Governor Quinn: You say you've cut to the bone. You claim there's no more fat to cut from the budget. But then we learn this week that the CTA, Metra and Pace spent nearly $1 million of $6.4 million local taxpayers dollars to influence state legislators to shell out even more taxpayer funds. Using our tax money to lobby politicians in Springfield? That's not waste we can cut? I urge you to redouble your efforts to trim the significant waste, fraud and abuse in the state budget before continuing your push for a massive income tax increase. That tax increase won't just hit the rich — it will hit families and job creators. It will hurt our already struggling economy, and make a bad situation worse. Please cut the budget -- not our incomes. Go back to the drawing board, draft up a more common sense budget, and drop your campaign to raise our taxes.

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I'm sending you this message because San Jose Family Camp needs your help. As you know, Camp isn't opening this year because of structural issues with the dining hall. As a result, the City Council is looking very closely at Family Camp -- what it costs as well as what it could become. We need to show the Council that Camp can be financially self-sustaining. One way to do that is to raise fees. Our adult rate of $55 a night is well below the Berkeley and San Francisco camps just up the road from us. For example, Berkeley charges $96 per adult per night. Would you support raising Family Camp fees in the future by $5 to $10 per adult per night? This higher rate would put us on very firm financial footing -- and still cost less than other camps. If you would support a fee increase, please sign this petition -- and forward it on to your friends. We need to show the Council that we not only love Camp, but are willing to pay higher fees to assure that it stays open for future generations to enjoy. Thanks!

Dear School Committee Member, We know that times are tough, but we ask you, nonetheless, to vote NO to privatizing the East Greenwich custodial staff. We must stop this Race to the Bottom, selling-out America's workers to the lowest bidder, and the persistent drum beat for low-wage jobs without real benefits that continue to undermine America's economy. The men and women of who make up the E.G. custodial staff are a dedicated and hard-working part of the East Greenwich School Community. Many of them have served the district's students and teachers for over 20 years. Your vote on June 7th will be a "teachable moment." And your decision will send either a devastating message to the families of the people who have long served you well, or, you will affirm that commitment and service mean something in the East Greenwich community. Please vote NO to privatization.

As a county resident I ask that the TMX (transit mixed use) use zone specifically eliminate larger and enhanced retail centers from its definition. The TMX zoning in its current state allows big box retail stores within a zoning designation specified for transit oriented centers. There should be no mixed uses zone permitted in an ordinance which allows big boxes over 120,000 square feet. Currently there are a vast number of sites throughout Montgomery County that are proposed as TMX zones. The preservation of our neighborhoods should be assisted by these new land use designations and not hindered. Mixed use development should consolidate land uses and not inundate them with massive retail buildings which create negative impacts to surrounding properties and the environment. The county’s existing big box ordinance must be reinforced with regards to this new zoning. I hope that you will amend the definition of the TMX (transit mixed use) to exclude big box stores in these zoning districts.

Dear Councilmembers, I do not support the new TMX (transit mixed use) zoning which is about to change the face of mixed use development throughout Montgomery County. The impact of this new zoning as it currently exists would allow big box retail stores within a transit mixed use zone. A mixed use zone should not include big box and warehouse-type retail stores which are more consistent with suburban style shopping center. There are several sites throughout Montgomery County that total are planned for this newly proposed TMX zone. It is imperative that we prohibit big boxes within the TMX use zone. The preservation of our neighborhoods should be assisted by these new land use designations and not hindered. Mixed use development should consolidate the best use of land and should not be inundated with massive retail buildings which create negative impacts to surrounding properties and the environment. Please amend the current definition of the TMX (transit mixed use) zone to prohibit big box stores in these zoning districts!

Dear House Transportation Committee, I am asking that you support Michigan Complete Streets legislation. House Bills 6151 and 6152 were introduced to encourage communities and road agencies to consider nonmotorized and public transit accommodations to our transportation corridors in state, regional and local planning and implementation processes as a way to create more walkable, bikeable places where children and families can be physically active. Complete streets policies ensure that infrastructure is designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities can move safely along and across a complete street. There is no prescription for what a Complete Street looks like. A Complete Street in a rural area will look different from a Complete Street in a highly urban area, but both are designed to balance safety and convenience for everyone using the road. Complete Streets boost the economy by increasing residential property values because homeowners are willing to pay more to live in walkable communities and businesses located along Complete Streets often see an increase in sales. Complete Streets improve safety and reduce crashes by providing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, such as safe crossings, sidewalks, or on-road bicycle lanes. Complete Streets promote public health by making it safe and convenient for children and families to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives as a way to combat the obesity epidemic. Clearly, supporting Complete Streets is investing in a stronger and healthier Michigan. I urge you to vote in favor of the Michigan Compete Streets Bills. Together we can create a more vibrant Michigan. Sincerely,

During the eight years you've had control of Illinois government, you've overspent and given us massive deficits and rising unemployment. Now you want to overtax us and further hurt our state's weak economy? To make matters worse, you stopped a bipartisan effort at school choice legislation that would've helped children in some of Illinois' worst-performing schools. You should be ashamed. I urge you to stop your efforts to increase our taxes, and work on a common sense budget that cuts the waste and ends the payoffs to your liberal social interest supporters. I also urge you to reconsider Sen. Meeks' school choice legislation. Mismanagement in Springfield has got to stop. If you don't stop it now, we will stop you in November. Thank you.

mbasic@sezampro.rs

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