SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2023 AT 2 PM
Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
DOJ officially decides not to charge Matt Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe
The Justice Department has informed lawyers for at least one witness that it will not bring charges against Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz after a years-long federal sex-trafficking investigation.
More HERE
Ron DeSantis’s war on “woke” in Florida schools, explained
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From book bans to a hostile campus takeover, here’s a rundown of DeSantis’s conservative plan for Florida education.
In 2020, Ron DeSantis’s administration declared him the “Education Governor” for how eager he was to dramatically change the state’s education system. Three years later, he’s provoked — and been engulfed in — an ongoing list of education controversies as part of his fight against “woke ideology,” or schools acknowledging or teaching about systemic injustice in American society.
As DeSantis prepares to announce his campaign for the presidency, as many have speculated, he has ramped up his involvement in Florida schools. Not only is he doubling down on existing legislation, he’s also introducing new rules and regulations — and making sure the Education Department follows through. While he largely focused on K-12 in the early years of his term, this year he has launched new plans to remake higher education.
More HERE
Jane Castor talks about challenges and opportunities facing Tampa
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, is running for re-election. Election day is March 7th and Castor has not drawn a major opponent.
Castor met with WUSF's Florida Matters at City Hall last week to talk about the challenges facing Tampa, and issues she thinks are important for the city.
The topics Jane Castor addresses are:
- On the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers
- On police reform and what needs to change
- On former police chief Mary O’Connor and whether changes should be made to the hiring process
- On organizational issues with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and the leadership of Adelee Le Grand
- On affordable housing
- On the city of Tampa’s East Hanna Avenue development and criticism over the cost and lack of diversity of contractors
- On the DeSantis administration’s policies on LGBTQ+ and DEI issues and Tampa’s relationship with state government
Read more HERE
Listen to the 28 minute interview HERE
House panel proposal would make it harder to change Florida's constitution
“This is raising the bar to an extreme level,” said Letitia Harmon, Florida Rising policy and research director. “This is raising the threshold for how we get our voices heard and how we have rights that reflect our needs in our communities as a part of the structure of our government.”
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said Monday the proposal would eliminate a “critical path” for Floridians to make changes in government.
“The constitutional amendment process allows people who may have a minority opinion to take their idea to the open market and see if they can get the support of the people to get it passed,” Driskell said. “And especially in a state like Florida, where Republicans have had such a strong hold on our government for decades, it can be very difficult to get big sweeping policies passed.”
More HERE
Senate Democrats decry Gov. DeSantis for pushing more lax gun laws
Two South Florida Democratic Senators, noting the fifth anniversary of the Parkland shooting where 17 people were killed, faulted Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders for pushing new gun laws.
The Legislature is moving ahead with a measure this year that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in the state without having to have a permit.
“I can’t believe we’re about to have another bill that’s going to increase the number of guns in the state,” said Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat whose district includes Parkland. “To me it’s just a tragedy that we would do that in this state five years after Parkland. And I just want to say to the families that I represent, ‘I love you. I hear you. I’m fighting for you.’”
More HERE
New Florida Bill Would Outlaw Rent and Price Controls
In the wake of Florida's surging housing prices, some local counties, cities, and municipalities have been discussing rent control and limitation measures to provide relief to local residents. A new bill introduced in the Florida Senate would stop those measures dead in their tracks.
The new bill, SB-102, passed through the Community Affairs Committee in the Florida Senate unanimously - it now sits in the appropriations process. The bill takes direct aim at measures designed to limit rental prices in a local community or county, and also narrows some of the verbiages that had previously been on the books with regard to such price limitations.
More HERE
Tampa has worst inflation in US, 2.5% higher than national
While inflation is down nationally, it’s not down quite as much in the Tampa area. According to the new inflation reports published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the national inflation rate fell to 6.4%, Tampa is still above at 8.9%.
While the national inflation rate rose a reported 0.5% year over year in January, in Tampa, it rose 1.7%, more than three times higher than the rest of the country.
More HERE
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Tuesday, February 14, 2023
More than 1 million books subject to review based on state's new laws
Gov. DeSantis-backed laws are behind the book review process.
More than 1 million books in Duval County schools in Florida are subject to review due to three state laws impacting certain subjects in education, including race, gender and sexual orientation, county officials told ABC News.
The books are under review based on several laws that restrict classroom topics, including the Stop WOKE Act and the Parental Rights in Education law, which was called the “Don’t Say Gay” law by LGBTQ activists.
More HERE
Trulieve spends another $5.5 million to put recreational pot on Florida's 2024 ballot
As it tries to get the measure on the 2024 ballot, the medical-cannabis company Trulieve contributed another $5.5 million to a ballot initiative aimed at legalizing recreational use of marijuana, according to a newly filed finance report. The $5.5 million contribution in January brought Trulieve’s total contributions to $25.5 million.
The “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana” proposal would allow people 21 or older “to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.”
More HERE
City of Tampa takes next steps in Riverwalk expansion
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor revealed the next steps Tuesday in a project aimed at expanding Tampa’s “crown jewel,” the Tampa Riverwalk.
The expansion plans are part of the West River District BUILD Grant project, which allocated $24 million to expand the Tampa Riverwalk and connect it to more neighborhoods west of the Hillsborough River.
Mayor Castors said the riverwalk, once completed, will offer residents and visitors over 12 miles of continuous sidewalks and bike lanes that will connect a variety of neighborhoods including West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park, Riverside Heights, North Franklin Street, and Bowman Heights.
More HERE
Activist group pushes for outside legal counsel for Tampa Citizens Review Board
The Tampa Bay Community Action Committee is pushing for outside legal counsel for the board that reviews alleged police misconduct.
More than a dozen protesters gathered outside Old City Hall on Monday evening to demand Tampa City Council vote in favor of an ordinance that would provide the Tampa Citizens Review Board with legal counsel unaffiliated with the city.
Created in 2015, Tampa's Citizens Review Board was established to build trust between the Tampa Police Department and the community, but a local activist group says, right now, the board can't trust that its legal counsel is objective.
More HERE
Tampa voters to decide on four charter amendments at March 7 election
Elections for Tampa’s mayor and six of the seven city council members, as well as four charter amendments referred to the ballot by the city council, will be held on March 7.
The charter amendments would:
- provide that the mayor’s nominations for department heads and other city employees must be approved by four of the seven city council members and allow for interim appointments of existing city employees for a maximum of 180 days
- provide for a Charter Review Advisory Commission to be established every eight years rather than every 10 years
- limit members of the Tampa City Council to serving four consecutive four-year terms beginning in 2027
- provide that the city council may create standing boards by ordinance without the mayor’s recommendation
More HERE
Ybor City Saturday Market
- Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 9:00 AM
- Centennial Park, 1800 E 8th Ave, Tampa, FL
The Ybor City Saturday Market takes place on select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Historic Ybor City Centennial Park, 1800 E 8th Ave., Tampa.
The free open-air market features local artists, artisans and independent businesses selling gourmet foods and sauces, teas, coffees, cupcakes, cookies, French macaroons, fresh-baked breads, prepared foods, pet treats, honey, fine cigars, unique gifts, photography, artwork, jewelry, woodworking, handmade bath and body products, candles and more.
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