ordered the assassination -- Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman. (2) Under the U.S. law the Global Magnitsky Act, the U.S. government can place property sanctions and a U.S. travel ban on human rights violators. (3) By not placing sanctions on Saudi Arabia's brutal ruler, the Biden Administration is sending the terrible signal that the U.S. will maintain its relationship with Saudi Arabia's dictatorship instead of standing up for human rights. President Biden should immediately place a travel ban and sanctions on Mohammed bin Salman. It is time for the U.S. to end its alliance with the Saudi monarchy. (1) https://freedomforward.org/2021/02/26/u-s-intelligence-report-on-saudi-monarchys-murder-of-jamal-khashoggi-pdf/ (2) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/26/jamal-khashoggi-mohammed-bin-salman-us-report (3) https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/13/us-global-magnitsky-act

Recent U.S. airstrikes in Syria on alleged Iranian-backed militias are a stark reminder of the choice we face: continue the same failed “maximum pressure” campaign towards Iran with its countless deaths and unrest OR take the proven path of peace by returning to diplomacy. Missile strikes, retaliatory bombings, and the ever-present danger of all out war aren’t inevitable. The good news is, there’s an offramp toward diplomacy available right now. President Biden has to take it by rejoining the Iran deal (the JCPOA if we’re being fancy) — quickly. Rejoining the Iran deal is the ONLY way off Trump’s path to war with Iran. And it’s up to us to show the Biden administration that there is a MASSIVE movement of people who want a world built on peace and justice, not senseless war.

A just-declassified intelligence report directly implicates Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and dismemberment at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The U.S. government must act immediately to hold MBS accountable. The Saudi regime has expertly lobbied, donated, and flattered U.S. decisionmakers from both parties for years, and Biden’s team is not automatically immune from this corruption and influence. With the declassification of the ODNI intelligence report, we have a chance to shine a light on this corruption — and we’ve got to seize this moment to provide justice for Jamal Khashoggi. Add your name to urge President Biden to use his authority under the Global Magnitsky Act to sanction Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

We have a right to clean air. In light of the recent fire at EMR, reports of air pollution, explosions and smells coming from the various industries in our community, hearing that GP Gypsum wants to increase their output extensively is extremely distressing and should be unconscionable considering we are designated as an Environmental Justice community. What does that designation mean if not that there is a dire need to reduce emissions and not allow them to increase? We love our community, and we need it to be healthy. Increasing emissions from any source in the neighborhood would be a huge step back and jeopardize public health in a City where childhood asthma rates are an alarming 33% (compared to 9% in NJ). We need the Department of Environmental Protection to protect our community from increased pollution and risk!

Congress has not raised the minimum wage in more than a decade. Yet the cost of housing, transportation, food, and clothing has soared. Amidst the worst economic crisis in a century, families need a higher minimum wage. Now. In cities and states that have raised the minimum wage to $15 or higher, the results have been positive. More jobs, more income, more economic security. But many states, led by right-wingers, still refuse to raise their wage above the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. Democrats could use their control of Congress and the White House to raise the minimum wage to $15. But the Senate parliamentarian ruled it can't be done by reconciliation. And the filibuster means they'd have to find 10 Republican votes for a $15 minimum wage, which is very unlikely. Senators must end the filibuster so Congress can finally raise the wage to $15!

Voters elected Democrats to the presidency and to a majority in both houses of Congress, expecting Democrats to deliver real relief for the American people and invest in lifting us all up. That includes increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour—an essential and long-overdue measure that would increase quality of life for tens of millions of people currently working for starvation wages. Republicans stand in opposition to a minimum wage increase, as they always do. But Republicans have shown, again and again, they aren't interested in serious governing or helping deliver for the American people. It's time for Democrats to stop waiting for Republicans—and to stop allowing a minority party to set the agenda in Washington. Democrats have been advised by the Senate parliamentarian they can't include a wage increase in the covid relief bill. They fear that Republicans will use the filibuster—the regular tool of obstructionists who used it to support Jim Crow laws enshrining segregation and inequality and block progress ever since—to block a stand-alone bill. It's time for Democrats to recognize that the American people care about our wages, real relief, investment in jobs and our community—and we don't care about antiquated protocols. Democrats: Deliver the wage increase, however you can. Do it now. Americans are relying on you and will support you if you can deliver on this popular, essential, urgent need.

1. A safety issue currently exists on this road due today for the many kids riding bikes to get to the nearby parks and Granger Paths, for the mom's pushing baby strollers and walking dogs, for the many cyclists and other pedestrians that use this route. 2. There are plans in progress to develop six additional homes on this street, which will only add to the street traffic and create new safety issues of cars turning into & out of those driveways and higher automobile traffic. 3. Granger Paths does not include this strip of street on any of its future roadmaps for development. 4. 80 ft. of right of way exists along the edge of the road, so there is room to do this.

While Whole Foods billionaires' wealth continues to skyrocket, frontline grocery workers are left to grapple with COVID-19 outbreaks in stores throughout the nation. Why? Because Whole Foods doesn’t provide the paid leave employees need to stay safe or care for their families—forcing them to choose between their paycheck and coming to work if they were exposed to the virus, if they are sick but don’t have access to a test, or leaving a loved one who needs care alone at home. Whole Foods can afford to do better. The grocery store chain and its parent company, Amazon, are raking in profits during the pandemic. To slow the spread of the virus among Whole Foods employees and customers, CEO John Mackey needs to immediately institute a permanent comprehensive paid leave policy. That includes guaranteed paid sick time, paid family and medical leave, and paid time off to be vaccinated.

Replacing the current fleet with all-electric, non-polluting vehicles will prevent many thousands of premature deaths, reduce toxic exposure for the delivery drivers themselves and significantly reduce the US Governments’ CO2 emissions. It would also boost US-based EV vehicle manufacturing and charging infrastructure build-out, creating well-paid jobs and reducing costs and removing barriers for everyone to go electric. These vehicles will be on our roads for the next 20-30 years. We know that weaning ourselves off carbon fuels is essential to avoid more catastrophic climate changes. Please join me in urging the USPS Postmaster General and USPS Governing Board Members to change this decision and electrify the fleet. --------------------------------------------------------- Sources: (1) USPS.com, "U.S. Postal Service Awards Contract to Launch Multi-Billion-Dollar Modernization of Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet". https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0223-multi-billion-dollar-modernization-of-postal-delivery-vehicle-fleet.htm (2) Reuters, "U.S. Postal chief commits to 10% of new delivery fleet as electric vehicles". https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-postal-service-vehicles/u-s-postal-chief-commits-to-10-of-new-delivery-fleet-as-electric-vehicles-idUSKBN2AO2LI (3) USPS.com, "USPS position on Next Generation Delivery Vehicles". https://about.usps.com/news/statements/011516.htm

COVID-19 has devastated Arizonans. Arizona's jobless rate is 7.5%—higher than the national average. 239,000 Arizonans fell behind on rent as of February 2021. Over 1 in 3 have trouble covering basic household expenses. Nearly 700,000 are struggling to keep food on the table. We just passed a devastating milestone as a country: 500,000 Americans dead from COVID. Millions more have experienced deep and lasting health effects from getting the infection. Their lives will never be the same. And we’re still feeling the economic consequences of COVID, as we remain on the brink of massive unemployment and eviction crises. The pandemic is far from over. The economic crisis is ongoing. Sen. Sinema must join the vast majority of Democrats—and Americans overall—who are fully supportive of this COVID relief package.

As tax-paying residents of Prince George’s County, we want our Board of Education to function in the interest of its parents, students, and community members.

The Freeze Relief in the form of cancellation of February utility bills or payment of all Texas residents lights, gas and water bills by the State will provide a high level of relief for Texas residents as we struggle to recover from this natural disaster. Already residents have received light bills in excess of $1000’s of dollars for their electric bill for a disaster they didn’t cause, contribute to neither could they control it. Currently in Texas, FEMA is offering water and few generators due to the freeze however devastated communities and residents should be relieved from the burden of paying utilities bills they did not foresee coming. We understand FEMA is also offering Small Business Loans for relief for those who are qualified, however we are calling on Texas Congress to provide payment in full or complete cancellation of all Texas residents lights, water and gas bills caused by the Freeze because many households are left without the ability to pay these excessive bills and because they were without these services for an extended period of time.