In the US, we know that people of color, particularly black, brown, and Native Americans, are disproportionately incarcerated compared to white individuals. NJ is one of the most diverse states in the nation, yet has incredibly high levels of inequity and injustice when it comes to our criminal justice system. We at Our Revolution Essex County NJ are fighting to change that! In NJ, • African Americans make up less than 15% of the population but account for more than 60% of the state prison population; • As compared to their white counterparts, the rate of black to white incarceration is 12 to 1, the HIGHEST in the nation (the national rate is 5 to 1); and • Black youth are over 20 times more likely to be incarcerated and placed into a secure facility than their white counterparts. We are calling on the NJ legislative body to enact the following policies: 1) End the decriminalization of marijuana, legalize it, and expunge the records of those convicted for possession/use of marijuana. 2) Proactively release findings of police misconduct. 3) Restore the ability for incarcerated individuals to vote while in prison, not after their probationary sentence that can last months after release. 4) End the practice of private prisons in the state. 5) End the use of tax payer dollars that fund or partner with ICE detention centers/agencies. 6) Commit to increasing funds for programs and education aimed at reducing the rates of recidivism in the state.

The State of California has encouraged disastrous overuse of our ever-diminishing fresh water resources by plodding along using unimaginative 19th century ideas about water use. Before even considering more unnecessary environmental destruction, it must be the official policy of the State of California that ALL government buildings and properties reuse grey water for all purposes where potable water is not required. An immediate conversion of all state properties should begin now with a timeline to complete conversion within no later than 5 years. All other governmental entities, federal, county, city and special districts, should be set on a timetable to complete at least 75% of such conversions within 5 years and to complete 100% conversion within 7. Appropriate penalties should be applicable in cases of willful non-compliance. It should also be the policy of the State of California that ALL aqueducts and other such water conveyances, as well as purposely constructed reservoirs should be covered immediately to prevent the massive and needless loss of fresh water through evaporation. The City of Arcata under the auspices of CalState Humboldt has created an internationally admired and copied system for converting wastewater into water pure enough to release into ecologically delicate Arcata and Humboldt bays. Why not use such natural "technology" state-wide? It should also be the policy of the State of California that continuing research of this sort be funded to preserve our natural water resources.

Revise the tax code to; If you receive income you pay employment and Medicare taxes. There is NO cap. If you receive $20+ million you pay employment and medicare tax on the entire amount. Income received from investments is considered self-employment income subject to an employer and employee contribution. Abolish the alternative minimum tax. Abolish capital gains tax. Abolish dividend tax. Raise the personal exemption to $100,000. Drop incremental tax rates above $100,000 across the board. to compensate for the employment “base” tax. If you are the controlling interest (sole proprietors, partners, stockholders) in any business entity, you receive a pro-rata credit against your personal employment tax equal to the total amount of employment tax paid (to the US Treasury) by ALL US employees in that entity. Passive investors pay close to the current capital gains tax. Small business owners get rewarded for having employees in the US that pay employment taxes. EX: A small owner that makes 5 times their average employee but has 5 employees will pay ZERO employment tax. An investor that derives 100% of their income from bonds will pay approximately 16%. Surpluses in the Social Security and Medicare funds in excess of a certain buffer will be returned to the general fund to pay down the National Debt. Link to White House petition http://wh.gov/XHf2

In our country, 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted (CDC, 2012; NSVRC, 2015). Alcohol is the number one date rape drug used in these assaults. Approximately one-half of all sexual assault victims report that they were drinking alcohol at the time of the assault, with estimates ranging from 30 to 79 percent (NIH, 2015). These statistics are sickening. We are all held responsible to make a change. Your holiday catalog ad showing a man leering at a female and saying to " spike your best friend's eggnog when they're not looking" promotes date rape. Ads like these are part of the reason we have statistics this high. It is appalling that you would, unintentionally, use date rape for profit, while perpetuating rape culture. A weak apology is not enough. You have a responsibility to counter the damage you inflicted by publishing this ad. Here are some possible suggestions: 1) Fire everyone responsible for approving the ad. You cannot condone a team that thinks rape is OK. 2) Publish a new ad that promotes consent instead. The definition of consent is a voluntary, mutual, sober, continuous and wanted act. 3) Make a donation to a sexual assault resource center. We all have to work together to change the culture that allows 1 in 5 women to be assaulted. Now is your chance to make a difference, and restore your reputation.

Solar Power for all California Property Owners! This petition is calls for a 10 year BOND, and is designed to offer subsidized loans for commercial properties, and home property with applicable structures to install "New" solar Photo voltaic technology on to every school, property, and applicable parking lot. All government buildings, schools, will also have the opportunity for this upgrade, paid through this Bond. Using a modified, Power Purchase Agreement, the client will use this opportunity to install this technology, set a fixed price for use of power, throughout the year, and once the agreement, and the bond matured, the technology will be owned by the client, and in most cases never have to pay for electricity ever again! ENERGY INDEPENDENCE! Every project is unique, as per the design conditions, demographics, etc. Conditions, 1. The equipment must be made in the U.S. 2. Installers of equipment must be California based solar/ PV installers, and registered by the state. 3. Limited to California owned property and Residents. 4. Excludes any design or use for re-sale purposes; excludes all electric companies, power companies of any kind and excludes private PPA programs. 5. The system must be for personal/commercial use, not for resale. ROI is estimated at 5-7 years, and is fully transferable, to a new owner, but cannot be sold separately.This item will be attached as a covenant on a property's deed. i.e. covenant running with the land"

The State rating of Nursing Homes (1 to 5 stars) is not valid and is misleading. it is a disservice to citizens looking for the best nursing home for their loved one. Nursing Homes know when a visit by inspectors is scheduled and stack the employees. Also one Nursing Home calling another to let them know that the inspectors are on the way should be against the law. A fine would stop this practice. Inspections should be conducted at all times not just 9 to 5 and a staggered schedule used. A surprise Saturday evening or holiday inspection would be a real eye opener. Each Nursing Home should be required to give the family of a resident the rules and regulations for the home, not just a "Welcome" letter. Included should be the when and why and the measurements used to move a resident from one section to another. Each Home should have to adhere to their rules and regulations also. The State cites the number of RN's and LPN's but only say "sufficient" number of aides. This should be addressed and a ratio stated for aides. Two aides per 21 residents may be sufficient for mobile residents but not enough for a "skilled unit" where residents are totally dependent on aides for all their needs and who may not be able to convey their needs. As a citizen we are being asked to tighten our belts which we are doing. In return we ask that the State and Federal Government use our Medicare and Medicaid to its citizen's advantage. Thank you for your consideration.

According to Worldbank.org, around 800 million people menstruate everyday, yet menstruation products are seen as a non-essential item in the eyes of our state government. More than twenty states have made the change to tax free period products, but Wisconsin is not one of these and continues to apply the standard sales tax of 5% to purchases. These personal hygiene products which are claimed to be non-essential have a large impact on the community. The expense of paying for just one box of pads may appear to be low, but overtime purchasing these items every month adds up. Menstruators who are unable to afford these products can suffer from unsanitary habits that can worsen over time. Some are forced to stay at home to try and take care of their period and may miss critical work or school time. If our government fails to resolve this issue, the cycle of period poverty will continue. Eliminating, or at least reducing, the tax on period products will not only decrease the price, but be a step in the right direction to help end period poverty and provide more support for menstruation rights. We are challenging Wisconsin legislators and Governor Tony Evers to reassess the 2021 Assembly Bill 680 and/or create a similar bill to restructure taxes for the sales of diapers, undergarments, tampons, and sanitary napkins to better serve the citizens of our State. We are calling for these products to be tax exempt, but would support a tax rate decrease from 5% down to 2%.

The student debt crisis is a prime example of why it is so vitally important to get the money out of politics. Since 2011, Sallie Mae has spent over $5 million on lobbying against the best interest of of countless student borrowers and the U.S. taxpayers. With the removal of bankruptcy protections from both federal and private student loans, lenders such as Sallie Mae are able to offer loans with virtually no risk. To make matters worse, Sallie Mae also owns many of the collection companies that collect on defaulted student loans. Once a student defaults, as much as 25% can be added to the principal, allowing Sallie Mae to make more money if a borrower defaults. At a time when college tuition is skyrocketing and 1 out of 5 borrowers are now defaulting (leaving the taxpayer on the hook for the bill), student lending executives should not be rewarded for fleecing the taxpayers. Companies such as Sallie Mae are destroying our higher education system, our democracy, and the lives of millions. The ever-growing student debt crisis will never be solved as long as those whose duty it is to protect the taxpayers are in the pocket of the nation’s largest student loan company. For these reasons, we, the undersigned are demanding that our lawmakers stop accepting money from student lenders such as Sallie Mae. For more information, please visit: http://studentdebtcrisis.org/lawmakers-should-stop-accepting-campaign-cash-from-sallie-mae-additional-information/

The Congressional Progressive Caucus and the House Liberty Caucus should cooperate to kill Lockheed-Martin's F-35 taxpayer ripoff.

Stand with civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis, and boycott Donald Trump’s inauguration.