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Petition Tag - virginia
1. Help keep the ONLY pawn shop in Abingdon going! 
We need your support! As most of you know, Kevin owns THE ONLY pawn shop in Abingdon, VA & now the TOWN is trying to take that away.
The town of Abingdon is holding a public hearing at 7:30pm on Monday, February 4th in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall, 133 West Main St., Abingdon, VA about pawnbrokers of ordinances of the town of Abingdon. What we need is our customers, supporters, anybody, to just come to the meeting and speak up for this small business.
If you can't make the meeting, try to stop by the shop, K & R Pawn and Gun at 1024 West Main St. Abingdon, VA to sign our petition to keep us here - or sign this one online.
We have a lot of customers that depend on the pawn shop, we can't let it go. Thanks for all your help!
In regards to Sec. 7-59.2. of the Virginia Beach Code of Ordinances, I and every other person who voluntarily signed this petition believe Skateboarding on the boardwalk should not be illegal.
Skateboarding dates all the way back to the 1940's. It's sole purpose was for transportation and later grew to become a popular hobby, but skating has ultimately became a culture of its own. Skating has gotten a bad reputation. Most people look at "skaters" as rebellious, non-conforming, obnoxious kids. However, when you get down to it, skateboarding is a very positive influence. It keeps kids active and brings together a collection of diverse cultures. Ultimately being one of the greatest camaraderie's of all.
The biggest argument about skating on the boardwalk is safety. Everyone on this petition can agree that skating can be dangerous. However, skating is most likely one of the least dangerous activities on the boardwalk. Speeding bicyclist and sporadic roller skaters offer more of a threat than skating does. Skating is singled out over all other activities that happen on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.
Despite the fact that bicyclist are supposed to stay on the bike path, Virginia Beach Officers will turn a blind eye to that to go stop a younger boy standing on his skateboard. In closing, I ask that you please re-evaluate Sec. 7-59.2. of the Virginia Beach Code of Ordinances.
I'd like to thank you for reading this statement and hope that you can realize skating is more than just a outlandish activity. It's a culture and a bonding factor in today's youth. Thank you.
3. Virginia Republican Primary Voters Disenfranchised
While other states’ primaries and caucuses are open to any GOP candidate, Virginia has strict rules over how many signatures are required. A candidate must have 10,000 valid signatures including at least 400 from every single district in the state in order to make the ballot.
Virginia does represent more than 10% of the total delegates required to obtain the nomination giving it powerful status in the race. Only a failed system excludes four out of the six major candidates seeking access to the ballot. Voters deserve the right to vote for any top contender, especially leading candidates.
We demand the Republican Party of Virginia to change this policy or as a minimum to permit the write-in campaign before the election takes place to make sure that all the voters of Virginia are able to vote for the candidate of their choice.
4. Gov. McDonnell: Allow WRITE-IN VOTES in GOP Presidential Primary: Pass SB510 Wagner's Bill
We call on the General Assembly and Governor to pass Virginia Delegate Mark Cole's HB 1132 or Virginia Senator Frank M. Wagner's bill SB510 on an emergency basis, to allow WRITE-IN VOTES to be counted in the Virginia Republican primary. Currently write-in votes are prohibited.
On February 3, 2012, the House of Delegates passed HB 1132. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+ful+HB1132+pdf
Now it goes on to the Virginia Senate, where Senator Wagner had introduced SB510, but apparenly pulled his bill so the Senate could pass HB1132.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/house-passes-bills-to-allow-primary-write-ins-change-primary-date/2012/02/02/gIQAlgu4kQ_blog.html
We believe that the most important interest, which should not be forgotten by our political leaders in Virginia, is THE RIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL VOTER to cast a ballot vote for the candidate of his or her choice.
It is THE INDIVIDUAL VIRGINIA VOTER whose rights are in danger of being forgotten entirely while much has been discussed about procedures, "inside baseball" details, and the diligence of candidates in securing a spot on the Republican Presidential primary ballot. Yes, certain candidates earned a prominent place on the ballot. But the voter should not be censored or restrained.
We believe that even Mitt Romney's campaign team, would create a very good impression by honoring those voters' right to vote for whomever they want. Any one who wants to be President of our nation and our people should demonstrate that he or she cares more about us, We The People, than about himself or herself.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS *CAN* TAKE EFFECT BY MARCH 6, but it requires the General Assembly to pass the law as "emergency" legislation. It can be done.
5. Legalize Urban Chickens In RICHMOND CITY!
Sample of Chicken Laws:
Charlottesville, VA: As many as you want.
Corvallis, OR. Unlimited chickens allowed. No roosters. Chickens must be penned.
Mountain View, CA: Up to 4 hens without a permit. Keep 25 ft. from residences. Within 25 ft. is o.k. with written consent from residences. No roosters.
Austin, TX. Up to 10 fowl per household, but keep in enclosure that's 50 ft. away from neighbors.
Downey, CA. Up to five chickens allowed per lot.
Colorado Springs, CO. A property may have a maximum of 10 fowl (chickens, ducks, etc.) requiring at least four square feet of coop area and adequate outdoor space. No roosters permitted within the city limits.
...and many, many more!
6. Stop Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of our "ID" (Intellectual Disabilities) Citizens
I have dedicated 22 years of caring and providing for an individual with disabilities, this country needs to for once and for all get a list of priorities for the "ID" individuals to remain functioning wherever they live in the community. These folks are being abused, neglected and taken advantage of by others who are NOT providing "Quality of Life".
The Human Rights people need to stop riding the fence and make the right rules apply to all individuals depending on their circumstances. With the proper training, supports and guidence, these folks can have a life like mine and yours. Lets support these folks who have lost their voices and some of whom cannot speak at all. There are many qualified, caring , loving individuals in this country who can provide services for these individuals in their homes or wherever the person decides they want to be.
It's their choice and we need listen and learn how to support their choices. It's time to stop the dictating on how these folks should live their lives. Lets give them freedom of speech and the dignity to make their own choices, with supports if needed. People it's time to do the right thing!!
'FREE AN FROM DICTATORVILLE' I SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THE CHANCE TO LIVE SUCCESSFULLY IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM!!TO MY LOVING DAUGHTER BN,THIS IS FOR YOU SWEETHEART AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE A LIFE FULL OF CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHANCE TO MAKE ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE, Love (LW) Mom
7. Virginia Petition to Save Hispanic Programming on WDCN-LP 87.7 FM
This petition represents a united effort to preserve the localized and diverse audio programming services provided free of charge to the Hispanic D.C. metropolitan public by the station WDCN-LP, known affectionately over the air as “La Nueva 87.7," and simulcasted on WDCO-LP to Maryland's Eastern Shore.
There are nearly 900,000 Hispanics in the D.C. metro area, and over *450,000 of these reside in Virginia. Thousands of these residents are tuning into WDCN-LP programming every day. With the growth of the Spanish-speaking population across the US, and especially in the metro markets like D.C., businesses and business opportunities are growing even in a recessionary market, for those ready to serve this minority community.
This minority voice in Virginia, Maryland and the District exists because at the same time that full power TV stations were required to convert to digital last summer, low power stations (LPTVs) in the thousands have been allowed to continue broadcasting in analog. This provided a unique opportunity for the over 150 Channel 6 LPTVs across the nation to maximize public service. Since the channel 6 audio signal is received at 87.7 on most FM radios, millions of listeners can be served instead of the fractional viewing audience that might be interested in solely “rabbit ears” television programming. Local, religious, and minority populations have been enjoying new representation on the airwaves.
Regrettably, the Federal Communications Commission’s September 17, 2010 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking calls for a mandatory shutoff date for LPTV analog transmissions in 2012. This would permanently silence the local minority voice of WDCN-LP/WDCO-LP in Virginia, Maryland and the District.
*Source: Washington Hispanic, study in 2010 rate card. http://www.washingtonhispanic.com/documentos/17_documento.pdf page 4, accessed October 8, 2010
8. We Support a Theatre for Persons with Disabilities
In the Richmond, VA area, there are many and varied theater troupes which thrive and give back to their community. However, persons with disabilities have few facilities in which they might express themselves artistically, those with physical disabilities especially.
It is our intent to create just such a troupe in the Richmond, VA area. Working in cooperation with local advocacy groups, we intend to acquire a facility, modify it to accommodate all persons, allowing people both with and without disabilities to produce entertaining and brilliant productions.
President Obama and the Democrat Congress passed a healthcare reform bill this year. The bill includes a requirement that all US citizens purchase health insurance.
This Federal mandate is unprecedented, and is an assault on our personal choice, freedom, and rights.
10. Disney's America in Virginia
In the early 1990's, the Disney company announced plans for a new theme park called "Disney's America" to be built just west of Washington Dc in Virginia.
Due to opposition from local residents over concerns, the project was scrapped. And that was the end of it..... UNTIL just recently, when they started exploring the idea of building it in California... This angers me, because California already has a Disney Park and everything else, while our great state of Virginia always loses out......
If we acquired a Disney theme park, just imagine how much our tourism and economy would benefit. We all know how the Orlando area has exploded......
Virginia was for many years the crown jewel of our nation, and it's time for us to step up once again! Please join me in having Disney look at Virginia for the home of America's themepark !
11. Better Film Tax Incentives for VA
There are currently 39 States that offer film incentives. Virginia is 39th on the list.
In order for film to thrive in VA, we need to offer better incentives to keep and encourage film-making in our state.
12. Stop Virginia Ban on Smoking in Restraunts
My petition is against the new law that will come into effect December 1, 2009 that bans smoking in all establishments where food is prepared.
The reason I am starting this petition is because the same law was imposed in West Virginia but it was dropped after a petition with 6,000 signatures was presented to the state's House and Senate.
This gives me hope that if a similar petition were presented to those two bodies in Virginia it would have the same effect.
13. Stop Virginia Pre-Trial Funding
Hard working tax-payer dollars are currently being utlilized to fund the Virginia judiciary's pre-trial release/community corrections programs and citizens do not even realize that this state budget expenditure is going on.
State funding of pre-trial release programs is a unnecessary wasteful useless unsuccessful scourge and burden on the already slim and shrinking state budget in these tough economic times when there are existing viable alternatives.
Defendants currently charged with a criminal offense are being duped,forced and coerced into participating in this pre-trial release fiasco unknowing that they are now committing themselves even deeper into the state judiciary's grasp.
Stop Dangerous ID in Virginia.
15. No to cockfighting as a felony crime in Virginia
Virginia legislators gave in to animal rights activist this past session and passed felony legislation against rooster fighting.... The public did not demand this law.
Regardless of how you feel about this subject, felony punishment for two chickens fighting is rediculous.
Virginia has misdemeanor laws protecting citizens from violent crime and abuse. We should not have laws protecting animals on a higher level than humans...
Legislators should be subject to public demand, not special interest. This is not a plea to support cockfighting, it is a plea for balanced justice and human rights over animal rights...
16. Petition against proposed Wise County, VA coal power plant
Hi everyone. As a Virginia Tech engineer, Virginia native and first-time attendee of an 'environmental' conference of any kind, I was very surprised to learn this weekend that coal power plants are still heavily relied on in the US. Coal is a word that I associate with pre-WWI America.
I learned from the "Power Shift" conference in Washington, DC this weekend of the effects these plants have on the immediate communities and environment, aka Virginia. "Environmental" meaning burnt particulate matter as well as CO2 output. For details on coal and its effects, have a look here : http://www.nonewcoal.org/coalfacts.html . There is abundant information around the web about coal and new "clean coal".
I'm not the protesting type, but I felt compelled to try and stop the construction of a new "clean coal" plant in southwest VA. Clean coal really just means they are treating the coal before using it to power the plant. It is improved, but still very polluting. More importantly, if you want to see how coal is being mined, search "mountaintop removal." It's exactly what it sounds like. Essentially, the plant will cost 1.6 billion of your Virginian tax dollars, it will take a step back in terms of a modern, forward-thinking Virginia infrastructure, and it will have long term negative effects on the community and state it resides in.
There are numerous clean, 21st century solutions. I know, I'm an engineer and I've been researching them. Chiefly, wind, solar and hydroelectric power are obvious viable options and would create as many jobs as this proposed plant would. Needless to say a clean solution would preserve my fine state and build Virginia's reputation of a clean, modern, forward-thinking state. Coal doesn't belong in that sentence.
As a car enthusiast (the enemy of the environmentalist?), let me put it this way: you can equate BMW/Toyota with clean energy and GM/Ford with coal. BMW started hydrogen research in the 1970's and is now producing the Hydrogen7. It is ready for the hydrogen market once it catches up. Toyota... you all know how clean they are. What do the American companies have to show for? They are outdated, inefficient, underpowered, low-quality and embarassing for our country.
Anyway, I thank you for looking and hope you can help your fellow Virginians by petitioning Dominion and Governor Kaine to halt this project in Wise county. The goal is 100,000 signatures by the time of a hearing on Dec. 1st, and Virginia Tech has pledged 10,000.
Your information will be used only for this petition and will be immediately destroyed after its submission to the Virgina Tech Environmental Coalition for use in the hearing.
Thanks!
17. Allow Swimming at Lake Witten
Tazewell County has two public lakes that you can camp at and fish but not swim. There's a park at Lake Witten but signs posted saying "No Swimming".
For liability reasons you can take a boat out on the water but you can't swim.
There should be a swimming area at the lake just like at all the other state parks.
18. Virginia Tech outraged with Security on Campus, Inc complaint
"A complaint filed to the Department of Education requests a review into the actions of a University during a security situation to ensure the safety of its students. The Clery Act, passed by congress in 1990, was spearheaded by the SOC Inc. founders after the loss of their daughter, Jeanne Clery, who was raped and murdered in her dorm room Lehigh University in 1986.
If Virginia Tech is proven to be negligent in their safety precautions during the events of April 16, the university could be fined up to $27,500 and be barred from federal financial aid in the future.
According to the Virginia Tech website, over 60% of students use some form of financial aid, including aid opportunities given by the Department of Education.
Federal financial aid accounts for more than $80 million a year to 14 million applicants".- The Collegiate Times
This is a petition that will be given to SOC Inc. for their senseless act of filing a complaint against Virginia Tech.
We know as a community and institution that our university has investigated their security measures and has taken action to prevent future incidents.
As you can read above, this organization would rather prevent the operation of our school and see us suffer more than provide support.
19. New Parks and Recreation Director for Appalachia
May 31, 2006
The Town of Appalachia is in need of a Director of Parks and Recreation to facilitate remodeling the Civic Center, Swiming pool, Create playgrounds, clean up existing Island Park grounds and rest rooms.
This will enable our children to have a safer and more appropriate environment in which to play.
20. Harsher Animal Cruelty Laws in Virginia
May 23, 2006
Citizens of Central Virginia,
If you were personally moved by the recent cover story "Claws and Effect" (The Hook, May 18, 2006 issue) and would like to urge lawmakers to institute harsher punishments for animal cruelty offenders, you are asked to lend your support to this petition.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS OR ANY CONTACT INFORMATION, ONLY YOUR NAME, CITY, AND STATE.
By signing, you will not be solicited for any other purpose.
21. Protest against Virginia prisons grooming policy
February 27, 2006
Currently there is no religious exemption included in the VA prison grooming policy.
The current grooming policy requires prisoners to cut their hair and to trim their beards.
There are several religious groups, such as Rastafarians, Muslims, and Jews, that are being held in isolation because the grooming policy is contary to their beliefs.
They are also being subject to mistreatment by the loss of visitation, phone calls, and refusal of participation in prison programs for community reorientation.
Let's entreat our government to revisit the grooming policy and include a religious exemption.
22. Move Wildbrook and Wild Meadow Court from planning zone DN15 to DN13
February 08, 2006
Wildbrook and Wild Meadow Court were annexed into the Ashburn Farm Community in December 2002.
The School Boundary does not have us going to school with the other children in our neighborhood.
Feb 02, 2006
Free Charles Pearcy IV.
We are family members and friends who are deeply concerned about the incarceration of Charles Lewis Pearcy IV.
Our concerns involve more than our relationship with Charles. We also are taxpayers, and we are concerned about the ineffective use of public funds attributable to the incarceration of wrongfully convicted people.
We also believe the very act of incarcerating an innocent individual is morally and ethically wrong.
We, after having reviewed the available facts and information in the case of Charles Lewis Pearcy IV conclude that:
The known facts and evidence in this case prove his innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. (For information go to www.freeCLP.com)
There are wrongful convictions occurring in our courts at an alarming rate. We, as voting, taxpaying citizens of the United States of America expect our tax dollars to be well spent, and that criminals, not innocents will pay the price for wrongdoings.
We, as citizens, share the same concerns about crime that others do. But our collective observation is that the "system" is often a large part of the problem instead of being a viable element or its solution. Although the crime rate is currently dropping, the rate of incarceration in our country is rising.
Our "Tough on Crime" stance has not been a deterrent to the social problems that we have labeled crimes. Until some reason is restored concerning the number of wrongful convictions, and until we are willing to decriminalize social issues, accidents and psychological illnesses, the problems will remain unsolved.
We are seeking justice in this case, in demanding that the authorities of the State of West Virginia immediately take steps to ensure that a retrial be held or absolute pardon be granted.
24. Anti-Smoking Laws for Virginia
January 13, 2006
This petition is created to generate enough support to have an active Anti-Smoking Law in all restaurants for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
25. Please Return Mix Master Ice to the Community Club on Friday
It has come to our attention that Mix-Master Ice's contract has been cancelled at the Community Club on Fridays.
We feel that this decision hurts Fort Belvoir as a whole. The Community Club provided military and civilian employees the opportunity to network, celebrate our accomplishments and to just have fun. The added plus was having a DJ available so that we could unwind to some music. We do not think that Mix-Master Ice was given a fair opportunity to build a large audience due to several factors:
· His hours were changed,
· He had to relinquish the room for other events,
· He was told by the manager Richard Whitestone that the bar didn't make a lot of money to justify Mix-Master Ice's presence,
· The bar was even closed at 9:00pm one evening to discourage patrons form staying.
People were starting to utilize this Friday Special Event to celebrate promotions and bid each other farewell (ETS & PCS). The Community Club offered everyone the chance to party safely without having to travel outside our community.
Bring back Mix-Master Ice.
26. Allow The News Tonight to Perform
The band The News Tonight would like to perform for the Twin Valley High School Home Coming Pep Ralley.
Because of the fact that other bands would like to perform, the idea that "no bands will perform" has been imposed.
In order to display the amount of support that The News Tonight has obtained, this petition has been administered.
27. Save the MR/DD Waiver Program
West Virginia's MR/DD waiver renewal application submitted in June, 2005 was not developed with the meaningful participation* of all stakeholders. It does not adequately reflect stakeholder concerns. It does not adequately ensure the health and welfare of program participants, and it does not move toward self-direction as claimed.
Instead, the application removes the determination of service needs from the interdisiciplinary team (which includes the participant) and puts it in the hands of an independent needs assessor at greater administrative cost to the program.
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* "Meaningful participation" must include the ongoing involvement of a broad coalition of stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure that reforms will improve participants' experience with the long-term care system. Consumers must be involved in system planning, policy development, local program management, and quality assessment.
28. Virginia - We have paid our debt to society.
By the end of 2001, a record 6.6 million people were in the United States correctional system. One in every 32 adults was either in prison or on parole. Almost 4 million people were on probation at the end of 2001, up 2.8 percent over 2000. The prison population grew by 1.1 percent, the smallest annual increase in nearly three decades.[1]
The increased number of prisoners has resulted in increased numbers of released prisoners seeking to reenter mainstream society. This is creating a major social and public policy problem in the United States. People enter prisons poorly equipped to be productive members of society and they typically leave prison in worse shape than they enter it. The problem of recidivism is partially due to this poor preparation for the world outside of prison. Ex-offenders cannot find or hold jobs and before long many renew a life of crime and are returned to jail.
Marc Mauer, assistant director of the Sentencing Project, a Washington think tank that follows criminal-justice issues, said the laws are taking jobs away from people who served time for their mistakes and have since put their lives back together.
"You have lots of felons who were convicted 20 years ago and who haven't been involved in a crime since," he said.
The vast majority of those in jail do not present a direct, violent threat to the average citizen. Many are drug addicts and dealers, and a large number are illegal aliens. Hardened, violent criminals are a minority of those incarcerated. Unfortunately, the conditions in prisons themselves and the stigma of having a criminal record often lead those incarcerated to increasing levels of anti-social behavior.
What happens to those of us that have complied with and have truely been rehabilatated? We deserve to work and take care of our families. After all, we paid our debt to society.
May 20, 2005
FM99 WNOR has deep roots in Hampton roads (Virginia). They have supported the military and non-military alike througout the Tidewater Area..
This petition is to get a FM99 license plate designed for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
30. Plea to Free Innocent 3 year old Naomi
Naomi's story.
Is a child born in Australia in a Detention Centre an Australian Citizen? If not, what is she? Does she have any rights?
Naomi Leong spent her third birthday on 5 May 2005 in detention. She spent her second and her first there as well. She was born there. This poor innocent has been held in this cruel situation all her small life.
While technically having been born and now growing up in Australia, she has been denied freedom and any semblance of a normal life, by the Australian Department of Immigration. No toyshops, no icecream, no playgroup.
Naomi's mother Virginia Leong, was 2 months pregnant when she was detained for trying to leave Australia without proper documentation.
Virginia entered Australia on a valid visa, but had overstayed a mere two months. She was whisked into the Villawood Detention Centre and there she has stayed since. Her home country has not stepped in to question her detaining, her host country has not bothered to resolve it. Three years have passed. How many more to follow?
Dr Michael Dudley, a child psychiatrist at the Sydney Children's Hospital said of Naomi in an interview on PM on ABC Radio National; "She's in a very anxious and distressed state. She's banging her head against the wall, she's gazing into the distance at times, she's mute, unresponsive, listless." (5 May, 2005)
In November 2004, Detainee advocates tried to insist that Naomi be allowed out to mix with other kids at a nearby child care playgroup for two hours each week. The child care group has said it would welcome her. The request was rejected.
"We really needed her to be in an environment where she actually had some chance to grow and develop normally," Dr Dudley said.
Virginia has another child, a six-year-old-boy, who is an Australian citizen. His father was previously married to Virginia, but he refuses to allow the boy to visit his biological mother and sister "in jail."
Has Virginia anybody who can help her? If not is she there to stay permanently?
Naomi is not alone in this plight. She is but one of 69 children being held in Immigration Detention Centres across Australia, the innocent victims in their parents' attempt to get a better life for their children than they had for themselves.
The system of mandatory, non-reviewable detention for everyone (no exception for babies and children) is a system introduced in Australia in 1992. Detaining children like this is contrary to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which Australia agreed to abide by in 1990.
It is the intention of this petition to free little Naomi, and to help prevent this treatment of all these other innocent children who through no fault of their own are destined to a more existence. To be held in Detention Centres for something they are not responsible for, is cruelty without comprehension.
This should not be happening in Australia. Join us in protesting to the government to give these poor children something to live for.
For more information on child immigration detainees in Australia please visit
www.chilout.org
ABC's story - 'Just another birthday behind Razor Wire' tells the sad story of little Naomi . Find it at http://abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/S1360970.htm then come straight back and sign the petition.
We want 20 million signatures - equivalent to the population of Australia - insisting that Government recognise that Australia is a country of caring people -and a country where we don't ruin the lives of children!