Stop using the modifier "illegal" to describe an undocumented person. And while we are at it, eliminate "alien" as it sounds like someone from "outer space"

The Ashland Parks & Recreation Dept. has had separate funding since the City Charter of 1908. The City is currently moving through Committees, rather than through a vote open to the general public, to take the monies the Parks & Recs has SAVED for a rainy day (remember the 1997 flood?) and put it in the City GENERAL FUND which will pay for other services first, and the Parks LAST.

The immigration reform bill recently introduced by the Senate made no specific provisions for LGBT citizens in binational relationships - our LGBT families were EXCLUDED and FORGOTTEN! Presently, the Federal Government recognizes only marriages between a man and a woman. As a result, same-sex couples are “legal strangers” in the eyes of the US government. To remedy the injustices same-sex binational couples endure – discrimination, separation and exile – Congress must include our LGBT families as they address Immigration Reform! Senator Leahy has promised that he will introduce the Uniting American Families Act as an amendment to address the omission of LGBT families. As of today, Senator Dianne Feinstein has not taken a public position on whether she will support the amendment!

A call for responsible journalism

Recently, Green Tree Mortgage, LLC took over the loan servicing for my mortgage. Each month that I receive my statement my payment shows double. When calling their representative(s) I am told that if the payment is received after the 1st of the month it is considered late. I/we are retired and only receive our retirement check on or after the 1st of the month so I cannot pay my mortgage until I have received my retirement check. Even though the late fee is not assessed until after the 15th of the month, Green Tree reports my payments as being received as late as the 19th of the month. There is no way that it takes 12-15days for them to receive our payment by mail. The only way that I can prove that they are lying about when they receive the payment is to send our payment via certified mail each month. Upon doing research on line to see if others have a similar complaint, I found over 1500 other people who have filed a consumer complaint. see http://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/greentree.htm?page=2. At a time when our economy is down, it seems abusive and predatory that this company would place the kind of pressure that it exerts on the populace. The company is either lying about when they receive the payments or when they post the payments. One of the people that I spoke with acknowledged that he was an investor in real estate, which seems like a conflict of interest to me. Perhaps someone should look into the composition of the members of the company to see how many of them would benefit from the customers loss of their property.

As an American-born Latina, I find it highly offensive to hear "illegal" to describe someone's race, in the media, by government officials and others that do not realize the impact of their words. You never hear undocumented immigrants described as "Latino-Americans" or "Chinese-Americans"—they are always identified by their immigration status rather than their actual ethnicity.

Except in direct quotations, do not use the terms illegal alien, an illegal, illegals, undocumented aliens or undocumented workers. Use the unmodified word immigrant only for people who have entered the U.S. lawfully. Do not describe people as violating immigration laws without attribution. If possible, specify how someone entered the country illegally and from where. Crossed the border? Overstayed a visa? What nationality?

On April 29, the Southern Tioga School Board illegally vote to fire the 28 union cafeteria employees and to subcontract their work to an out of town for-profit corporation. Our public schools are not for sale to the highest bidder!

WE ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THE INCOMPETENCY OF OUR CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN. NO COMMON SENSE ONLY SELF INTEREST.

The DC City Council is considering regulations which would make it nearly impossible for food trucks to operate. I love DC food trucks and want them to keep serving food.

Remove Seals and Sea Lions off the Endangered Animal and Protective Species Act.

My years of hard work are being effected by huge insurance companies. All my clients need my service. Without me as their broker, they wouldn't have any idea what to do. Please reduce costs from hospitals and pharmecuticals, not from brokers who work very hard to earn a buck.