CitizenSpeak - your campaign

Support Certification of Summit Commons

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:02:54 -0700

May 13, 2008 David Gifford, MD, MPH, Director Rhode Island Department of Health Thee Capitol Hill Rd , RM 401 Providence RI 02908 Dr. Gifford, As you know Radius Management acquired the defunct Hillside Nursing Facility. The undersigned neighbors fully support the reopening of the nursing facility as Summit Commons. Many of us moved here several years ago when the nursing home was an integral part of our community serving those who required specialized care. Some of us had loved ones in the nursing facility enabling us to visit and interact with them regularly. Unfortunately the previous nursing operation ceased operation in June 2004. Neighbors watched with dismay as the property moved from a faltering healthcare facility to an abandoned property. As such, the landscaping and grounds fell into further neglect and disrepair. Neighbors were forced to shovel snow and prune foliage to make the sidewalks passable. Calls for service to local Police were frequent, and Police activity increased as the areas surrounding the property supported questionable transactions inconsistent with the neighborhood's quiet and lawful nature. The city's anti-graffiti resources were contacted several times to remove prominent tags. We are extremely encouraged by and supportive of the property resuming nursing care operations in a manner consistent with city zoning and the building's intended use. The current owners have been very forthright with the neighborhood residents, on several occasions sharing their detailed plans with us, soliciting our reactions, listening carefully to our concerns. We respectfully request that your office prioritize the inspection and certification of this property so it can once again meet the needs of our neighbors in the RI community and also resurface as a viable option for the care of our loved ones. Thank you for your time and consideration, The undersigned (Attached): CC: The Honorable Donald Carcieri Office of the Governor State House Providence, RI 02903 The Honorable Gordon Fox House Majority Leader Rhode Island House of Representatives State House, RM 323 Providence, RI 02903 The Honorable Rhoda Perry Rhode Island Senate State House, RM 318 Providence, RI 02903

Push For Crisis Intervention Teams Within The NYPD

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:01:25 -0700

Come Join Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities! Wednesday, June 4, 2008 For an open forum on: PRE-BOOKING JAIL DIVERSION/CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS Fordham University, Lincoln Center 140 W 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023 McNally Amphitheatre Come join people directly affected, advocates, government officials,academics, and legal providers as they engage in an open discussion about the current state of the criminal justice system and how pre-booking jail diversion can be implemented to best service people with psychiatric disabilities. Confirmed speakers include Marquez Claxton, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement; Ann Pennington, researcher from Denver Colorado; Maria Ortiz, family member; Alex Anderson, ACT Team and RIPPD member; Jean Griffin, sister of David Glowczenski (tasered to death by Southampton Village Police); Carlos Sabater, RIPPD member; Mary Beth Pfeiffer, Author Crazy in America. Other invited speakers include Sgt. Dan Berardini, Commanding Officer, Rochester EDPRT and Major Sam Cochran, coordinator Memphis CIT. Forum will run from 9:00 AM till 1:00 PM to register please visit: www.rippd.org or contact: Lisa Ortega (646-260-6575) Co-Sponsored by Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service Alumni Association

Great Streets Facilities Plan, City of Albuquerque EPC

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:22:53 -0700

Dear Commissioner: I strongly urge your support toward the adoption of the Great Streets Facilities Plan as a Rank 2 Plan. I'm one of many residents in Albuquerque who is concerned with safe travel choices on our streets. The plan would provide needed implementation of many of the city's comprehensive plan goals. Street and sidewalk standards are needed in a Great Streets plan to address the need and demand for safe travel choices on our streets. To walk. Bike. Take transit. And drive responsibly. For these reasons, I hope you will support the adoption of the Great Streets Facilities Plan as a Rank 2 Plan.

Janitor Negotiations.

Sat, 10 May 2008 18:50:58 -0700

Dear President Bacow: I remember that Tufts is a university that rightfully prides itself on active citizenship. I can be a better steward for the university if I know that our janitors, the stewards of our buildings, are getting a fair wage and decent health care. As respected members of the Tufts community, they deserve nothing less. I ask that you actively and visibly support the janitors in labor negotiations to raise them to the Tufts Standard. Take an active role in the bargaining process to make sure that no one is left behind. I hope to hear good news soon. I look forward to being able to continue to support Tufts.

hello

Sat, 10 May 2008 07:53:55 -0700

hello

Support JLA Commission bill from Scholars

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:45:25 -0700

Dear Member of Congress, While the public is generally familiar with the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, they are less aware that over 2,200 Japanese men, women, and children from Latin America were interned as well. The U.S. government orchestrated their removal from their homes in 13 Latin American countries and detained them in camps in the United States. Over 800 of these individuals were used for prisoner exchanges with Japan, despite the fact that many were born in Latin America and had never set foot in the land of their ancestors. Previous efforts in Congress have neglected the Japanese from Latin America. They were investigated in only a very limited way by the 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. They were not included in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided an apology and redress to interned Japanese Americans. An act currently before congress, entitled the “Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act,” would begin to close this gap. Introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (HI) and Representative Xavier Becerra (CA), [S.381/H.R. 662] would establish a nine-member commission to investigate the World War II-era relocation, internment, and deportation of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent and recommend appropriate remedies. We, the undersigned scholars, write to express our support for this bill. Establishing a commission to investigate these injustices is commensurate with the goals of scholarship, which include free inquiry into the past and educating the public. The capture and detention of civilians residing in other countries on the basis of ethnicity was not only wrong in itself, but set a most dangerous precedent. Passage of [S. 381/H.R. 662] would help to assure that this kind of action will not be taken again, and demonstrate a national commitment to honor human dignity and international human rights.

CauseCaller.com - Cool New Activist Tool

Tue, 06 May 2008 09:14:35 -0700

If you love voice over the Internet and activist tools than you are going to LOVE CauseCaller.com - a free and easy way to empower supporters to call representatives on behalf of a cause.

Like CitizenSpeak, CauseCaller users create an account, and a campaign that generates a URL specific to their cause. At this page, supporters are asked to enter their own numbers where upon the application immediately calls them and then places the call through to the targeted representative.

Supporters are able to speak to reps with a script right in front of them. Pretty darn ingenious.

The only downfall is that as far as I can tell, users aren’t able to capture names and phone numbers of supporters to build their lists. Maybe that will be available in a subsequent version.

In any event, CauseCaller makes for a great supplemental tool to CitizenSpeak. Now your supporters can choose to call or email targeted reps. What could be better?

Democracy is on the move!

No Smoking Ban at Stony Brook

Mon, 05 May 2008 18:37:37 -0700

Dear President Shirley Strum Kenny, In a recent vote of the University Senate they passed what is essentially a de facto smoking ban at Stony Brook. By a vote of 22-21, Senators narrowly passed a proposal to ban smoking cigarettes within 20 feet of all buildings and 50 feet of all building entrances on Stony Brook campus. A ban like this has been opposed by students for two years and failed to pass the University Senate last year. Members of the Senate have continued to push their agenda despite student opposition going so far as refusing to allow student senators in the University Senate ability to speak at the meeting, essentially censoring them. I am asking you as a student at Stony Brook and future alumni to reject the University Senate's proposal and keep the smoking policy as it is. The barely passed proposal ignores student input, is unenforceable, and ultimately unfair to the student body. Sincerely

Safe Roads: Install a traffic light at Route 28 & Hurley Mtn. Road

Sun, 04 May 2008 09:54:54 -0700

Senator Bonacic, Rep. Cahill, Chairman Donaldson, and Commissioner Glynn: I join with the Kingston Branch of the American Association of University Women in requesting your assistance to our community. We urge you to support the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Route 28 and Hurley Mountain Road. The intersection has a history of fatalities, the most recent – AAUW member Richard Hlavsa in 2007. The speed and density of traffic on Route 28 has increased substantially over the past few years and will continue to grow with the development of Route 28 and Belleayre. Without your intervention, this request will move very slowly. We understand that the process to install the last traffic light in Ulster County took twelve years to complete. As our elected representatives, please request that DOT Commissioner Glynn assess the benefits of a light at this intersection NOW and report back to you and to us. Thank you for your support.

Welcome to Barter America

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:21:51 -0700

Thanks for supporting Barter America. We will be updating our members over the next few weeks. Stay tuned! Thanks again for helping. Androka

Ban Foie Gras

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:19:40 -0700

Dear Chef, I am deeply concerned about the welfare of the ducks used in foie gras production, and ask that you please consider removing this item from your menus.

NEVER: Tell Mike Huckabee to Affirm Opposition to Torture

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:59:38 -0700

As people of faith, our consciences are deeply troubled by recent revelations that decisions to torture prisoners were made at the highest level of government. No matter what political afilliation, people of faith must speak out against these violations of international human rights and our own sense of decency as a nation. Mr. Huckabee, as a man of faith who just launched a PAC to support the values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we ask you these two simple questions: 1. Will you affirm the Christian faith and the American principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness by signing the Evangelical Declaration Against Torture? 2. Will you require the candidates supported by your PAC to take a stand against torture?

Test Campaign

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:51:51 -0700

Dear Members of the City of Los Angeles City Council: As resident of the "undisputed creative capitol of the United States," I write to encourage you to allocate the necessary resources that will enable the great City of Los Angeles to live up to that role. Currently, Los Angeles falls short of providing the basic level of funding for a city of this size. In fact, arts funding fall wells below regional averages.

Sara's Test

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:12:07 -0700

Test

Halt Gunfire on the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:08:58 -0700

Dear Governor Corzine and Mayors Halfacre, Ekdahl, Menna and Howard: We respectfully urge that the Governor and mayors respond to concerned families and river enthusiasts by taking all actions necessary ensure that gunfire in and near neighborhoods on the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers cease. The discharge of firearms is no longer compatible with high density housing, and should have been discontinued years ago, when the State halted hunting on the Shark River. The Asbury Park describes the situation as one of "simmering discontent." Similarly affected towns on Long Island have already restricted shooting near homes. Duck shooting was once allowed near what is now Wall Street, in New York City. For crystal clear reasons, it is not allowed today. The grounds are as straightforward as they are obvious: hazard and safety concerns, disruption of the peace, and quality of life. No one in river towns is permitted to set-off firecrackers from dawn to dusk. Barking dogs are legal nuisances. Yet for sixty days, gunfire begins before sunrise, and often continues throughout the day, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. In Fair Haven, shots were fired at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. During the week and on weekends, homeowners are awakened not only by gunshots, but by hunters' yells. There are out-of-state shooters, and those who rent duck blinds for a day. For months, people stay away from piers, beaches, and, in many cases, their own backyards and docks. News 12 New Jersey commented on the dangers posed by a duck blind anchored too close to the Fair Haven pier. Nothing was done. Kayakers, walkers, and hikers either risk injury, or stay home. Duck blinds are anchored directly behind houses with young children and dogs. The children witness the shooting, and cry. When called, the State says it's legal. The gunning has exceeded local and river enthusiast tolerance, which remains strained. Hunting on state tidal waters is permitted by the State of New Jersey. The discharge of firearms so close to houses, people and companion animals is legal only because the Division of Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Department of Environmental Protection, says it is. Governor Corzine can act. Local governments can and should represent affected constituent neighborhoods before the State. It is time to act.