Vote No on Bill A04611

The Texas law in regards to abortion creates a chilling precedent that curtails all other precedents in regards to abortion rights within the United States of America. In the words of Justice Sotomayor, May 2021, the Texas legislature enacted SB8 (the act). The act, which took effect statewide at midnight on 1 September, makes it unlawful for physicians to perform abortions if they either detect cardiac activity in an embryo or fail to perform a test to detect such activity. This equates to a near-categorical ban on abortions beginning six weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period, before many women realize they are pregnant, and months before fetal viability. According to the applicants, who are abortion providers and advocates in Texas, the act immediately prohibits care for at least 85% of Texas abortion patients and will force many abortion clinics to close. The act is clearly unconstitutional under existing precedents. See, e.g., June Medical Servs LLC v Russo, 591 US ___, ___ (2020) (ROBERTS, C J, concurring in judgment) (slip op, at 5) (explaining that “the state may not impose an undue burden on the woman’s ability to obtain an abortion” of a “nonviable fetus” (citing Roe v Wade, 410 US 113 (1973), and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa v Casey, 505 US 833 (1992); internal quotation marks omitted)). The respondents do not even try to argue otherwise. Nor could they: no federal appellate court has upheld such a comprehensive prohibition on abortions before viability under current law. The Texas legislature was well aware of this binding precedent. To circumvent it, the legislature took the extraordinary step of enlisting private citizens to do what the state could not. The act authorizes any private citizen to file a lawsuit against any person who provides an abortion in violation of the act, “aids or abets” such an abortion (including by paying for it) regardless of whether they know the abortion is prohibited under the act, or even intends to engage in such conduct. Courts are required to enjoin the defendant from engaging in these actions in the future and to award the private-citizen plaintiff at least $10,000 in “statutory damages” for each forbidden abortion performed or aided by the defendant. In effect, the Texas legislature has deputized the state’s citizens as bounty hunters, offering them cash prizes for civilly prosecuting their neighbors’ medical procedures. The legislature fashioned this scheme because federal constitutional challenges to state laws ordinarily are brought against state officers who are in charge of enforcing. By prohibiting state officers from enforcing the act directly and relying instead on citizen bounty hunters, the legislature sought to make it more complicated for federal courts to enjoin the act on a statewide basis. Taken together, the act is a breathtaking act of defiance – of the constitution, of this court’s precedents, and of the rights of women seeking abortions throughout Texas. But over six weeks after the applicants filed suit to prevent the act from taking effect, a fifth circuit panel abruptly stayed all proceedings before the district court and vacated a preliminary injunction hearing that was scheduled to begin on Monday. The applicants requested emergency relief from this court, but the court said nothing. The act took effect at midnight last night. This law arbitrarily removes the rights of women as explained in Roe v Wade and several other cases that have provided precedence in abortion rights within the United States for the past 40 years. I call on you, our government leaders…House members, Senators, Vice President, and President to act. Our constitutional rights are being stripped away in the state of Texas. With allowing this barbaric law to be passed, other states will follow suit, and women will once again be second rate citizens within the Democratic Republic of these United States. I call on our citizens, men and women to unite. Meet at the steps of the Supreme Court and protest their decision on the Texas abortion law.

Did you know there are residents who grew up on Holly that have lived on Holly for half a century? Did you know the recent changes to Holly Street in converting a two lane street to a four lane “boulevard” has substantially altered and detrimentally impacted a neighborhood that has existed as two lane City Street for over 50 years???!!! The City Council decided on July 14, 2014, to substantially alter a neighborhood without public input and with no regard to the environment and public safety! Children of all ages live on Holly Street and are put in harm’s way by increased traffic and speeding along Holly Street. This is all courtesy of the City Council who also voted to not increase park space in San Carlos by voting “No! Not In Their Neighborhood!” to the Charter School land swap deal. This is not the 19th Century where men on horses get to town on one road. The City of San Carlos needs to take inspiration from City of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Mountain View - look at University Ave and MiddleField Rd. At a time when San Carlos is under continued assault from increased traffic and circulation problems, be it the Transit village, 250 room hotel projects, or the new school proposal, the undersigned stand with Holly Street Residents in requesting the City Council of San Carlos immediately undertake the following remedial solutions to reduce the impact of the haphazard actions taken by the City Council in restriping Holly Street and unreasonably restricting parking. The lawsuit brought by Rick Martinez and Alicia Cabrera v. City of San Carlos challenges the restriping of Holly Street under the California Environmental Quality Act. Therefore, the Residents of Holly Street and those undersigned supporters of Holly Street request the following: 1. The City already agreed to improve safety for residents getting in and out of their driveways by increasing each Holly Street Residents’ driveway apron. This will allow safer ingress and egress of property by Residents and minimize disruption to traffic on Holly Street. 2. The traffic lights at El Camino Real, Old County Road and Industrial Rd need to be synchronized so traffic is not zipping(>35mph) by as it is now on Holly after the restriping. On a timed cycle of at least ten minutes, green lights on Holly Street currently last for no more than 35-40 seconds, but red lights on Holly Street take over a minute and a half to two minutes to change to green. Therefore, the increased back-up in traffic is caused by irregular and unpredictable light cycles. 3. We would like to remind the city of their promise to disallow heavy trucks and buses on Holly during the discussion of the restriping ordinance. Trucks add to the increased noise and pollutants from the increased traffic resulting from the restriping. Since the restriping took place there has been an increase in heavy truck traffic and even Google bus traffic utilizing Holly Street. 4. The current restriction on parking all day 7 AM to 6 PM is not working as it significantly restricts and impacts the ability of residents to maintain their homes. Further, the City has failed to deliver on its promise to institute an expedited permit process allowing exceptions for plumbers and other contractors who perform work on Residents’ homes. Therefore, Residents propose that on the north side of Holly Street, parking should only be restricted during the day between the hours of 4PM to 6PM weekdays and on the south side of the Holly, parking to be restricted only between 8AM and 10AM, and 3PM to 6PM weekdays. All times in PST. 5. Reduce the speed limit to 25mph on Holly Street, and install better speed limit signage and speeding deterrents such as flashing lights and radar speed limit signs that display a vehicle’s current velocity. 6. Add a cross walk in the mid-section of Holly street so pedestrians and pets can cross safely. Make Holly Street safe for everyone! Especially the children in the area!.

Réseau De Citoyens Actifs-Mali (ReCAM) : Considérant l’histoire politique de notre pays, Considérant les précédents accords obtenus entre les autorités maliennes et les rebellions successives dans le septentrion malien, Considérant le caractère républicain que nous entendons donner à notre armée, Considérant le récidivisme de l’irrédentisme d’un groupuscule d’individus se réclamant représentant d’une communauté elle-même déjà minoritaire, et finalement Considérant que toutes les régions du Mali se valent en droit et en devoir, Nous, citoyens maliens, demandons à ce que notre gouvernement n’accepte pas la réinsertion ou la réintégration de rebelles dans notre armée. Nous pensons que cela aura pour consequences: 1. De favoriser l’impunité au Mali 2. De donner l’impression aux victimes d’être flouées 3. De rendre difficile la mise sur pied des conditions d’une paix durable 4. De fragiliser les institutions de la république en servant une minorité et ses sponsors et 5. D’enseigner à chaque ethnie et à chaque région que la voie des armes est la voie la plus légitime pour se faire entendre. Nous, citoyens maliens, n’acceptons pas que la voie des armes serve de tremplin pour obtenir des postes dans l’armée, dans l’administration ou dans des institutions internationales au nom du Mali. Ceux qui ont tué des civiles, violé des femmes, égorgé des militaires, fait prisonniers des enfants d’autrui, doivent répondre devant la justice et non-recevoir des promotions. Nous, citoyens maliens, ne voulons plus que les armes soient une variable d’ajustements structurels au Mali. Le chômage touche tous les maliens, la pauvreté touche toutes les régions du Mali. Aucune région du Mali ne doit être lésée au profit d’une autre par le fait de la violence des armes. Chaque ethnie a des problèmes, et chaque région du Mali a des doléances nombreuses et durement enracinées. Nous, citoyens maliens, ne voulons plus de discrimination positive chez nous, surtout à l’encontre des autres ethnies. Nous, citoyens maliens, ne voulons plus de recrutement dans la fonction publique selon la race ou l’appartenance géographique. Nous, citoyens maliens, ne voulons plus que des terroristes soient recrutés au détriment de plus de 86,000 jeunes diplômés sans emploi. Nous, citoyens maliens, ne voulons plus de souveraineté partagée. Nous, citoyens maliens, refusons un quelconque statut particulier pour une ethnie ou une région au Mali Nous refusons que des conditions honteuses soient imposées a notre gouvernement, nous demandons à ce dernier de défendre bec et ongle l’intégrité et les intérêts de la république du Mali. Car, Il n’est plus tolérable de nous imposer des conditions surtout quand elles sont en porte à faux avec les intérêts de la nation et ceux des autres ethnies dont la voix est spoliée par leurs agissements. Réseau de Citoyens Actifs- Mali Simples Citoyens Maliens De L’Ecole de la Vie et de L’Amour du Pays [email protected]

The United States Congress has become the most ineffective and least popular public organization in the American political system. Compromise and cooperation has given way to partisanship, divineness, gridlock, greed, and undue influence from corporations and wealthy donors. As a result, a June 2013 Gallop survey nearly 8 in 10 Americans disapprove the way Congress is handling its job, and 9 in 10 have no confidence in Congress. We Americans say enough is enough! We support amending the constitution to add the following PEOPLE’S BILL OF RIGHTS to restore responsible government and to make Congress effective again: 1. Congressional members will not receive any compensation for year if a budget is not signed into law by the beginning of the fiscal year and the budget deficit for the preceding fiscal year exceeded 2% of GDP. Moreover Congressional pay will increase at the same annual rate as Social Security increases. 2. All contracts, agreements and obligations with past or present Congressional members are void effective January 1, 2014. The American people did not make these contracts with Congressional members. Rather these members voted for these perks for themselves. All compensation and benefits for serving in Congress end when you leave Congress. 3. All past, present and future members of Congress are subject to all laws, regulations and programs that apply to the general public, and they are prohibited from enacting any legislation that provides any special health care plans, benefits, retirement plans, exemptions or privileges beyond what applies to all other Americans. As well all existing programs, benefits, compensation, or retirement plans that do not meet this requirement are immediately declared null, void and unconstitutional. 4. Congressional primary elections will be open to all voters regardless of political affiliation, and the top 2 vote earners will move on to the general election. 5. Each member of Congress shall serve for a maximum of 2 terms in each chamber of Congress, or for 12 years, whichever is shorter. This shall become effective immediately and all historical time spent in Congress is counted towards this limit. 6. America is a republic, and the cornerstone of a republic is the ability to vote. Any American citizen that registered to vote and presents a driver’s license, voter ID card, student identification card, letter, utility bill, or other piece of evidence that shows their name and address will be allowed to vote and that vote must be counted. States may not enact any additional restrictions and requirements that in any way restrict or limit voting, including limiting or restricting voter registration, and they must issue voter ID cards for free. 7. States must provide early voting by mail or online to all voters in its state, and these ballots must be sent out at least a month in advance of the election. In addition States must provide geographically dispersed opportunities for all citizens to vote in person for at least two weeks prior to the general election, with polls open for at least four weekend days and during 6-9 PM during the two week period. 8. To prevent political district gerrymandering, all political districts shall be created in such a manner so that they are comprised of only entire counties and no more than 1 partial county in the district, and all counties must be adjoining. Furthermore, no more than 1 congressional district in a county can extend into a neighboring county. 9. Any organization, entity, corporation or other group whose primary purpose is to influence politicians or raise awareness about political issues to Americans that are being considered by or being voted on by Congress is ineligible to qualify for any local, state or federal sales, property or income tax exemptions or preferential benefits not available to all other entities, corporations, or groups. Moreover donations, contributions, or other payments made to these groups may not be taken as a tax deduction. 10. The historical practice of requiring a super majority to pass a bill in the Senate is hereby ended, and all bills will pass on a simple majority vote.

Here are 20 recent ideas from CAP’s (Center for American Progress) policy teams to create middle-class jobs and promote an economy that works for everyone. Many of these ideas build on the ideas presented in our "Meeting the Jobs Challenge" initiative launched in 2009... it's now 2013 and we could STILL use these ideas and should be hearing Congress bring about jobs bills incorporating some of these initiatives. Let's get a new jobs bill conversation started! Sign this petition if you think this conversation seems to have slipped out of the crosshairs of Congress. Sign this petition to let our leaders know this is not an issue to be put aside. Sign this petition to let the elected officals now - job creation is an issue to address now! 20 ways to create jobs 1. Upgrade our nation’s roads, bridges, and other basic infrastructure: 18,000 new jobs for every $1 billion invested. 2. Launch a rehab-to-rent program to turn tens of thousands of government-owned foreclosed homes into affordable rental housing, stabilize neighborhoods, and put construction workers back on the job: 20,000 new jobs a year. 3. Implement new EPA rules governing toxic emissions from power plants: 40,000 new direct jobs. 4. Protect health care reform, which will reduce health insurance premiums, expand coverage, and create jobs: 250,000 to 400,000 new jobs a year for the next decade. 5. Retrofit for energy efficiency just 40 percent of the nation’s residential and commercial building stock and unleash massive demand for domestic labor: more than 625,000 new jobs over a decade. 6. Extend emergency unemployment benefits to long-term unemployed workers hurt by the economic downturn: more than 700,000 jobs. 7. Expand the payroll tax cut for employees and extend it to employers through 2012: more than 1 million jobs. 8. Extend national service programs to provide young people with full-time positions in AmeriCorps, VISTA, YouthBuild, and the youth service and conservation corps: 60,000 new jobs. 9. Pass Home Star, Building Star, and Rural Star legislation to make homes and buildings energy efficient while supporting the hard-hit construction industry: 250,000 new jobs a year. 10. Reduce the nation’s dropout rate by half to add $9.6 billion in economic growth and $713 million in increased tax revenue: 54,000 new jobs. 11. Convert offshore wind power to electricity: 20 direct jobs for each megawatt produced in the United States. 12. Protect funding for community health centers over the next five years to provide health and related services at clinics and in the local business communities: 300,000 new jobs. 13. Protect the National Park Service from budget cuts, corporate interests, and antigovernment rhetoric to support jobs in outdoor recreation across the country: 247,000 jobs. 14. Increase freight rail capital investment: 7,800 direct and indirect jobs for every $1 billion invested. 15. Create a $10 billion trial-employment program with potential to help an estimated 1 million small businesses and startups hire long-term unemployed workers: 2 million new job opportunities. 16. Construct new power transmission lines to reshape our electric transmission grid and create new employment: Generating 20 percent of power with wind can create more than 500,000 jobs. 17. Expand the federal “jobs accelerator” program: Just $200 million in funding could result in 1,800 new businesses employing thousands of workers. 18. Reject a federal proposal to mandate employer use of the E-Verify eligibility verification system and protect 770,000 American jobs. 19. Revamp small-business financial assistance programs to better serve the needs of innovative, high-growth potential startup firms. 20. Create a “common application” for federal programs that foster the growth of small businesses.

Candidates for public office representing Wheeling, WV, and fellow Wheeling and West Virginia community members: In this time of mutual caring and consideration for one another’s well being, we hope you are well. It is with great sadness and concern that we report that recently areas of Wheeling were vandalized with a large number of racist, anti-semitic, xenophobic, and white nationalist paraphernalia targeting People of Color, Jews, and the Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ communities. In response, we are stating as Wheeling community members and as West Virginians that we unequivocally, publicly denounce white nationalism - especially hate motivated vandalism, trespassing, and intimidation - and look to Wheeling’s and West Virginia’s candidates for public office to do the same. Over the weekend of May 16-17, as many as 40 professionally-printed stickers, fliers, posters, and an overpass-spanning banner were found hanging in the Wheeling area, concentrated mostly downtown. The fliers openly identified with one of four active national hate groups in West Virginia who self-identify as fascists, and who continue to be leaders of the wider white nationalist movement after participating in the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” hate rally in which one woman was killed. The messages of the propaganda and vandalism in Wheeling included: German language slogans of the 1930’s German Nazi party, glorification of genocide, and white nationalist slogans, ideology, and imagery. Multiple community members instinctively took down several of the fliers, shared alarming photos of them, and reported them to city leaders (elected officials, police, etc), while pushing for a public response condemning these acts and assuring community safety. In this process it was further learned that this is not the first time this kind of white nationalist vandalism has occurred in Wheeling, and that it is instead a semi-regular public occurrence. Unfortunately, this is not a situation specific to Wheeling, and the larger white nationalist, fascist, and nazi movements around the state have been growing in size and boldness, and are continuing to grow into a present danger to the entirety of West Virginia. While this most recent instance of organized hate, coupled with too many similar instances at the national, state, and local level are beyond regrettable, we believe this is nonetheless an opportunity. The people of Wheeling and the larger West Virginia community remain committed to stopping this unacceptable white nationalist activity in our city and state, and we publically stand against it. In this situation, we believe it’s important to afford the candidates running for public office in Wheeling and the rest of West Virginia the opportunity to use their freedom of speech to counter hate speech and voice their personal perspectives on white nationalism. Specifically: 1) Do you publicly condemn white nationalism? 2) Are you committed to protecting the inclusion, rights, and safety of all members of the Wheeling and West Virginia communities including: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (POC), Jewish, Muslim, members of the LGBTQIA + community, and others scapegoated by white nationalists? 3) Do you support creating a racism task force and/or naming racism and white nationalism a public concern the same way other nearby cities have done? Community supporters: We may not all agree on everything, and that’s OK, but we appreciate any and all, especially these leading community supporters, who can agree and unite to stand against this blatant, public hate. *Ohio Valley Peace *Black Lives Matter - West Virginia *Mountaineers for Progress *Northern West Virginia Mountain Party *West Virginia IWW *House of Hagar Catholic Worker *Friendly City Antifascists *Queer Appalachia *Holler Health Justice *Catholic Committee of Appalachia References: WV will fire corrections officers for doing Nazi Salute: NYTimes Dec 31, 2019 “Officer who fatally shot Tamir Rice hired as a cop again”: Bellaire, OH. Associated Press. 10/5/2018 “City Council Votes to Declare Racism a Health Crisis.” Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Dec 11, 2019 “Racism Deemed Public Health Crisis in Columbus.” Spectrum News 1. May 17, 2020

The Issue A recent article highlights the ongoing struggle of Amazon employees with disabilities facing systemic discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. This exposé underscores the urgent need for Amazon to overhaul its policies and practices to truly support employees with disabilities. Read the full article here: The Guardian - Discrimination Against Disabled Amazon Workers https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/disabled-amazon-workers-discrimination One stark example: An Amazon worker who suffered multiple strokes and can no longer drive asked for remote work as a necessary disability accommodation. Instead of honoring this request, Amazon told them to “just move closer” to the office or take public transit—an unacceptable and discriminatory response. This is just one of many stories revealing how Amazon denies real, verified accommodations—an ongoing violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are calling on Amazon leadership to act now and implement meaningful reforms to ensure full compliance and respect for disability rights. Why is this urgent? Recent surveys among Amazon employees with disabilities reveal a distressing reality: • 93% report policies harmful to their well-being. • 71% say their accommodation needs are unmet or denied. • 50% experience hostile work environments after requesting accommodations. • 92% lack accessible communication or reporting channels. • 77% are told they don’t qualify for roles despite meeting basic criteria. • 92% face unfair treatment, including denial of promotions or resources. • Nearly 70% fear requesting future accommodations due to retaliation. • 80% believe management dismisses their concerns. These alarming statistics expose a workplace rife with discrimination, retaliation, and systemic failure—especially for those with disabilities. Amazon’s refusal to address these issues perpetuates harm, undermines trust, and violates legal obligations. Our Demands In light of these injustices, we demand immediate, comprehensive action from Amazon to rectify these violations and build an inclusive, accessible workplace: 1. Transparent Interactive Process: Ensure all accommodation requests are responded to promptly, documented, and explored thoroughly, including all viable alternatives. 2. Guarantee Remote & Flexible Work: Employees must retain the right to work remotely or with flexible schedules if medically necessary, supported by proper documentation—without arbitrary limits. 3. Eliminate Automated Denials: Disallow AI-based automatic rejection systems; decisions must involve human review. Publish algorithms and rationales for transparency and accountability. 4. Revise Hiring & Leave Policies: Extend timeframes, ensure pay matching, and clarify procedures—eliminating vague language that dismisses or dismisses employees’ accommodation needs. 5. Accessible Tools & Procedures: All workplace communication, reporting, and tools must be accessible to employees with disabilities. 6. Enforce Anti-Retaliation & Safe Reporting: Implement strict policies with confidential channels for reporting discrimination, with penalties for violations. 7. Ongoing Disability Rights Training: Regular training for management and HR, with policies developed in collaboration with the disability union group. 8. Prompt Safety & Accessibility Improvements: Conduct audits and address hazards swiftly. 9. Clear, Consistent Policies: Publish all policies affecting employees with disabilities—fully transparent and compliant with the ADA. 10. Independent Oversight: Appoint an independent body to monitor compliance, investigate complaints, and enforce policies. 11. Protect Privacy & Fair Investigations: Publish clear policies on HIPAA protections, investigations, and handling of discrimination complaints—ensuring confidentiality. 12. Remove Arbitrary Timelines: Provide adequate time for medical documentation requests or delays caused by Amazon without penalizing employees. 13. Stop Interference with Collective Bargaining: Cease retaliation and interference against union organizing efforts. Amazon must respect workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, including protecting the newly formed disability union group. The recent NLRB complaint against Apple for interfering with workers’ organizing efforts sets a precedent—Amazon's ongoing violations must be addressed immediately.

Redistricting occurs approximately every 10 years, after the U.S. Census. The purpose is to adjust congressional, legislative, and other districts based on population, while ensuring certain requirements of the Voting Rights Act are met. When redistricting is a partisan process, problems occur. The party in power uses its power to draw districts that weaken the other party. This is called gerrymandering. The one-hour documentary How Elections are Rigged by Snag Films describes the problem in depth and can be found on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-285T7Pdp58&t=463s Both the Democrats and the Republicans have been guilty of gerrymandering. Presidents from both parties – including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Barack Obama -- have spoken out against gerrymandering and urged for a non-partisan process in redistricting (see the youtube video). One way to achieve that goal is through an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission. As of this writing, 13 states exclusively use redistricting commissions to draw electoral district lines. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redistricting_commission Texas is not one of those states. Instead, the Texas Legislature draws district boundaries. If it fails to do so, the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB) will draw the legislative (but not congressional) districts. That Board is comprised of five partisan officeholders: the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, attorney general, comptroller, and commissioner of the general land office. Texas’ redistricting process has been the subject of federal litigation for years. See Perez v. Perry; Evenwel v. Abbott; and Davis v. Perry. These lawsuits have cost Texas taxpayers in excess of $5 million. Multiple attempts to create an independent redistricting commission in Texas have failed. Republican Jeff Wentworth (San Antonio) sponsored bills in 2005, 2009 and 2011. In 2015, Democrats Rafael Anchia (Dallas) and Donna Howard (Austin) sponsored bills. Howard is sponsoring a bill now in the 2017 Legislature. HJR 32 would create an Independent Redistricting Commission and give Texas citizens the opportunity to vote on an amendment to the Texas Constitution to permit the Commission. In addition, Democrat Royce West is sponsoring SB 209, which would create an Independent Redistricting Commission for congressional districts but not legislative districts. That bill has been referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee. This petition urges the Texas House Committee on Redistricting and the Senate State Affairs Committee to hold public hearings on HJR 32 and SB 209, and to vote both bills out of committee so that the full Legislature can consider them. At a bare minimum, all of our representatives should have a say in whether this proposal goes to the Texas voters. Texas these days is considered a purple state -- in recent elections, its cities have gone blue while its rural areas remain red. Because of this, this is an ideal time to seek an independent redistricting commission, as both parties will benefit from it. The San Antonio Express-News supported the proposal in 2015: http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/A-Texas-way-revealed-on-redistricting-6377717.php The Texas League of Women Votes supports the idea: http://www.lwvtexas.org/Redistricting.html The National Organization for Women (NOW) supports the idea: http://now.org/resource/issue-advisory-restoring-democracy-court-ruling-approves-independent-commissions-to-counter-gerrymandering/ The New York Times found that independently-drawn districts are more competitive: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/02/upshot/independently-drawn-districts-have-proved-to-be-more-competitive.html?ref=politics&abt=0002&abg=1&_r=0 Common Ground for Texans supports drawing districts without partisan gerrymandering: http://cg4tx.org/about/vision-mission-statement/ Texas Common Cause supports redistricting reform: http://www.commoncause.org/states/texas/?referrer=https://www.google.com/?referrer=http://www.commoncause.org/states/texas/ The Brennan Center for Justice supports reforming the redistricting process so that it is independent, transparent, and ensures that communities are fully and fairly represented in Congress and the nation’s legislative bodies: http://www.brennancenter.org/issues/redistricting

Governor Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez and Superintendent James, There is a very dangerous section of roadway and road conditions in the Town of Niskayuna on Route 7 (also known as Troy-Schenectady Road). The most dangerous part of this road runs along a 1.5 mile stretch that starts at the intersection of Pearse Road and Route 7, and ends at St. David’s Lane and Route 7. This particular section of road runs thru residential neighborhoods, and passes by Bellevue Women’s Hospital. There have been at least 5 fatalities on this part of Route 7 in the last few years, with 2 pedestrians who died while trying to cross the road. This road cuts thru the heart of our town, in more ways than one. Route 7, especially along the Bellevue Hospital corridor, has been the site of many, many single vehicle, multiple vehicle, and vehicle-pedestrian collisions, with a growing number of fatalities. The road in this area is dangerous and susceptible to collisions for several reasons, including the grade of the road, the curve in the road, areas of limited visibility at intersections and points along the road. Compounding the road deficiencies, there is habitual speeding and reckless driving on this road, which has posted speeds of 40-45 mph. Cars travel on the road at much higher speeds, weave in and out of traffic, tail gate, and even use the center median which should only be used for turning onto side roads or driveways, to pass other cars. DOT survey results indicate that 85% of the 20,000+ vehicles that drive daily on this section of Route 7 are speeding 10 mph or more (driving at least 50 mph in the posted 40 mph zone).  Exacerbating the road conditions, and high speed, reckless driving, Route 7  has NO traffic lights or cross walks for 1.5 miles in this Bellevue Hospital corridor. There is no safe way for pedestrians to cross the road along this entire area. There are no public safety features, like lights, cross walks, speed bumps, or other safety features to slow down, or stop vehicles to allow for safe pedestrian movement. The lack of traffic lights also impede the ability of vehicles on side roads attempting to enter Route 7. Unless NYS DOT takes immediate action to install public safety features, including traffic lights and cross walks, at key intersections along the Bellevue Hospital corridor of Route 7, and reduces the posted speed limit on this road to 30-35 mph, we will continue to run the high risk of collisions, injuries and fatalities along Route 7.  This is a life and death situation that must be fixed immediately.  I am asking that Governor Hochul direct the DOT commissioner to immediately dispatch DOT engineers to Niskayuna, and fast track the financing and resources for all necessary survey work, and the installation of traffic lights and crosswalks in the 1.5 mile Bellevue Hospital corridor of Route 7. The installation of traffic lights and crosswalks are essential, and a posted speed limit reduction to 30-35 mph, are critical public safety measures that must be employed to reduce the high speed traffic on the road. These substantive engineering measures are critical to allow pedestrians to safely cross from one side of Route 7 to the other and slow traffic to mitigate the frequency and impact of collisions on the road. I am also urging Governor Hochul to immediately direct the Acting NYS Police Superintendent Steven James to coordinate and oversee a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort to reduce speeding, collisions and fatalities along Route 7.  Route 7 traverses portions of Schenectady and Albany counties, running from the City of Schenectady, through Niskayuna, and into parts of Latham and Colonie.  The roadway passes through multiple municipal jurisdictions, and requires a combined effort of NYS Police, Albany and Schenectady County Sheriff resources, as well as Niskayuna and Schenectady City PD assets.  Since Route 7 is a state controlled road, the NYS Police are best situated with manpower and resources to direct and coordinate this life saving public safety effort.