"Driver's license must pass this year". "Licencia de conducir debe pasar este año".

We are an organized collective of diverse elected school board members who represent over 1.6 million students, writing to urge Congress and the Trump Administration to pass an aggressive educational equity recovery bill that complements the CARES Act to provide critical learning support for our country’s young people and their families.

Objects to Fast Track and the Trade Treaty known as the Trans Pacific Partnership. Please sign petition and call your Senators and Congressperson at the US Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121. Ask whether they read the entire text and that we oppose Fast Track, losing national sovereignty and more corporate giveaways. Ask for a copy of the entire text and see what they say.

We, the undersigned residents of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia - joined by our downstream neighbors and nationwide friends - demand that the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) revoke and deny all authorizations that allow the barging of toxic, radioactive fracking wastewater (i.e. produced water) on the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers. We also ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to revoke and deny all authorizations to construct barge loading and unloading sites for shipping these toxic wastes. Such activities will put millions of people’s drinking water at risk of contamination from toxic chemicals, petroleum distillates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, radioactive materials and other undisclosed “proprietary” substances.

Jeffrey Schoon a single father sits in a low security federal prison as his terminaly ill 17 year old son Bret Schoon is in the University of Iowa Hospital alone battling cystic-fibrosis for his life alone because the Warden will not take his dad to see him. Jeff robbed a bank without a weapon to care for his terminally ill child, and take him to Disneyland after police harassment shut down his metal recycling business.

Dear Senator, I am writing to urge you to fully support organic agriculture in the Farm Bill and to oppose any changes that would undermine the organic standards and the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Consumer confidence in the integrity of the USDA organic seal is the driving factor in the exponential growth in the organic sector. The role of the NOSB in ensuring transparent and public input from all stakeholders into standard-setting is central to consumer trust in the USDA organic label. Making changes to the authorities or composition of the NOSB could harm the integrity of the organic program, undermine consumer trust in the organic label, and severely damage the reputation of the industry as a whole. The organic sector has flourished since federal organic standards were finalized in 2002 -- soaring from less than $10 billion to nearly $50 billion today. Organic is now the fourth largest food and feed commodity class in the U.S., with organic products offered in 75 percent of all categories on supermarket shelves. Organic farming is a bright spot in the U.S. rural economy. Data show that organic farms are 35 percent more profitable than the average farm and that rural counties with a high level of organic farms and businesses have higher household incomes and reduced poverty rates by as much as 1.35 percent, even more than major anti-poverty programs. Domestically, the organic sector is home to nearly 24,000 certified organic family farms and other businesses. Organic consumers are everywhere and their numbers are growing. Data show that over 80 percent of U.S. households buy organic food, and the demographics of organic buyers match the diversity of the American population. Organic remains the fastest-growing sector of the food industry -- while the overall food market experiences a stagnant 0.6 percent growth rate, organic sales grew 8.4 percent from 2016 to 2017. Domestic production is not keeping up with consumer demand. The U.S. accounts for 44 percent of global organic sales, but just four percent of global farmland under organic production. Approximately 25 percent of organic corn and 75 percent of organic soybeans used in the country are imported. U.S. farmers are losing out on the chance to feed Americans’ growing appetite for organic food. A growing body of research demonstrates that organic farming systems provide an impressive range of conservation benefits. Organic farms support 50 percent more pollinator species, sequester carbon in the soil, and deliver greater resilience in the face of climate-related weather impacts like drought and floods by improving soil structure and soil water-holding capacity. At a time when so many farmers and rural communities across America are struggling, we need more policy support for organic agriculture. First and foremost, I urge you to oppose any changes that would undermine the National Organic Standards Board in the Farm Bill. I also urge you to: Fully fund the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program which helps small and mid-size farmers transition to organic and afford organic certification; Increase funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) to $50 million annually. Organic and non-organic farmers alike benefit from this research. For example, cover cropping is standard practice on organic farms but has been widely adopted by non-organic farms as well; Fully fund the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the nation's largest conservation program by acreage and a critically important program that supports organic farmers. CSP is the only Farm Bill program focused on advancing conservation systems to comprehensively protect natural resources, including soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat; Devote $50 million annually to public plant and animal breeding programs focused on developing regionally adapted cultivars and animal breeds that are suited to farmers’ local growing conditions, changing climates, and farming systems; and Create a level playing field for U.S. organic family farms and stop organic import fraud by increasing funding for the National Organic Program, providing funding to improve import data tracking, and creating better mechanisms to ensure that all organic imports comply with U.S. standards. These measures will help ensure that American organic farmers can keep pace with the growth of the organic sector. Thank you,

Seek Justice for Natasha Roseanna Boykin To whom it may concern; I am writing you today in request that an investigation be conducted on the Jacksonville Beach Police Department in FLORIDA. This police department as an agency standing alone in a 7.36 square mile area has reported more than 50 Suicides vs. 11 Homicides. How is this humanly possible for a tourist community? On November 11, 2009, Natasha Boykin of Vilano Beach Florida sadly had been tagged as one of their statistics for Suicide. The family and friends had been informed that there was a homicide investigation being conducted. Natasha’s boyfriend Willis “Casey” White admitted on his interview tape of the personal and family deep rooted friendships with officer and officials within the police department. Evidence strongly suggests this was covered up and was displayed as a staged crime scene! The police Chief Bruce Thomason has absolutely refused to meet with the family even after the mother has pleaded at least four times. Chief Bruce Thomason is apparently busy writing his third book of the white sandy beaches of Jacksonville Beach FLORIDA and a serial killer running loose. This is sad to say the least for any police chief to be allowed to be so prejudice and haughty at the taxpayers’ expense. We respectfully request the same kind of internal investigation as the Trayvon Martin case so rightfully deserved. In the State of FLORIDA this is all too common of any death investigation receiving quick and biased write offs. Our point is that once a suicide is ruled by the police it is apparent that ends up being the only investigative protocol performed. Suicides also known as suspicious or accidental deaths do not receive any kind investigation. How do they know this is warranted as such if there is no investigation to start with? Simply put this police department has not been held accountable to do their jobs. The commission of an act that is unequivocally illegal or completely wrongful. The self made determination and end results, never questioned display only the appearance of the crime rate down with budgets remaining in control. The bottom line everyone is happy except the loved ones with clear and precise evidence to prove otherwise. We have presented to these agencies only that of their own malfeasance. The erroneous presentation to the people and citizens as a safe place to visit and live is an abomination to say the least. We are curious in particular to this agency recognized by rewarding officers for changing old ladies tires but is not adequately trained to investigate a homicide? The Jacksonville Beach Police Department retains a certification under CALEA Law Enforcement accreditation program. The standards manual to retain of CALEA accreditation process is that of the standards of Law Enforcement for the "best professional practices" all of this accreditation has been violated by the Jacksonville Beach Police Departments own Chief Bruce Thomason. The Chief is the person who is responsible to set the example within his own agency. If we have and do present ourselves with the facts in relation to the homicide of Natasha Boykin what else may have been written off, swept under the carpet? There has been no change from the city manager to the chief of police in Jacksonville Beach Florida in over 25 years. Both the chief and city manager came into the city within months of one another. Our own government entities stick with one another by their fine blue line code of silence, knowingly of a wrong being committed and leaving the taxpaying citizen with the grief, sadness at the same time they savor their taste buds with tax payer’s money for their proclaimed well earned pay checks. We have requested three times to meet with the city manager in reference to the malfeasance by the police chief and his agency. The only response we received back was a brief dictation written by the commander for the Jacksonville Beach Police Department advising us to fill out a short form at the time of a council meeting, we would have five minutes to present and address our complaint. The Jacksonville Beach Florida City Ordinance under section 33 cites: “ A committee authorized by the council and/or the manager shall have the power to inquire into the conduct of any department, office or officer of the city and to make investigations as to municipal affairs, and for that purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the production of books, papers, and other evidence. Failure to obey such subpoena or to produce books, papers, or other evidence as ordered under the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) or by imprisonment not to exceed thirty (30) days or both. Any officer, person, or committee conducting the investigation shall report to the city council all violations or neglect of duty, or any misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office,...

February 7, 2012 Mayor Terry Bellamy, Vice-Mayor Esther Manheimer, Councilman Cecil Bothwell, Councilman Jan Davis, Councilman Marc Hunt, Councilman Chris Pelly, and Councilman Gordon Smith Asheville City Council 70 Court Plaza Asheville, NC 28802 Chairman David Gantt, Vice Chairman Bill Stanley, Commissioner K. Ray Bailey, Commissioner Holly Jones, and Commissioner Carol Peterson Buncombe County Commission [Street address?] Asheville, NC 28802 Dear Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commission, The City Council is preparing to demand that we, Occupy Asheville, remove our occupation from in front of Asheville's City Hall. Our terms for the peaceful and cooperative dissolution of the current occupation are as follows: Safe haven for the houseless The houseless population of Asheville requires a safe haven where they can occupy and exercise their fundamental right to life. Our economic downfall has been caused by the greed of the 1% under a system that allows such behavior, but, nevertheless, the City Council and County Commission can step up in service to the community and provide the houseless a place to live, something that we believe to be a right of all living beings. The recession has hit all individuals hard, but hardest hit are those that were already houseless. To acknowledge that all human beings deserve an opportunity to survive in this world, we believe that providing a safe haven for the houseless directly from the City Council and County Commission, and not from some outsourced institution, is an essential need for our community. Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR]: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” Article 13 of the UDHR: "Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.” Abolition of unconstitutional city ordinances All Americans have the right to free speech and to peaceably assemble. Strict curfew laws, such as those in place in the city of Asheville, and other city ordinances, such as sleeping or smoking prohibitions, are unnecessary and make it even harder to live lawfully as a houseless individual on top of the current hardships caused by the financial crisis. Furthermore, Occupy Asheville protesters have been arrested for breaking such trivial ordinances as impeding the flow of traffic or wearing a mask on public property in violation of these constitutionally protected rights. We believe that these city ordinances are unconstitutional, do more harm than good, and should therefore be abolished. Furthermore, we insist that the Asheville City Council cease all efforts to annex the space that currently serves as the site of the occupation into Pack Square Park. The land was deeded to the ownership of the public, and any effort to annex it is a violation of due process and fundamentally unconstitutional. Article 20 of the UDHR: “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” First Amendment to the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Moving money from big banks to local banks/credit unions National and multinational banks do not function for the benefit of local communities. They operate in a manner that concentrates wealth and power in the hands of the 1% while removing valuable resources from these communities. For the good of all the citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County , the City Council and County Commission must follow the example set by the leadership of San Jose, Portland, Seattle, and Berkeley, among others, and move all money, assets, and business transactions from any currently used national bank to one or more of the local banks or credit unions and, should a chosen bank or credit union be bought by one of the larger banks, the money, assets, and transactions must once again be transferred to a locally controlled and locally accountable institution. Adequate living wage The financial crisis and subsequent recession has made finding an adequate living wage for the rest of society increasingly difficult. Because all human beings have a right to survive, we insist that the City Council and County Commission ensure that all citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County have an adequate living wage, using whatever methods are at their disposal to do so, seeking help from the state legislature if necessary, and that all corporations within Asheville pay their workers their fair share based on their annual corporate income. Article 25 of the UDHR: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in t...

To President Obama and the Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives: Before we commit to a limited, “support" troop reinvasion of Iraq, can we please hit the pause button and consider non-military options? Yes, ISIS, a brutal offshoot of al-Qaeda that stretches from the Mediterranean in northwest Syria to the Persian Gulf in southeast Iraq, needs to be stopped. The questions are how and by whom. The U.S. has many options. Will you exhaust them all before you send our men and women back into battle? Please consider the following 7 points to stop ISIS peacefully: 1. Consider all the steps between doing nothing and dropping bombs. The world witnessed a miraculous example of successful diplomacy last summer: It was considered a “done deal” that Washington would unleash limited bombing on the outskirts of Damascus to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons. Then a seemingly off-the-cuff remark by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry set in motion a diplomatic solution that resulted in Assad turning over his stash of chemical weapons, thereby successfully ridding the world of one of the last major caches of chemical weapons – and avoiding more casualties on America’s conscience. Disarming proved to be much more successful “punishment” than bombing. We realize this tactic worked because Obama’s threat to bomb Syria was perceived as real. Could this tactic work again? Or are you planning to reoccupy Iraq? We implore you to employ non-military options first. 2. Stop considering Syria and Iraq in separate vacuums; a regional viewpoint is necessary. For example, the regimes of Syria’s Assad and neighboring Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki (who has just retained political power by being named vice-president) are allied. They share a common opposition to ISIS. Yet, the U.S. funds the Iraqi government while also funding fighters who oppose the Syrian government, ignoring that some of those opposition fighters affiliate with ISIS and spill from Syria into Iraq. Thus, American tax dollars support opposition fighters trying to undo a government supported by American tax dollars! 3. Stop justifying military funding, arming and intervention in Syria or Iraq by referencing human rights abuses. Yes, it’s excruciating to view photos of hundreds of children gassed to death and not want to punish, but the larger truth is every side in Syria and Iraq are engaged in human rights abuses. Adding more troops, guns or military money does not suddenly make governments, soldiers or insurgents more humane. 4. Work regionally to cut off supply routes of weapons. Fewer weapons means less fighting and fewer casualties – and fewer generations of traumatized children raised to believe violence is the only option. Syrian rebels’ weapons flow through Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. The U.S. should be a leader in negotiating a regional effort to stem this flow of weapons; instead it provides weapons to Syrian fighters assuming they won’t land in ISIS fighters’ arms. 5. Dry up the black market for crude oil and gas. After benefitting from oil and gas takeovers in eastern Syria, ISIS has seized oil facilities in Mosul and Kirkuk and is selling the Iraqi crude at a deep discount on the global black market, raising $3 million/day and making it the wealthiest terrorist organization on the planet. It’s estimated they could make $1 billion/year. 6. Engage the United Nations. The U.S. is about to assume the presidency of the U.N. Security Council. ISIS creates an unusual opportunity for opposing factions to work together: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Gulf States and the U.S. and its western allies all see ISIS as a security threat. On Sept 24, the Security Council will consider a U.S. proposal to “prevent and suppress” the recruitment and travel of foreign fighters to join terrorist groups. It is estimated that 12,000 rebels from 74 countries have joined extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. While stemming the flow of fighters is a good step, it is open to abuse. And it’s a bit like the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike. Better to engage the U.N. in pressuring countries to stop arms movement and black market oil purchases. Uniting opponents to ISIS is a unique opportunity to get these countries to suspend their proxy wars. 7. Stop doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. Iraq didn’t have any terrorist groups until after the U.S. invasion. Al-Qaeda bubbled up in 2004. If 100,000 U.S. troops couldn’t wipe out al-Qaeda in Iraq, why do we think we can now without another full-scale war? Targeted precision strikes lead to political instability and the perpetuation of extremism. Are these suggestions more complicated? More time-consuming? More challenging? Yes. But they are far less destructive for Iraqi, Syrian and American children forced to grow up assaulted by war. Thank you for your consideration.

Dear President Obama, We, the Signers of this Petition, respectfully request that visible, functional and aesthetically-pleasing solar panels be installed and operational on the south lawn of the White House no later than April 22nd, 2014 so as to provide undeniable leadership to the world regarding the United States' commitment to sustainable energy sources and to serve as inspiration for a global response to the threat of climate change. Over ten million (10,000,000) people visit The White House each year. Countless photos, videos, feature films, television shows, documentaries, webcasts and news stories are created with this historic building as backdrop. The positive ripple effect that such a clear message would send throughout the world is far more important to us than any partisan politics, bureaucratic red tape or logistical obstructions currently in the way. We understand that there's already much on your busy agenda and only four short years until your second and final term ends. Our concern is that if we do not act upon the momentum your re-election has afforded, then the nation will once more find itself swept up in the media circus that always accompanies an election season and nothing on this issue will have been accomplished. At this time a new President will be sworn in, one who may not share the goal of preservation of our planet. Then the window to lead the world in the defense of our children and future generations may be closed forever... This outcome is unacceptable to us. The time for bold, definitive leadership is NOW. And it starts in your own backyard. We are aware that the White House has a history with solar panels, and we would like to build upon that with a project of our own. Unlike other similar movements, our wish in particular is to see visible, functional and aesthetically-pleasing solar panels on the south lawn of the White House. Why these stipulations? A). Visibility. "Out of sight, out of mind" does not promote inspiration - we want to share innovation with the world, not hide it away. How can other nations be expected to follow our lead if they can't actually see it? B). Functionality. Every bit of sustainable energy helps - even if it's just powering the sprinklers or the holiday lights in winter. Maybe one day such a complex working facility could be completed powered by sustainable energy sources, but for now we feel this is a great first step toward countering any cognitive dissonance in the hearts and minds of a world looking to the U.S. for leadership. C). Aesthetics. We need beauty, not eyesores - the White House was designed through an architectural competition and the same could be done to ensure that the solar panels fit with the "flow" of the buildings and the grounds. We have faith that happy balance between beauty and practicality can be be reached. No taxpayer money will be spent on this project as manufacturers, installers and maintenance crews will gladly donate their time, staff and materials free of charge just for the prestige of having their sustainable energy technology on such prominent display. All personnel involved (especially those doing any surveying, construction or repairs) would gladly undergo thorough background checks and coordinate first with the White House grounds crew, security staff and other relevant agencies, entities, institutions and/or organizations. We feel the world needs to see a visual commitment from you in the form of a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the south lawn solar panels no later than April 22nd, 2014. Why this particular date? A). April 22nd, 2014 will be National Earth Day. What better gift to the planet we have all sworn to preserve? B). Much longer than April 22nd, 2014 and we risk falling into the next election cycle, which would eclipse this subject. C). Assuming this petition reaches enough signatures, makes it before you and then gets approved in the next 90 days would still give us only 24 MONTHS to make our dream a reality. Mr. President, the clock is ticking. The threat of climate change isn't going away and we need to inspire the world to respond to it. The path of sustainable energy needs leaders to forge the way. We, the Signers of this Petition, have the "Audacity to Hope". Hope that you will help us achieve our dream. Hope that you will walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Hope that you, your family, your friends and your co-workers will join us at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new south lawn solar panels on April 22nd, 2014 and afterwards for a potluck in the park across the street (also known as "The Ellipse"). In closing, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your civic duty and to quote your historic second-term inauguration speech (which can be found at the following link)... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZC_y78W4t4 "We will respond to the threat of climate change knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future gen...