First he sexually assaulted her. Now President Donald Trump wants us to pay for his defense. Not too long ago, other activists signed my petition urging E. Jean Carroll to file a case against Donald Trump with New York's Attorney General. We urged her to act because what she accused Donald Trump of doing is what with our own ears we heard him glory in, as he described in the “access Hollywood” tape: “I moved on her like a b**** ... you can do anything … grab women in their….” (10/21/16) Now, Trump's attorney general – citing a 1998 law known as the Westfall Act, has filed a motion in a NY state court arguing that Trump was “acting within the scope” of his office as president when he called author E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusation a lie. Earlier he had boasted, “She’s not my type.” If the Justice Department’s request is approved, it will be responsible for defending the case, and the U.S. government will be obligated to cover any damages that may be awarded ― all, paid for with our tax dollars. Carroll said this action illustrates “that Trump will do everything possible, including using the full powers of the federal government,” to try to stop my case. And in a tweet to Trump, she wrote: "Sir, I and my attorney Robbie Kaplan, are ready! So is every woman who has ever been silenced! So is every American citizen who has been trampled by Bill Barr and the DOJ! BRING IT (ON)!" If you agree that Barr's action regarding Trump is unconscionable, an action he even audaciously connects to “the scope of his office,” please sign my petition:. Rabbi Philip Posner, Conscience and Action.

The hardships, experienced at the local municipality level, are not being addressed in a timely or efficient manner by the State Govenor and Legislators. There are requests that have been made to the state that have been disapproved even though the requests fit the guidance policies published by the US Treasury. The application, review and funds disbursement would occur more rapidly and in a timely manner if the funds were released to the municipalities for local management and distribution.

The other night we held our virtual fall product training and became aware of how little has changed in order to protect our Leaders, Scouts and family members during this pandemic. We are still unable to meet in person and must hold all Troop meetings virtually, so many Troop Leaders expected our product sales to be entirely virtual as well. We were dismayed to learn that the only changes made were precautions to ensure the safety of our customers during payment for purchased products, but almost nothing has been done to ensure the safety of the volunteers, scouts and their families while product is distributed. The current model for distribution of goods is discriminatory against scouts who have conditions that make them more susceptible to Covid-19 complications, or who have family members with said conditions. Additionally, the sales goals to be considered a, "participant" in sales and for sales awards are very similar to last year’s. This fact led us to conclude it is likely cookie season expectations will also remain similar to last year’s. In consideration of the state of the economy and unpredictability of having cash transactions, with unemployment at an all time high, and with social distancing concerns, sales will be much more difficult for our girls. No evident consideration of their emotional and mental safety is apparent in the expectations the Product Team set for girls. The sales goals are unrealistic for the times. Upon our attempt to express these concerns, the product team only offered the following options: A. Attempt to run an online only option by calling M20S and delete girl delivered orders when placed. Each parent would be responsible to do this for his or her own Girl Scout. Not only is this bad for business but also this is likely to lose a scout her lifetime customer since as our Product Team Trainer, put it “the fall product program is geared towards friends and family.” This plan also places an undo paperwork burden on families and troop leaders to manage mistakes, when for many families they are already managing the education of their children and their jobs in ways they have never before needed to. B. Assign another adult without additional health concerns to distribution. This fails to take into consideration that there may still be some accidental girl delivery orders placed with families who may have conditions making them more susceptible to Covid complications when they obtain their product during the distribution process as well as are required to deliver said product. In the past, Cookie Chairs had to be trained and back-ground checked. These steps take extra time and we were not warned to consider the need for in-person distribution when choosing our Cookie Chairs. Without training, this choice leaves troops vulnerable to financial losses. C. Not to participate in product sales at all, whatever the repercussions the Troop may have as a result. Given participation requirements in ordered to any other fundraising, this is a form of discrimination as we were reminded that troops that do not participate would no longer be eligible to participate in Special Events and Money Earning or Gold Award. Leaders have been adjusting to our new normal and following the rules set by Girl Scouts in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. We would hope that the GSGLA’s Staff would make a greater effort to do the same. Some leaders feel their concerns were dismissed and very little empathy was shown to those who have additional reasons to be concerned about the health impacts of this model of distribution. We feel GS Staff could benefit from training about how to include those with special circumstances - even those who may be in a minority group. Given the circumstances of the pandemic we want council to: 1. Allow Scouts to pursue their Gold Awards fundraising regardless of participation in product sales. Forcing a child to choose between the safety of a loved one or themselves in order to participate in a philanthropic project is highly unethical. 2. Reassure leaders and families that sales expectations for participation status and award levels will be lower than usual for the cookie season and considerate of the state of the economy as well as special needs regarding exposure to Covid-19. This is already an incredibly stressful year for our girls, their families and volunteers and having expectations that are mostly congruent with prior sales years is unrealistic and unfair to our girls and their supporters. We understand GSGLA needs an income too, but perhaps we can do some council-wide and service unit level SEMEs and some creative fundraising that does not put that burden on the shoulders of our scouts. 3. Staff must better demonstrate empathy and inclusion. To help them do this we expect them to receive training on dealing with immunocompromised members and family during this pandemic. We have seen very little consideration and compassion in protecting the safety of Girls, Volunteers and all Girl Scout Family members. We think it would be best if council took some time to evaluate and train their staff so they are inclusive instead of simply dismissing those who have diseases or disorders that make them more susceptible to serious or fatal complications from Covid-19. 4. Offer a sales model that has truly online-only options for Troops who have members who desire to be, or must be extra careful about exposure to Covid-19. This does not mean girl delivery must be removed as an option, but troops and families must have a way to limit who has access to girl delivery options once links are shared. 5. If number four is no longer a possible change for fall product, then GSGLA must allow troops to participate in SEME events even if they are not able to participate in product sales.

Caregivers stand to lose hundreds if not thousands of dollars if this situation is not resolved. The laws and regulations governing dependent care FSAs normally offer little flexibility to employees whose dependent care expenditures change. Under most circumstances, employees are not given the opportunity to reduce or stop their dependent care FSA contributions midyear. If reduced dependent care expenses cause employees to have contributions remaining in their FSAs at the end of the plan year (or grace period, if applicable), they would stand to forfeit that balance. Employees whose dependent care circumstances have changed due to COVID-19 may be at risk of forfeiting FSA contributions

We realize that there is a significant health danger involved in such a proposal, but a contested election in which the current President refuses to leave office based on the predicted early In-Person voting habits of his base poses a greater danger. Chaos, violence, subversion of the American Constitution are all real possibilities. A strong In-Person vote to remove the current administration could avert this looming threat.

OUR COUNTRY'S POSITION ON THE WORLD STAGE IS IN JEOPARDY AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

We stand together, as a community against your discriminatory policing in our communities targeting People of Color, who due to loss of life at the hands of police across the country are being retraumatized by Kingston's version of Stop & Frisk. We have seen lots of lip service and cosmetic change around police accountability from the state and county as well. However, from statements from the community as well as video, it’s going back to business as usual. Broken windows policing. Police cruising around under the guise of looking for suspected trouble, but really inciting violence and inducing trauma with “random searches” for issues as harmless as broken tail lights and loud mufflers, looking for guns and drugs as they have admitted publicly. This is the Kingston version of “Stop and Frisk”. Moreover, the people who are being victimized by stop & frisk tactics are reluctant to file complaints because they know from experience and historically, complaints lead to retaliation

It is important for the people of the United States and will be our way to express a New Beginning for our Country and for the world stage, as well. It is also necessary for the new president and family to begin the difficult job of hope and repair. Our People House, The White House needs love and attention. Let’s do it !!

There’s a reason it’s against the law to burn hazardous waste in your own backyard in America. It’s common sense. Burning regular household waste releases carcinogens, neuro-disruptors, and heavy metals that can have devastating effects on the lungs, heart, brain, thyroid, and immune system. It’s also a scientific fact. Federal and state government agencies compiled decades of research linking toxins from burn pits to diseases and birth defects. But the US military paid private companies like Halliburton subsidiary KBR billions of dollars from taxpayer funds to burn human waste, aerosols, Styrofoam, medical waste, biohazardous materials, body parts, trucks, and explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then troops got sick and started dying. It’s haunting and a reminder that these forever wars have long-lasting consequences. For every soldier returning with horrific health defects, there are untold numbers of servicemembers who continue to be subjected to burn pit sites and toxic smoke to this day. The DoD and VA must acknowledge the reality and gravity of the problems toxic chemicals from burn pits have caused and take immediate action to end the use of the active burn pits once and for all. In addition, Congress must make health care and compensation available to veterans and servicemembers who are suffering exposure-related health effects. And, we must pass legislation that grants surviving families of deceased veterans the benefits they deserve. We have worked together to pressure Congress to acknowledge the bipartisan need to care for the 9/11 community suffering from cancers and other health problems after those deadly attacks nearly 20 years ago. Washington moves too slow for the families who need our government’s help. We only got that done last year, and it took all the help people like you were able to provide signing petitions, making phone calls, chipping in to cover costs, and organizing in your local communities. We’re taking this fight about burn pits to Congress and want to work even more quickly. We want to work together with anyone willing to help those who served in the military and came home feeling abandoned after their government used them to fight wars and risk their lives. Sign the petition as one step to help provide health care and compensation to those suffering from exposure to toxic burn pits. Let’s fix this and stick up for the families who are fighting for health care and accountability from the same government that sent them into harm’s way. We will update you on the upcoming bill and other actions you can take as the campaign develops so please stay tuned.

The opening of these trails to ebikes will open the floodgates to users who will easily ride 2 or 3 times the # of laps ridden by conventional (a.k.a. NONMOTORIZED) bikes, on vehicles weighing 50-60% heavier. Add this to an already overused and under maintained trail system and you get crowded, blown out trails. Here are some articles dealing with the subject: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/12/lawsuits-stack-up-against-feds-decision-to-allow-e-bikes-on-public-land/ https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/08/e-bikes-on-public-lands-not-so-fast-say-these-conservancy-groups/

All employees of the government except the President and Vice President are subject to the rules under the Hatch Act. This administration have repeatedly violated ethics norms and in turn is turning our democracy into autocracy. We do not want a dictator and we want government employees who are supposed to be working for the people to act in ethical ways while employed.

Campaigning on Federal property and Federal time is unethical, undemocratic, and constitutes theft of our tax money.