With multi millions of dollars planned for development in Pittsburgh, it is vital that disparity rates be addressed. One critical way to address it is by the creation of a Community Benefits Ordinance for the City of Pittsburgh. This Ordinance or Law will reinforce and set in place contractual binding agreements that require community participation at all tables when it comes to development dollars, financial packages and tax incentives/abatements created for revitalization of the urban communities, and that community participation is required at all levels and planning stages. The goal of the discussion will be the establishment of community benefits that must include: 1. Low Income Housing 2. Workforce Development and Training 3. Incubating of Small Businesses 4. First Source Hiring 5. MDWBE Professional Contracts and Monitoring to achieve the 12% participation goal and investigate the circumstances when the goal is not met. 6. Participation in A Growth Fund To be directed towards future youth and economic initiatives within that area of development. Also, guidelines must state that no one individual, community organization or CDC can make the decision for the broader community residents.

Dear New Haven Board of Alders and Mayor Toni Harp: I believe that every single person in New Haven, regardless of whether or not they have a roof over their head at night, has the basic rights listed below. I believe these rights must be protected by law, and those whose rights have been violated must be allowed to seek relief in court: 1) The Right to Enjoy Public Space--without being told by cops to "move along. 2) The Right to Employment Fairness. 3) The Right to Medical Care and Dignity in Meeting Basic Needs--including the right to access clean bathrooms. 4) The Right to Vote. 5) The Right to Personal Property and Privacy. 6) The Right to Personal Safety--including the right to shelter during bad weather. 7) The Right to Sit. 8) The Right to Social Exchange. 9) The Right to Equal Treatment. 10) The Right to Housing Fairness--including not being discriminated against by landlords due to homelessness or criminal record. 11) The Right to Housing.

We have a number of problems: 1. Background checks that either don't happen or fail to identify future problems. 2. Individuals and gun shows selling guns without background checks. 3. An overloaded F.B.I. that can't keep up with the reports of suspected "at risk" individuals. 4. We need to severely limit the 'type' of gun that anyone can buy. 5. Stop pretending that arming teachers isn't a poorly thought out excuse for not enacting gun controls. 6. Don't just waste money on metal detectors and more school security. They are deterrents, but they won't stop a would-be assassin with a weapon and an urge to kill. 7. Stop blaming the mentally ill. There is a huge difference between someone who is truly mentally ill and someone who snaps under pressure. You can't assume who will be the next perpetrator of gun violence. Prayers and messages of love don't bring back the dead, but 'real' action can save future lives.

Highway Safety Corridor Designation Petition "We the undersigned residents of District 5, respectfully request designation of Highway Safety Corridor for New Mexico State Highway 285 from Lamy to Old Las Vegas Highway and inclusive of roadways I-25 south and Old Pecos Trail. We additionally request improved signage and law enforcement presence and urge the New Mexico State legislature to amend the legal language of the Safety Corridor designation to mandate increased Law Enforcement presence into New Mexico Safety Corridor law. There have been too many fatal or near-fatal accidents on these roadways and we make this request in the wake of the carnage and slaughter of our families, our children, and our seniors, and to protect our right to travel safely as citizens of this good State. Further, the interstate transportation of hazardous material including of Radioactive Waste and many other Hazardous materials within the NM 285 corridor increases our need for these requests to not only be taken seriously, but handled as expediently as possible."

Asking Congress to adopt the following revisions to their existing benefit package. Called Congressional Reform Act 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 4. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 5. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 10/1/13. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Governor Quinn, Please use your amendatory veto powers to include 750-foot setbacks for state parks, fish and wildlife areas, natural areas, recreation areas, and trails in Section 1-21(a)(5) of SB 1715. We believe these state lands, intended for the enjoyment of all Illinois citizens and the preservation of Illinois' unique natural heritage, should remain forever free from fracking. Please amend Section 1-99(d) to require that "the task force, at a minimum, shall hold three public hearings, one in each geographic third of the state." We believe the fracking study task force has a duty to consider the concerns and suggestions of Illinois citizens when making recommendations for further fracking regulations. Fracking is a process that many believe cannot be safely regulated. We ask you to use all the powers of your office to ensure that agencies responsible for overseeing the regulations are fully funded and staffed, steps in the permitting and approval process are open and transparent, and the regulations are robustly enforced.

The US made a deal with OPEC back in the early 1970's to only sell oil in US Dollars as a means to keep the US Dollar as the World's reserve currency. As a result, when the US Dollar declines crude oil prices go up and vice versa. Their price chart comparisons bares this out. OPEC needs to be able to sell oil using a basket of currencies. The BRICS have already dumped the US Dollar for trading. One simple policy change of having OPEC sell oil using a basket of currencies will: 1) Bring oil prices down tremendously around the world. 2) Take the profitability out of risky oil explorations - like fracking, Alaskan oil drilling, etc. It will stop them in their tracks. 3) Help stimulate the world economy. 4) Help the US Manufacturing sector. 5) Will open the door for alternative energy to gain a real foothold. 6) Prevent a few future wars 7) Increase US exports around the world. 8) And more.

CONGRESSIONAL REFORM ACT: 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/1/13. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

1. Stop the post office from basing letter carriers farther from their customers. This costs added gasoline money and delays mail. It also degrades the level of service to customers. Letter carriers should be based at the nearest post office to their delivery addresses. 2. Add new services to the post office like simple banking, paying traffic tickets, issuing hunting and fishing licenses. Allow the post office to offer internet services and sell affordable cell phones. 3. End the drastic pre funding of retiree healthcare benefits as mandated in the PAEA of 2006. 4. Improve service standards. In a world that is moving faster and faster the post office needs to keep up with the times and offer quicker delivery standards. 5. Expand, modernize and end the corporate lead movement to privatize the US Postal Service. Keep our city post offices open with carrier stations. End the pilot program with Staples office products stores and offer copy machines at the post office.

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present, and future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/1/13. The American people did not make these contracts with Congressmen/women.