Take The Initiative

On Sunday, April 11, just a few days after Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), the CUNY University Student Senate (USS) will vote on whether to adopt a resolution supporting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism. The IHRA International Definition of Antisemitism was established in 2016 by an assembly of experts and governments to “strengthen, advance, and promote Holocaust education, research, and remembrance.”

The IHRA Definition of Antisemitism reflects the lived experiences of Jewish students within CUNY and those experiences are not up for debate. The adoption of the IHRA definition is the simplest way to support and protect the CUNY Jewish community.

Certain campus groups are seeking to delegitimize this definition by spreading misinformation about the resolution. Students for Justice in Palestine has gone so far as to create a reactive resolution, which includes its own definition of antisemitism. The Jewish students at CUNY strongly condemn this resolution. These groups do not represent the Jewish community. Jews should have the right to define what is and is not antisemitic just like other communities have the right to define what constitutes bigotry against them.

Antisemitism is alive and prevalent on college campuses, across the country, and around the world. In 2019, antisemitic incidents reached a 40-year high of 2,100 incidents. One-third of those incidents occurred in New York and New Jersey. In December 2019, a shooting at the Jersey City Kosher Supermarket took the lives of four victims. That same month, a 72-year-old Jewish man was stabbed to death at a Chanukah party in Monsey and four more people were injured. Investigators found that the assailant kept journals about Hitler and Nazi culture and that he had searched for “Zionist Temples” in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Staten Island, and New York. Just last week, a Jewish family with their one-year-old daughter was attacked in lower Manhattan. And on CUNY campuses, Jewish students have reported being harassed and objectified for their Jewish and Zionist identities.

The IHRA definition has been formally adopted by over 50 Jewish organizations in the US and is the accepted definition of antisemitism for the vast majority of Jewish organizations and scholars. In addition to USGs at Baruch College, The City College of New York, and Brooklyn College, the definition has also been adopted by 27 student governments in the U.S. and 33 countries, including Canada, Bahrain, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, the United Kingdom, and the United States, 38 universities worldwide, including Arizona State University, London School of Economics, Oxford University, Syracuse University, University of California, San Diego, University of Cambridge, and the University of Texas at Austin, and is endorsed by international bodies like the Global Imams Council, the European Union, and United Nations officials. President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Ahmed Shaheed have all endorsed the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism.

Sign this petition to stand up against Anti-Semitism at CUNY and urge USS to adopt IHRA.



Visit our Website www.cunyihra.fyi to learn more about IHRA and Frequently Asked Questions

Hello this petition is in regards to my 3 year old daughter who was born blind, and has a rare disorder ( Peter's anomaly) along with the many other babies, children and adolescent individuals residing in the state of NJ. As everyone is well aware many things have been shut down due to the pandemic. The last time my daughter received her services which was 1x a week was March of 2020. She also received Early intervention which stopped at that time as well. Forwarding to over a year later and the commission is not only inoperable but they are not meeting our children's needs. There is still no TVI, MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, not to mention materials ie walking stick, pre braille material. Early intervention was allowed back into the homes wearing masks since September 2020! Yet the commission is no where to be found and my daughter along with many others who can not use the ZOOM PLATFORM they are providing cannot see hence causing regression. Since we were suppose to have her tvi follow her when in school but that did not happen, I chose to keep her on stand by time saved up through Early intervention. I have contacted EVERYONE, including our Governor via email and no response. I was finally given the email to the director of commission as well as the director of special education for the state. To no avail, all they keep telling me is they need the go ahead due to the pandemic but cannot even give a time frame to when this organization will be back again. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The pandemic should not be used as an excuse any longer as vaccines are available, schools are open, restaurants and bars are open, people are traveling and here are our children, regressing because their needs are not being met and that is illegal. I know many other parents in NJ who are going through the same exact thing and it is heartbreaking to just have to sit back and wait.. I can no longer do that as my child deserves her tvi and all materials due to her disability so that she can properly prosper. Please with a kind heart all I ask is that you sign this petition so that hopefully we can make a change, have the commission back into our lives for our kids. This is my last hope, Thank you for those who will take the time out to read this, sign it and pass it along.

No time to waste. No food to waste.

For months, with friends and volunteers in our School district (Allendale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River and Ho-Ho-Kus) in New Jersey, we have requested donations of excess food from several local supermarkets to distribute to people facing food insecurity. We registered as a Nonprofit to gain credibility and gave our group a name: FrontLine Teens, because we put our group and ideas together when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and its devastating effects on our economy and society became overwhelming. We believe Teenagers can help society overcome crisis and should be fighting on the “front Line”.

Sadly, all our requests for donations of excess food from supermarkets were denied with the same abrupt response: Supermarkets can’t donate their excess food; it needs to be destroyed and disposed for liability reasons.

One supermarket manager was kind enough to spend a few minutes with us and explain how they have to take great measures to destroy their excess food, like dumping chlorine on it to prevent lawsuits; Armed with printed materials from The Public Health Law Center, explaining the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, and the State and Federal laws protecting food donors from potential liability, we went to talk to more supermarkets, but the information provided didn't make any difference. They all knew about Good Samaritan Laws, but they also knew, they could still be taken to court and the risk of a lawsuits is much greater than any possible benefit of giving us their unsellable or ugly food. To them, it wasn’t worth the risk. Supermarkets have an elaborate system in place designed to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations on top of their own company policy. They can not just break that system without another system in place.

The main hurdle lays in the lack of federal or state guidance on how to safety conduct donations. Even if a grocery store manager would decide to trust the protection from Good Samaritan Laws and make a donation, he would be in the uncertain territory; from what can be included or how to transport donations, to whether food needs to be kept cold and how interpreting best-by dates. He would be basically inventing his own policy at his own risk! To this day, we haven’t been able to convince any supermarkets to donate any excess products to us. Our request is for ugly or imperfect apples, oranges, tangerines or pears, or any kind of single packed snacks or juices to add to the paper bag lunches we prepare for the homeless every other week. Large amounts of their food goes straight to the garbage can; all due to the lack of a procedure for supermarkets to follow if donating foods.

We have read extensively about the efforts supermarkets and the government are taking on the road to prevent food waste, but in reality: SUPERMARKETS DUMP HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF EDIBLE FOOD ON A REGULAR BASIS! Every day efforts are delayed, donations that could go to feed the hungry go to waste by the Ton. According to Feeding America, every year, more than 43 billion pounds of food from grocery stores get thrown away. Fear of lawsuits, due to vague laws and nonexistent regulations prevent food from being donated to people in need.

Our petition: 1. WE NEED NEW JERSEY’S GOVERNMENT TO APPOINT OR CREATE A REGULATORY AGENCY (Possibly the NJ department of health) TO GUIDE BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF FOOD WASTE. 2. SAID AGENCY SHOULD IMPLEMENT GUIDANCE ABOUT HOW FOOD RETAILERS SHOULD SAFELY HANDLE THE PROCESS OF DONATING AND ENFORCE COMPLIANCE. 3. REQUIRE EVERY SUPERMARKET TO PARTNER WITH A CHARITY ORGANIZATION AND HAVE A SENSIBLE SYSTEM IN PLACE TO ELIMINATE FOOD WASTE AND DONATE EXCESS FOOD TO HELP FEED THE PEOPLE IN NEED AS PART OF REGULAR OPERATIONS. 4. NEW JERSEY’S GOVERNMENT SHOULD OFFER ADDITIONAL TAX INCENTIVES BEYOND FEDERAL INCENTIVES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE INCREASE OF COSTS AND RESOURCES DEDICATED TO DONATIONS.

We Need a Law requiring all supermarkets to donate and recycle their unsold products in order to help mitigate both, food waste and food insecurity. On April 14th, and after 6 years of discussions, Murphy signed bill A2371 into Law requiring large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste instead of sending it to landfills. We believe this law was the first step to ensure change in the way food waste is handled. However, it is disappointing that this law doesn’t include anything about donations, especially since similar Legislation in other states are already requiring supermarkets to donate their food.

Supermarkets are private owned business; they can buy whatever amount of food they want and do whatever they want with their inventory; they manage their operations and products in whatever way better fit their business. All of that is fair, and we all want supermarket owners to be successful in order to generate more jobs and support the economy. However, we are talking about food here. Food has a vital component that must be addressed as soon as possible! Food retailers carry a social responsibility beyond their business operations. Food is humanity’s most basic necessity; It has a value beyond its business value and it should be measured in units beyond a price tag.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and several other agencies are in charge of regulating and ensuring food safety for human consumption. They regulate how food should be manipulated, processed, handled and distributed. So, why are they not regulating the process of food donations and food waste if those are certainly part of the food industry lifecycle? The FDA should also carry the responsibility of establishing standards, regulating and enforcing how and when edible food can be destroyed and these standards should be added to the FDA Food Code. We believe the value of food itself needs to be protected and donations of eatable food to charity should be included as mandatory in the system of dealing with food. Although supermarkets see price tags on the shelves, food to some people is the difference between eating anything at all.

New Jersey is proactive and compromised with reducing food waste and food insecurity and we are proud of all that has been accomplished and underway, but a determined legislative action is needed specifically to ensure edible food (unmarketable due to labeling, appearance or surplus) is separated from scraps and donated to charity as part of regular operations in supermarkets and large generators of food scraps.

Similar legislations in place:
Similar laws requiring and regulating excess food donations are already in place in other states; New York recently passed legislation requiring: “Large generators of food scraps must: 1. Separate and donate edible food and 2. Separate and recycle all remaining food scraps if within 25 miles of an organics recycler”. UPDATE: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) filed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with the Department of State to add a new 6 NYCRR Part 350. This Impressive 12 pages proposed document includes all the guidance needed in order to conduct safe donations!
Why can New Jersey Health Department establish something similar in a simple an effective document to direct supermarkets in how to donate their excess food?
Another Example is France, worlds’ pioneer on legislating and regulating mandatory excess food donations. From them, we can confirm the law, in effect since 2016, have been successfully implemented and returns consistent positive results. The regulation mandates that supermarkets above ~4,500 square feet sign an agreement with food assistance organizations to donate their excess edible, unsold products. According to this article published on Foodtank.com representatives of both food assistance organizations and supermarkets observed that donation quantities increased by approximately 30 percent in 2017, just one year after implementing the law.

Where do NJ's Legislation Stands:
In 2017 New Jersey passed legislation to establish food waste reduction goal of 50% by 2030. In 2019 Governor Murphy signed 10 bills designated to help battle the hunger in the state, including A4705, establishing the New Jersey Food Waste Task Force, tasked with implementing a food waste reduction plan and developing future actions towards sustainable and achievable food waste reduction. The draft of this plan clearly emphasizes the high importance of donations as they are the second tier of EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy, and reads “The New Jersey Department of Health has a role to educate and inform the public about this protections (God Samaritan Act) to remove liability as a perceived barrier to donating food” and “By educating institutions about liability protection, food donations may become a more frequent occurrence and considered a preferred solution instead of merely disposing of surplus food”. Law AJR174 also, passed in 2019, urges large food retailers in the state to reduce food waste.

We feel NJ Legislation in food waste is too passive and merely about educating, informing, urging and suggesting changes. We would like to see a legislation that takes control of the problem and enforce the necessary changes and we need the NJ department of health to do a little more to educate and inform! We need them to implement guidance about how food retailers should safely handle the process of donating and enforce compliance.

Why this legislation and changes are urgent?
We are in a critical time of the hunger crisis; According to this study from Feeding America, Food insecurity affected more than 50 million Americans in 2020, an increase of 13 million since 2018. Much of this increase was due to job losses and the devastating economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Community FoodBank of New Jersey, COVID-19’s Impact on Food Insecurity in New Jersey report, more than 1.2 million NJ residents are projected to be food insecure in 2020, with 431,000 newly food insecure last year.

UPDATE:
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT! TOGETHER WE CAN END FOOD WASTE AND FOOD INSECURITY!! THIS IS OUR WEBSITE, AND PLEASE FOLLOW US IN FACEBOOK, TWEETER AND INSTAGRAM!

We, the residents, homeowners, business owners, and visitors of the beloved #JerseyShore New Jersey coastal communities, (stakeholders), want to stop the Nation’s largest coastal industrial wind farm with over 200 turbines from moving forward. We believe the wind farms will have a negative impact on our fisheries, tourism, real estate, environment and local economies.

Our local, state and federal government officials, including the NJ Board of Public Utilities, have presented these industrial wind farms as green and clean. Evidence contradicts this premise. As stakeholders, we believe the proposed industrial wind farms will have several adverse consequences. We ask that the responsible parties thoroughly examine the points below and terminate the projects immediately.

Issues affecting professional and recreational fishing communities

Vibrations and noise from turbine construction and operation are detrimental to marine animals
Cold pooling - Rotating turbine blades and their bases in the water disrupt the natural cycling of water temperature that fish and shellfish depend on to migrate, breed and flourish, thus driving fish out of vast areas along the NJ coast
EMFs (Electro-Magnetic Fields) disturb fish migration patterns
Loss of commercial and recreational fishing grounds
Radar & Navigational Hazards
Coast Guard high seas rescue issues and potential interference

Environmental Hazards

Disposal of turbine blades - having only a 15-25 year lifespan - after which each 351 foot non-recyclable blade gets buried in the ground
Leakage of hazardous materials - oil leakage from turbines is not uncommon
EMFs (Electro-Magnetic Fields) - safety concern for residents and wildlife
In considering the comprehensive cost of offshore wind turbine production (manufacturing, transportation and installation), we must also consider the carbon footprint involved in all these processes

Wildlife and their habitats

Negative effects to marine mammals and black sea bass during construction (pile driving)
Negative effects on protected species - brown sharks & sand tiger sharks
Harm or death to birds (estimated up to 500k/year in the USA), bats, fish, dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, whales, etc.

Negative impact on Tourism and Coastal Economies

200+ turbines are projected to be 835 feet tall and wider than 2 football fields.
Turbines will be visible from the beaches and negatively affect fishing (see above)
Industrializing our natural ocean views will decrease tourism, affecting small and large business - everything from sandwich shops to real estate sales
Night skies will include blinking & continuous lighting (required for navigation) creating visual pollution

Financial Impact

Electric rates will increase in NJ in order to absorb the cost of the project, which is between $2.106 billion to $4.137 billion
Unproven number of permanent local jobs
Turbines will operate at a maximum of 59% efficiency
The NJ grid is currently incapable of handling a new flow of energy. Without having both short term and long duration storage solutions (technology isn't there yet) as well as an updated grid the development of offshore wind farms faces major transmission issues. The development's cost will be a huge burden to ratepayers for the next 20+ years. Right now the return on investment is at this point very much unknown.

Please sign this petition and learn more through our webpage and social media:




Facebook: @saveourshorelinenj
https://www.facebook.com/groups/saveourshorelinenj/

Literature Review

Dogs have long been considered property, and the laws in most of the US treat them as such. Under California law, the "value" of the dog is used to determine the punishment, with anything less than $950 considered a petty theft, and with maximum punishment not exceeding 1 year in prison, if any.

However, the law should reflect the impact a crime has on the victims. More than half of all American households own dogs, and according to The Harris Poll (2015), 96% of them consider them to be another member of the family. The loss of a dog, by death or theft, is an emotionally tolling experience that leaves families suffering.

On the other hand, it's not just families that suffer. Dogs are sentient beings, not inanimate objects. In a New York Times column, Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist and author, tells how he and his team used MRIs to decode the canine brain, with initial findings showing evidence that dogs empathize with humans, and are capable of experiencing positive emotions, like love and attachment.

It is estimated that around 2 million dogs are stolen each year in the US. Criminals are becoming more violent, attracted by the hefty rewards their heartbroken victims will offer to get back their canine family members. The weak dog theft laws that are in place in California are allowing criminals to operate with little accountability for their heinous acts, and are putting dog owners in danger.

Let's ask the California State Legislature to pass dog theft laws that will reflect the irrecoverable damage done to all the victims, and that can serve as a deterrent for future crimes. Let's get California to set an example for the rest of the country.

Spring 2021 Social Distanced Outdoor Graduation (Graduation for Senior Classes 2020 and 2021)
Graduating from college is an important milestone in your life. After working hard for four years and dedicating your time to your studies, you are finally able to receive your undergraduate degree. This degree is more than just a piece of paper, it's our future, and this accomplishment should be properly celebrated. A graduation ceremony is also about the memories you get to create as well as the sense of pride you feel after being recognized for your success. These are just some of the reasons why the graduating classes at Marymount California University should have an in-person social distanced outdoor graduation.
However, with all of that being said, we do understand why things would have to be different for the graduating classes this year. This pandemic has been challenging for many people and has put a large damper on students and faculty. We understand that times have changed and that the entire world is dealing with this epidemic. Since this year has been twice as difficult, we should be given the opportunity for a better graduation than just an online platform. While following the California Department of Public Health's guidelines, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and the CDC regulations this is a possible option that should be considered. We also believe this is a fair request since our school's size is much smaller compared to most, and there is plenty of outdoor space on campus for this option. We (the students of Marymount California University) want to propose the option for an outdoor social distanced graduation where students would be:
- Spaced 6 feet apart from one another
- Required to wear a face mask during the entire duration of the event
- Seating would be arranged outside on the grassy areas of the campus or the parking lots
Some flexible ideas would include:
- Students being allowed to invite 1 family member/friend to the event or have the event posted online for family/friends to watch
-Breaking up the graduation by hosting a smaller number of students at different times would allow the campus to accommodate the number of students and make it easier to follow the Covid 19 regulations. Options for breaking up students could include:
- Separate graduations for the different classes
- Grouping different majors together
- Going in alphabetical order
We thank you for your consideration.

Closing CCC will be devastating to the economy in Lassen County. More than 1,000 jobs will potentially be lost due to this closure. It brings over $130 million in revenue to our town every year, which supports everything that our community has. This prison facility trains inmates to fight fires which is imperative in California right now with the horrible fire season that's already begun. CDCR states that closing CCC will save the state $122 million per year, but CCC is 1 of 3 prison facilities that operates in the black every year. CCC is already saving CDCR millions just by being open.

Marching Band, Drumline and Color Guard must be able to perform at all games, competitions and assemblies, especially outside. #LetTheBandPlayCA

They would be playing outside and social distancing when playing together, so completely safe.

“These kids in music and band are feeling left out when all their fellow students are back doing sports,” parent said. “They practice and work out as hard as (the other students) do.”

Why are contact sports allowed, but outside bands that can easily social distance 3-6 feet are not?

Football games are missing the sounds from a blaring tuba and roll of a snare drum that would roar through, amp up the crowd and those out on the field.

This year, COVID-19 restrictions make it difficult for a full band to get together to perform. In California they are current banned from performing at any games or rallies, even if outside! I am not sure where the science is on this scenario?

“They work just as hard as any other group in the school,” a Band director said. “They are year-round working. Band season is all year. For performing arts kids, this is their outlet. It is the thing that makes them feel whole.”

“I think anything that is close to normal is something at this point. Take those opportunities where you can get them,” Band Director said.

"So so important for mental health where they learn teamwork and build confidence! I marched in my bands colorguard all four years In high school. We competed/performed almost year-round and built life long friendships. I learned the values of work ethic, perseverance, and teamwork. If you’re on the fence about this consider that this experience is just as important as sports to those who do it. And for most allows them to find a safe environment in the whirlwind of high school."

CDC Safety guidelines allow for bands to play outside!

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-staff.html

Conduct outside and Social distance 6 feet.
Consider conducting the class in an outdoor/open environment or under an open tent.
Maintain social distancing to protect students and staff.
Masks only needed when inside and not social distancing
Reinforce use of masks by all students and staff when not singing or playing an instrument that requires the use of their mouth (unless class is outdoors and distance can be maintained).
CA Safe School Guidance allow outside, but adds a non scientific requirement

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Schools-FAQ.aspx

Yes, singing and band practice are permitted, however outdoors only, provided that precautions such as physical distancing and mask wearing are implemented to the maximum extent possible.
Playing of wind instruments (any instrument played by the mouth, such as a trumpet or clarinet) is strongly discouraged. School officials, staff, parents, and students should be aware of the increased likelihood for transmission from exhaled droplets during singing and band practice, and physical distancing beyond 6 feet is strongly recommended for any of these activities.
Science refutes #2 and can be easily be mitigated with social distancing

University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering researchers has found that wind instruments typically do not spread aerosols farther than one foot: Article
In May 2020, the musicians of the Vienna Philharmonic took part in an experiment, in which particles emitted from playing wind and brass instruments were ultimately found to be pretty inconsequential. Article
The test results have pointed out that most wind instruments do not have any visual or measureable influence on the movement of compartment air. Merely while playing alto flute light flow movements were visible, close to the musician’s body. Regarding all wind instruments, beyond a distance of 1.5m (4.92 feet) to the front, no airflows could be measured and therefore no difference compared to usual airflows of hall-like rooms (e.g. movie theatres, theatres, auditoriums, opera, etc.) could be located. Study
Aerosols from all the wind and brass musicians tended to disperse within a foot or two, posing little risk to those around them. Study

In these indoor spaces at the engineering school, aerosols traveled farther, about four feet.

The researchers noticed that although aerosol production around the mouthpiece was significant, the instruments themselves “acted like a mask,” Arratia says, preventing the dispersion of particles.

The only instrument for which this didn’t hold true? The flute, as flutists blow over the mouthpiece rather than into it, negating the “masking” effect.

So it time to update the CA guidance and allow bands to play outside and inside safely.

What is Assembly Bill 535 currently in front of the California Legislature?
In short, it’s truth in olive oil labeling. The Bill will make it unlawful to make any representation that an olive oil is produced entirely from olives grown within California unless the representation is true.

Why You Should Care?
The truth matters and you deserve to know where the olive oil you are buying comes from.

Did You Know?
Several olive oils currently on the market are labeled “California Olive Oil”, but are produced out of state, or even out of the country. Make sure products labeled with “California Olive Oil” support California farmers and local businesses, and keep California real by helping to support AB 535.

California farmers and businesses appreciate your support!

Unfortunately, my great nephew passed away on 5/29 on Highway 395 at the tender age of 6. The car he was traveling in was hit head on. The driver of the vehicle that him them also passed away.

According to reports, Highway 395 is heavily-traveled but poorly-divided two-lane sections, which have seen an alarming increase in fatal collisions in 2018. The poor division is the reason cars constantly cross over into the wrong lanes.


There has been numerous deaths by travelers taking this rode. Please help me in signing this petition to get the City of Adelanto’s attention on changing this. No more lives need to be lost on this road.

Please join in opposing AB1316. This bill will completely devastate California charter schools and its learners. Education is not, nor should it be a "one size fits all" box. AB1316 eliminates school choice for charter school learners as well as cutting funding once again. Learners who are currently enrolled in a charter school that is based out of a neighboring county (which is permitted and very common in small town areas and rural California) will no longer be able to attend that charter under AB1316. Thousands of learners and educators would be displaced. This bill also cuts funding once again, which means less for our learners to attend music, art, theater, computer class and life skills classes- all things that are provided by public schools to their brick and mortar students just as we provide it for ours. Claims have been made such as charter schools do not employ credentialed teachers or that they do not accept students with IEPs. It is false claims like these that engage a negativity with charter schools and we need to speak up and be heard. Oppose AB1316!

Minnie, an Asian elephant held captive by R.W. Commerford & Sons in Goshen, Connecticut, lives alone. Her companions Beulah and Karen passed away in 2019 leaving Minnie as the sole elephant living in a dismal barn on the Commerford property.

Since 1976, Minnie has been forced to appear in weddings, films, circuses, and as a photo opportunity for paying customers. She is also used to give rides, despite the fact that she has a history of behavior that puts both employees and the public at risk. Minnie has been deprived of her ability to lead a normal, natural life appropriate to her species.

In 2018, CompassionWorks International documented an appearance by Minnie at The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts. We found pronounced swelling in her jaw and an abnormality in her gait that could indicate a spinal deformity or injury in her neck. These issues were formally reported on October 31, 2018 to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which enforces the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Despite compelling video and photographic evidence, they failed to do an inspection of Minnie until more than four months later. Similar examples of inaction by the USDA to respond to formal complaints have resulted in the deaths of elephants prior to the needed and requested welfare check, as was the case for the deceased elephant Anna Louise.

CWI calls on the newly reinstalled U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to strengthen enforcement of the AWA and to take immediate action for lone elephant Minnie. The USDA has cited Commerford & Sons more than 50 times for failing to adhere to the minimum standards required by the AWA. How many more citations and deaths need occur before the USDA takes action? It is time to respond appropriately to repeat offenders by revoking exhibitor licenses and removing animals from their possession.

For her physical, emotional, and psychological health, solitary Minnie must no longer be used as a money-making prop by Commerford & Sons and sent immediately to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or to PAW’s ARK 2000 facility in California where she can receive expert veterinary care and the company of other elephants. Both sanctuaries have offered a home for Minnie at no charge to Commerford.

Please sign and share to #SaveMinnie.

On behalf of the Sacramento Asian/ Pacific Islander (API) Regional Network, we write to express our disappointment in Ms. Nicole Burkett’s racist actions and demand Twin Rivers Unified School District to denounce racism and take the necessary actions to ensure our students’ safety. The Sacramento Asian/Pacific Islander Regional Network is a coalition of progressive Asian and Pacific Islander organizations and individuals who recognized the need for critical analysis and swift response to the unique impacts of COVID19 on the regional A/PI community.

On February 25, 2021, a video, recorded by Grant Union High School (GHS) students, circulated Facebook. The video was of their Spanish teacher, Ms. Nicole Burkett, demonstrating racist and anti-Asian behaviors during class. She is seen pulling the corners of her eyes in different directions stereotyping the shapes of Asian American eyes. She further mocked Asians stating, “Chinese eyes, Japanese eyes.” In addition, the student who recorded the unacceptable act was audibly heard expressing her discomfort to Ms. Burkett’s actions. The student stated, “I should, I should leave your class right now.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2,808 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported within 41 weeks throughout our state and nation. According to Stop AAPI Hate’s data, physical assaults comprised 8.7% of these incidents, while coughing/spitting totaled 6.4%. Verbal harassment constituted 70.9% of these incidents; and shunning or avoidance were 21.4%. Racist and hateful acts like these have been experienced by Asian American students many times in the past. Fortunately now, our students are equipped with the tools such as camera phones to capture and the details and trauma they experience in these classrooms. Anti-Asian behavior, as such, disempowers Asian American students and families and violates the values of diversity, equity and inclusion of Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD).

Of the 27,000 students at TRUSD, 9% identify as Asian Americans, and many belong to families who have been a part of TRUSD’s history for decades. Allowing an environment to foster such racist behavior is detrimental to the decades of trust established between TRUSD and the Asian American community. We call on TRUSD and GHS to condemn any acts of racism from the entirety of its institution and prioritize the safety of our young people and the quality of their education. In order for our Asian American students and families at GHS and TRUSD to move towards healing, we demand the following:

A formal and public apology from Ms. Nicole Burkett, Grant Union High School and Twin Rivers Unified School District. GHS and TRUSD are accountable for the behavior of their teachers and administration of learning. Our request for a formal and public apology is for TRUSD to demonstrate their commitment to cultivating a safe and positive learning environment for students regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ability and etc.
200 hours of meaningful community engagement and service in Del Paso Heights. Ms. Burkett willfully perpetuated and reinforced stereotypes of Asian Americans through her actions. Her actions were harmful and displayed to all students that racism towards Asian American students is acceptable. It is not! As an educator, Ms. Burkett is expected to be a model for all students. Instead, her behavior betrayed an educator’s sacred duty to nurture trust and student excellence. She must be held at a higher level of professionalism. GHS administrators and the leaders at TRUSD have the responsibility to ensure all faculty and staff are culturally competent and anti-racist. We believe in community accountability, and Ms. Nicole Burkett’s must be held accountable. In order to take a step towards anti-racism and healing for the community, Ms. Nicole Burkett must commit to 200 hours of meaningful community engagement, this year, in Del Paso Heights, especially within Asian American communities, to learn more about the community and background her students come from.
Mandatory Racial Equity Training and Anti-Discrimination Compliance Training - Ensure that staff employed by TRUSD attend mandatory racial equity training and anti-discrimination compliance training. Training must include education on the history and culture of the specific student population represented within TRUSD, as well as a comprehensive understanding of systemic inequality, structural and institutional power, and the impacts of such on our communities, specifically within TRUSD. Training must be conducted with/and or in consultation with community-based organizations or individuals with demonstrated expertise in the population.
Adopt and fully implement a strong ethnic studies core curriculum to be taught in Twin Rivers Unified School District. Racist behaviors like these can be avoided through an ethnic studies core curriculum to appropriately educate and discuss the roles of race and ethnic communities. In a statewide assessment of API youth in California, 85% of Samoan participants have not seen their cultural identities represented in their classes, leaving them feeling invisible and unrecognized. Currently, the California Department of Education is developing an ethnic studies model curriculum with community members and education experts. We demand TRUSD to pass a policy to adopt and fully implement required ethnic studies courses within its schools to enrich young people’s understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion to begin to dismantle racist structures and ideology.
Fund effective TRUSD Asian and Pacific Islander (API) specific youth development programs. In a statewide assessment of API youth, 1 in 2 respondents reported being bullied in school. API youth shared how they were often bullied with stereotypes relating to their racial/ethnic identity. For far too long, API youth have been underserved in this area and incidents like Ms. Burkett’s is a product of that. It is time TRUSD changes that.

Since the hiring of new OC Animal Care shelter director Andi Bernard in 2020, the 'State of the Art' $35 MILLION DOLLAR 30,000-fquare-foot facility opened in 2018 with a $25 MILLION DOLLAR annual budget has taken a dramatic shift back to the 'old ways' of excessive animal euthanasia that previously brought outrage to the Orange County community and initiated a lawsuit in 2014 due to the abundance of animals being killed.

At the time of it's opening, former OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer (now District Attorney of Orange County) stated "The goal [of OC Animal Care] is 100 percent responsible adoption for all pets." And OC Animal Care has been taking a regressive position of that concept over the past year. Since the start of Andi Bernard's career at OC Animal Care, programs and opportunities meant to benefit and enrich the lives of housed shelter animals have been removed on a monthly basis. In addition, multiple restrictions on placement have been enforced on animals citing 'risk' as the common theme. The 'REWARD' in these enrichment and placement procedures for shelter animals OUTWEIGH THE RISK! This has been proven with data from any progressive shelter that has programs such as playgroups, daily kennel exits, and special placement adoptions.

Over the past year since the start of Andi Bernard's position as shelter director, OC Animal Care has sent out well over 500 'last' and 'final' requests to the rescue community to exit dogs before facing euthanasia. The majority of these dogs were noted with 'behavioral concerns' such as 'People Selective', 'Arousal', 'Dominant', 'Not Dog Friendly', 'Not Social W/ Children', ‘Strong on Leash’, and other subjective adjectives that do not rightfully delineate a behavior deeming them fit for euthanasia. Furthermore, many of these ‘behaviors’ cited would not be considered by most people to fall outside the realm of normal for a young or adult dog housed in captivity in a confined cell. Additionally, some of the dogs placed on the list at risk for euthanasia seem to have what can only be described as minor medical conditions, such as skin problems and arthritis, which do not reach the threshold for being designated as “irremediably suffering”.

When the new facility opened, we thought we had witnessed OC Animal Care successfully implementing a life-saving model for all animals, with an extremely low number of dogs being threatened with euthanasia. However, throughout 2020 the emails requesting help for large breed dogs before facing euthanasia have increased at an alarming rate. As we write this message 34 dogs are at risk of euthanasia, while a mere 24 are available for public adoption. This means that when not accounting for stray intakes, 70% of the dog population is being threatened with euthanasia and only 58 dogs in total are available to public or rescue at a facility with an annual budget of $25 MILLION DOLLARS!

Andi Bernard needs to be replaced before its too late and more animals are needlessly euthanized. Her former 'risk management' background with Zero previous involvement IN Animal Welfare (or actually owning a pet for that matter) ARE NOT the desirable qualities of a qualified shelter director, and the fact that many previous staff members who truly cared for shelter animals have moved on to other facilities once Andi Bernard took over speaks volume to the regressive approach this shelter is taking. Our former Assistant Director relocated to another facility in the Inland Empire and within 90 days she increased their live release rate from 70% to 92%! Meanwhile, with the oversight of OC Animal Cares shelter director Andi Bernard, we have decreased our live release rate. You can explore the Shelter Statistics at shelteranimalscount.org. When comparing California shelter data to OC Animal Care alone, the State of California has a 61% decrease in shelter euthanasia, whereas OC Animal Care has seen the opposite with a decrease in live release rates/increase in percentage of housed animals euthanized. Well over 500 animals have been euthanized at OC Animal Care last year during a pandemic in which the facility was closed, and it's worth noting the shelter only took in a little over 3,000 pets since COVID19 shut down Orange County. And again, this is during the 2020 pandemic where adoptions have sky rocketed. Once things return to normal, the animals residing at OC Animal Care will suffer tremendously so WE NEED TO ACT NOW before it gets gruesomely worse!

Please sign the petition and let Orange County Board of Supervisors, OC Community Resources Supervisors, and local media outlets know THIS HAS TO STOP AND BE HANDLED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF SHELTER ANIMALS. Once you have signed, please inform the below parties via email your concerns and how you plan to make sure this is pursued to the fullest extent

Spitzer, Todd

Steel, Michelle

Wagner, Donald

Chaffee, Doug

Do, Andrew

Kim Frank (HOA)

Bartlett, Lisa

Wright, Dylan

Atkinson, Cymantha (OCCR)

Bernard, Andi

Schmidt, Monica

Norberto Santana

Theresa Sears

Cabrera, Tony C. (KABC-TV)

Brazil, Benjamin

Erika Ritchie

We are community members, leaders, and organizations who care deeply for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and we are grieving and outraged about the murder of Angelo Quinto by Antioch police. On December 23, 2020, Angelo, a 30-year-old Filipino American veteran and Antioch resident, needed support during a mental health crisis. His family called 911. When Antioch police arrived, police grabbed him from his mother’s embrace and Angelo pleaded for his life, literally telling the officers, “Please don’t kill me.” They continued to handcuff him and KNEELED ON HIS NECK FOR OVER FIVE MINUTES until he lost consciousness and his mouth and face were covered in his own blood. They brought him to the hospital and within three days, Angelo passed away.

What happened to Angelo Quinto was a grave injustice and far from an isolated event. At least 25% of fatal encounters with law enforcement involve a person with mental illnesses. Mental health crises require a mental health emergency response. Angelo Quinto should have been provided the professional help from the appropriate city agency to manage his crisis. Instead, the Quinto family lost their loved one at the hands of Antioch City police officers. This incident has far-reaching consequences for public safety and dire implications for mental health emergencies in Antioch, in California, and across the nation.

We demand the following:

1. End Knee-to-Neck Restraint/Carotid Hold used on George Floyd & Angelo Quinto

2. Hold Officers Accountable for Excessive Use of Force

3. Require Antioch Police Department to Wear Body Cameras and Use Dash Cameras

4. Invest in Mental Health Response Teams

5. Cut the police budget by an amount commensurate with the work they will no longer perform

For more details, the following community letter outlines the demands in detail:

tinyurl.com/justice4angeloquinto

Given the unprecedented drought that California is facing, the idea that Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other water bottlers are tapping California's scarce water supply to sell, is unconscionable.

California's agricultural industry raises over a third of the country's vegetables, and two-thirds of the country's fruits and nuts. California is the most populous state in the Union. California suffers from devastating wildfires every year. Yet none of this concerns Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other water bottlers; who put their needs for profit over the needs of the state of California and its residents.

Please join me in demanding that all tapping of California municipal water supplies, natural springs, groundwater supplies and any other naturally occurring water resources by private corporations who resell that water, be outlawed!

And demand that those corporations who continue to bottle California water, be required to replace that water in California (from non-California resources), drop for drop, at their own expense in addition to levying steep fines for doing so!

In support of impacted community who have suffered police violence & murder, we demand that San Jose Police Department Officer Mike Pina be fired. The city of San Jose should change their protocol so officers like him are not rehired in our city or elsewhere. Please read the stories below of San Jose community members who’ve been directly impacted by Mike Pina’s reckless and violent behavior. Sign & share the petition below in support. #ProtectYourPeople

#JusticeForJacobDominguez

On September 15, 2017, SJPD Officer Mike Pina shot and killed 33 year old father of 3 young children, Jacob Dominguez. Jacob was unarmed, did not know who was following him, and was boxed in with nowhere to go. Despite another officer calling for a less lethal weapon (flash bang), Mike Pina shot and killed Jacob within 20 seconds of stopping him. Pina’s body camera was activated after the shooting. Shortly after this incident, SJPD promoted Pina to Sergeant.

With Jacob gone, his entire family struggles with deep loss and disbelief. His mother grieves daily. They took her only son - her firstborn taken away from her in such a tragic and horrific way. Jacob’s kids lost their daddy. His wife, a full time nurse has to try and pick up the pieces to raise their babies without their rock. His sister is left trying to explain to her son that his Brodie isn’t coming back, that he’s with Jesus. Losing Jacob has had a huge impact on their entire family. The cops judged him for his past, but we will all continue to fight for his future.

#JusticeForMarissa&Paea

In May of 2019, couple Marissa Santa Cruz and Paea Tukuafu were celebrating Marissa’s 22nd birthday at a hotel in San Jose, CA. They received a noise complaint (loud music) from the hotel at 8:45PM, and the couple responded by turning it down. Even after doing so, FIVE San Jose Police officers showed up and escalated it into violent interaction using batons, tasers and rubber bullets on Marissa and Paea. The couple suffered major injuries that required a trip to the hospital and spent the night in jail - with no criminal charges filed on them.


Sergeant Mike Pina was there that night directing the other officers in this violent attack - He asked if they were on parole, threatened them with jail, pulled Marissa to the ground face first, shot them with tasers, and instructed other officers to attack this young couple.

#FireSJPDOfficerMikePina


Mike Pina is a dangerous and reckless officer who should not be anywhere near our communities. The city of San Jose & SJPD are complicit with this pattern of behavior and must change their protocol to not allow officers like him to continue working in our city or anywhere else - NOT promote them to sergeant like they did with Pina.

Please sign and share our petition and help us bring awareness to the victims of Mike Pina.

On the night of my birthday on October 26, 2020, I was sexually assaulted by Gilberto Fabian Jijon, my former roommate and close friend. When he thought I was asleep, he came into my room and groped me for an hour. I laid there terrified and frozen. Since then, I continue to suffer every day from a substantial amount of emotional distress. Not just trying to heal from the sexual trauma, but also the betrayal of someone I once considered my best friend.

The University of California Irvine was informed of the sexual assault the same day of the incident. Despite Gilberto confessing during the investigation and through textual evidence provided by myself and others, UC Irvine took 6 months to even come up with a proposed sanction- a one year suspension. Throughout these 6 months, they spent time interviewing other harmed parties and witnesses. Despite expressing repeated concerns for our safety, and the safety of other students, UC Irvine is allowing Gilberto Jijon to return to campus after only one year of suspension. This is even after being made aware that Gilberto had previously touched other students without their consent on multiple occasions.

I'd told investigators and others how capable Gilberto is of manipulating the women in his life. I'd once confided in him about the sexual assault I'd experienced when I was 13. He responded with so much empathy and best wishes for my healing and justice. Less than a year later, he sexually assaulted me after knowing about what a painful, life altering experience it was for me.

UC Irvine says "Every member of the University community should be aware that sexual violence is prohibited by law as well as our University policy and will not be tolerated."(http://soinfo.uci.edu/) If they truly mean this, they should protect their students by not allowing him to ever step foot back on campus.

Help the Southern California Connections Academy class of 2021 get an in person graduation this summer! Our school leader, Dr.Savage and his Executive Leadership Team of 24 members has voted against giving our class of 2021 an in person-graduation in spite of venue, rental, financial, and staff availability. Dr.Savage as well as Principle Mannix has denied the request for the class of 2021 to present solutions regarding venue, financing, COVID restrictions, date/time, and rentals in a Zoom meeting. Please help us get our voice heard and show the school leaders that an in-person graduation IS what's in the best interest for all graduates, staff, and school as a whole. Thank you very much!!

The statue in Davis’ Central Park of Mohandas K. Gandhi, The Father of the nation India and a Icon for world's non violence and peace, who inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world has been toppled, defaced and dethroned.

The 6-foot-tall, 950-pound bronze likeness appeared to have been sawed off at the ankles and half its face was severed and missing.

The statue was found after a night when wind and heavy rainfall knocked out power in much of downtown Davis. “City staff discovered vandalism to the statue of Gandhi in Central Park this morning while surveying storm damage,”

The Gandhi statue in Central Park stood for four years and three months before it was found toppled and broken Wednesday morning.

We peace lovers across the oldest democracy in the world demand President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom to restore the statue and investigate this heinous act and punish those responsible immediately. This is a shameful act and immediate intervention is appreciated.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article248832434.html


Gandhiji is not a name , it is a pride for millions of people who believe in Non-Violence across the world .