Republicans in Congress are holding food assistance for 42 million Americans hostage to force through Donald Trump’s budget — a plan that would raise healthcare premiums for millions of working families while handing out new tax cuts for billionaires.  USDA has used a contingency fund to make sure no one went hungry, and food assistance has never been stopped during a shutdown.  But now, the Trump administration is refusing to release funding for food assistance programs like SNAP. USDA under Trump is deliberately refusing to deploy the $5 billion SNAP contingency fund — a decision meant to pressure Democrats into passing the Republican budget that favors the billionaires at the expense of everyone else.  This isn’t just political brinkmanship. It’s cruelty--especially for Rural America, who use SNAP at a higher rate than Americans in larger cities.

More than 40 women testified in 2021 to medical misconduct at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC), and an investigation by the Senate found alarming reports of mistreatment by Dr. Mahendra Amin—who was not a board-certified OB-GYN—at ICDC and a failure by ICE and the private group operating the detention center to appropriately oversee the medical providers hired or intervene when complaints were made.  The Senate review committee found that Dr. Amin was "aggressive" and "inappropriate" and that his medical treatments were substandard. Many of the women subject to Dr. Amin’s harm report continued physical pain and uncertainty regarding their fertility.  It is abhorrent that dozens of women were subjected to these abuses under LaSalle Corrections' care.  It is abhorrent that Dr. Amin continues to practice in Southeast Georgia. And it's abhorrent that ICE has decided to reopen ICDC despite its traumatic and shameful history.  Add your name to the petition to say NO to resuming jailing immigrants at the Irwin County Detention Center and demand its closure once and for all! 

The recent acquisition of Dominion Voting Systems by Liberty Vote highlights a dangerous reality. Our election security is at risk; the most essential part of our democracy is our right to vote unmolested.  When the Oligarchs seek to undermine our democracy through technology, it is often the case that older, tested methods can foil their complex means of manipulation.  In essence, to outmaneuver their intent to manipulate our constitutional vote to free and fair elections, we must demand that our State, Governor, Assembly, and Senate lead the way for other Democratic states to follow.     We have led the way with Prop 50, and we encourage our leadership to continue this trend by taking steps to protect our rights as Californians and as Americans to free and fair elections. 

SB 2420 expands state surveillance powers and undermines the confidentiality of personal communications and online activity. Texans should not have to sacrifice privacy to participate in public life or express their views freely. This bill sets a dangerous precedent for government overreach and violates the spirit of constitutional protections guaranteed under both the U.S. and Texas Constitutions.

1. Many residents have schedules that are prohibitive to attending City Council meetings. The recordings we have of the regularly scheduled meetings allow us to review the dialogue that occurs and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at play. How is this any less relevant for committee meetings, which so many people describe as "where the action occurs." 2. This is long overdue. See https://share.google/yQCi0GwKls6x8K0MR and https://share.google/HyZIUaHVB2ZHpjbr9 we gather that Mayor Levin is worried about how recording would impact cost and the continued ability to foster open dialogue, A) Livestreaming is free and B) Recording actually shouldn't be prohibitive to elected officials conversing in a candid manner. In addressing the mayor's concern that snippets of recorded meetings could be posted to social media and potentially subject to poor contextualization, isn't the same risk applicable to ANY meeting that is recorded and made accessible to the public? 3. Other neighboring communities (Hinsdale, Lombard, Naperville, and Addison to name a few, indicate on their websites that they record committee meetings. Is it not worth considering why they are willing to take this extra step to strengthen community transparency)? Please therefore consider placing Michael Bram's request to record committee meetings on the agenda for a vote. He has asked twice, and neither request has ever made it to the agenda.  As residents, we understand that maintaining and improving our town requires an ongoing investment. Yet, the more that is asked of residents, the more that residents have a right to evaluate the conversations and information that ultimately drive decisions that affect all of us.  Please take steps to preserve the transparency that is so critical to our moving together as what Elmhurst truly is--a community. Thanks for your time and consideration.

Every citizen of the United States should sign this petition. This petition is a reminder to our elected leaders to uphold their oaths of office and not play political games with the American People. The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, everyone should read it. This document is the foundation of the United States Government, it literally defines the government, it's powers and duties. Checks and balances between the branches of government are extremely important, they protect the integrity of our nation. Without these checks the nation goes into a constitutional crisis, which is extremely dangerous to our freedoms and democracy. The founders who wrote the United States Constitution trusted the branches to uphold and defend the Supreme law of the Land, that is why they all are required to take the oath of office: President of the United States oath "... protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" All other elected/appointed to an offices oath "...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic..." Please take a moment and sign this petition and help remind our elected officials of their oath of office. Let us protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. 

The far right is scapegoating noncitizen residents as the source for every problem facing the United States. In turn, the Supreme Court has green-lit the indiscriminate detention of our neighbors based solely on skin color, native language, and employment, regardless of citizenship status. However, our Constitution protects everyone, regardless of citizenship status. It is time that our Village ensures everyone is equally protected during these unprecedented times. 

1. Protecting Veterans and Public Trust:  Phoenix VA Police officers are entrusted with protecting veterans, employees, visitors, and federal facilities. Concerns involving substantiated racial harassment, retaliation, and leadership misconduct raise broader questions regarding professionalism, integrity, judgment, and public trust within a federal law enforcement environment.  2. Federal Civil Rights Concerns:   Official findings substantiated racial harassment involving an African-American employee within Phoenix VA Police leadership structures. These concerns directly implicate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and broader federal workplace protections intended to prevent discriminatory and hostile work environments.  3. Leadership Retention Despite Findings:  A major concern is not simply that findings existed, but that Phoenix VA Health Care System's  "Executive Leadership" retained the same management officials despite awareness of substantiated findings, complaints, and workplace concerns over multiple years. Critics argue this reflects a broader culture of institutional protectionism rather than accountability.  4.  Whistleblower and Retaliation Concerns:  Employees and observers have raised concerns regarding retaliation, intimidation, and the dismissal of employees as “disgruntled” after reporting misconduct or workplace concerns. Such perceptions can discourage reporting, damage morale, and weaken confidence in internal accountability systems.  5.  Preservation and Public Awareness:  This publication exists to preserve publicly accessible information regarding Phoenix VA Police leadership history, substantiated findings, oversight awareness, and workplace culture concerns so that current and future employees, applicants, veterans, and members of the public may independently review and assess the documented record. 

People should join because words can only get something so far. Your voice is the strongest thing you can use. Stop wasting time arguing with others. You’re pitting each other against each other. Use your voice to incitereal change-it’s possible. 

In the dead of night, armed federal agents in military fatigues raided a Chicago apartment building, breaking down doors and pulling hundreds of people — many of them children — from their homes, where agents detained them, zip-tied, for hours. Across the city, agents have been indiscriminately teargassing crowds of people, despite court orders. This is the horrifying reality of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). These military-style raids aren’t making our communities safer. Families are afraid to go outside, with increased reports of people keeping their kids out of school, skipping medical appointments, and staying home from work. Some members of Congress are already calling for an end to ICE’s reign of terror and introducing legislation to protect immigrants. But we need to build and strengthen a majority of lawmakers willing to take action in response to the horrors we’re witnessing to end these raids and keep people safe. The most effective way to do that? A massive wave of public pressure from constituents like you.  

Ebikes  are advertised and sold as bicycles, therefore, the dangers and safety risks are often overlooked by consumers. Without ANY age restrictions, education requirements or proper warnings upon buying ebikes, they are assumed to be as safe as riding a bicycle, and that is just NOT true. Please help us push for stricter warnings and requirements upon advertising, selling and purchasing ebikes. 

Across the country and here in Oregon, immigrants are being torn from their families and locked in detention centers where they face inhumane conditions, lack of food, medical care, and basic dignity. These cages aren’t about safety; they're about control, profit, and criminalizing our communities. We demand the immediate release of Daniel, a loved and valued member of our community, and an end to the cruel and unjust system that continues to detain immigrants across the state. Immigrants are the backbone of Oregon. They are our teachers, healthcare workers, caregivers, and essential workers contributing millions to our economy and enriching every part of our society. This isn’t just about one person. It’s about dignity, justice, and freedom for all. This demand is backed by a growing coalition of organizations that stand united in calling for Daniel’s immediate release and an end to inhumane immigrant detention: Organizations  • Latinos Unidos Siempre (LUS) • La Resistencia  • American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) • Centro de servicios para campesinos  • PCUN • Capaces • International migrants alliance (IMA) These groups represent communities across Oregon and beyond, including immigrant rights advocates, faith leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and human rights defenders.