Tag Archives: Brewer

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Fire Protection


SeattleNighttime3DISTRICTS ‑- FIRE PROTECTION ‑- COUNTIES ‑- CITIES AND TOWNS ‑- SCHOOL DISTRICTS ‑- MUNICIPALITIES ‑- SERVICE CHARGES FOR CERTAIN FIRE PROTECTION

Chapter 126, Laws of 1974, 1st Ex. Sess., does not authorize a board of fire commissioners to impose a service charge on real and personal property owned by the state or any county or other municipal corporation which is benefited by fire protection service offered by a fire protection district.

for more information, visit the Washington State AG site

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“Give America A Raise”


By 

Obama Calls On Congress To Raise Minimum Wage, But States Aren’t Waiting

In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama vowed to take action wherever he could to increase opportunity and create an economy that works for all Americans–with or without the help of Congress. For example, he announced that by executive action he will raise the minimum wage for federal contractors under new contracts to $10.10 per hour.

But raising the federal minimum wage for all Americans is in the hands of Congress, so he also made a direct pitch to those on the floor of the House chamber: “Join the rest of the country.  Say yes.  Give America a raise.”

We agree: Congress should join the rest of the country. Cities and states across the nation aren’t waiting for federal action, they are taking steps to raise wages for their workers right now:

EDITED_minimum_wages-03

BOTTOM LINE: Our country should continue to do everything it can to provide opportunity for those who work hard. Among many other benefits, raising the minimum wage will lift working families out of poverty, inject billions of dollars into the economy, and raise wages for an estimated 17 million women. States increasingly see this as a no-brainer, and Congress should too.

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Climate


Dear friends across the US,

The world is about to sign up to a 100% clean energy future! But the goal to completely cut carbon is at risk at the Lima climate talks. Let’s flood negotiators with messages now to make sure they know the world is watching, and to stand strong for climate action!

SEND A MESSAGE

Something huge is happening this week — our governments are about to set a goal to cut carbon pollution completely, putting us on a path to 100% clean energy! This target is now in the draft Global Climate Agreement, but it is at risk.

Right now, Ministers from all over the world are on their way to Lima, Peru to hammer out the agreement. But oil, coal and fracking companies, and countries that want to keep polluting are lobbying hard to pull this crucial target from the text. That’s where we come in.

People power forced through this crucial goal, now we have to protect it! If we don’t, scientists are clear — catastrophic and runaway climate change is inevitable. Our best chance of blocking back-room deals with polluters is bombarding our Ministers with thousands of messages.

If enough of us act, they’ll know they’re being watched and expected to stand strong for the goal of 0 carbon, and 100% clean energy. Send your message now! 

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/lima_summit_100_clean_us/?biEWLbb&v=49777

The Avaaz team is on the ground and will ensure each country’s delegate and media know how many messages have been sent per country, and our messages could even be projected onto screens right in the conference hall and hand delivered to Ministers.

Long time climate activists are saying there is more hope for action now than ever! After hundreds of thousands of us took to the streets in September demanding climate action, the EU, US and China finally started to move in the right direction. Getting their commitment to reduce carbon pollution to zero would be a massive step forward. Let’s lock in this progress before the lobbyists can unravel it. Send a message now:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/lima_summit_100_clean_us/?biEWLbb&v=49777

For years we’ve been campaigning for climate action. And now our governments are finally moving in the right direction, but the stakes could not be higher, and what happens next will depend on us. Let’s do everything we can to win the deal we need to save the world!

With hope,

Alice, Iain, David, Emily, Laura, Oscar, Fatima, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

UN climate talks begin as global temperatures break records (BBC)
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30225511

Prior to climate deal, talks begin in Peru (Times of India)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Prior-to-climate-deal-talks-begin-in-Peru/articleshow/45341101.cms

Will Lima climate talks pave way for a binding treaty in Paris in 2015? (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/dec/01/will-lima-climate-talks-pave-way-for-a-binding-treaty-in-paris-in-2015

Cautious optimism as delegates descend on Lima ahead of UN climate talks (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/five-things-to-know-about-lima-climate-talks/5929290

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Bigger lie: Keystone jobs or climate hoax?


NextGen ClimatePolitifact has announced its annual “Lie of the Year” nominees, and this year they have two whoppers we think deserve special recognition.
One claims that climate change is a hoax; the other overstates the economic impact of Keystone XL. And Politifact is letting you vote on which one should be honored as the Lie of the Year.
Call out these distortions by voting for 2014’s Lie of the Year.
When Transcanada CEO Russ Girling claimed that the Keystone XL pipeline would create 42,000 “ongoing, enduring jobs,” he was clearly warping the findings of a report that stated that the pipeline will only create 35 direct, permanent jobs.
Congressional candidate Lenar Whitney gets a nod for her campaign video entitled “Global Warming is a Hoax,” which went so far as to claim that the Earth is cooling.
The Lie of the Year is a widely-referenced distinction that discredits falsehoods in newspapers across the country. Help us call out climate change deniers by voting for one of these bold-faced lies.
Thank you,
Jesse Thomas
Digital Director
NextGen Climate
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Paid Sick Time
A Better Balance Joins New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio As He Announces Legislation to Extend Paid Sick Time to Hundreds of Thousands of Additional Workers in New York City
For nearly five years, A Better Balance has been working to make paid sick time a reality for all working families in New York City. We were thrilled to help broker the agreement last year that finally led to passage of the NYC Earned Sick Time Act. This major legislation will go into effect on April 1, 2014, and extend paid sick time to 1 million workers in NYC who currently receive no paid time off when they or their loved ones are ill. When the compromise was reached, A Better Balance Co-President Sherry Leiwant was quoted in the  New York Times noting that the bill, despite its critical benefits and important precedent, was not perfect; some manufacturing workers were excluded, and many employees of small businesses would only receive unpaid sick time under the law. We have not given up hope of strengthening this legislation to protect an even greater number of New Yorkers.
Today marks a huge milestone in our efforts to expand paid sick time in New York City! This afternoon, we stood with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito outside Esmeralda’s Restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn as the Mayor announced legislation to strengthen the Earned Sick Time Act. Mayor de Blasio is sending the City Council a bill that would lower the business size threshold for paid sick time to reach more New Yorkers and cover manufacturing workers on the same basis as other workers; under the Mayor’s proposal, workers employed by businesses with 5 or more employees will be able to earn up to 5 days of paid sick time, while workers in smaller businesses will receive up to 5 days of unpaid sick time to care for themselves or an ill loved one. This legislation will extend paid sick time to hundreds of thousands of  workers in NYC who would not otherwise receive paid sick time when the Earned Sick Time Act goes into effect on April 1, 2014! The Mayor’s bill will also increase the time in which workers can file complaints, expand the definition of “family” in the law to cover grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings, and empower the city to proactively enforce the Earned Sick Time Act by initiating its own investigations. 

At his press conference today, Mayor de Blasio thanked the “A Better Balance and Paid Sick Days Coalition” for its leadership on this issue! We have been providing assistance to the Mayor’s office on this legislation, and we look forward to working in coming weeks with the Mayor and City Council members. As the City Council considers the Mayor’s legislation and weighs other potential changes to the Earned Sick Time Act, we will do everything we can to ensure passage of the strongest law possible. We are also continuing to work with city officials on the development of administrative rules and regulations that will facilitate the law’s implementation in April.

Passage of this expanded paid sick time law is only the beginning. With your continued support, A Better Balance is engaging in outreach throughout NYC to inform workers about their sick time rights. As the effective date of this law (April 1, 2014) draws closer, we must ensure that workers are aware of their rights, businesses understand their legal obligations, and violations are effectively enforced. If you would like to learn more about our outreach efforts or get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 212-430-5982.
Thank you,
The ABB Team: Sherry, Dina, Phoebe, Jared, Elizabeth, Liz, Risha & Rachel
P.S. To learn more about our work visit our  webpage. Check out our  blog on work/family legal issues, like A Better Balance on  Facebook, and follow us on  Twitter!
Donate now to A Better Balance.  Together we can improve the lives of families across the country.