9/11 is National Patriot Day - remember and help Central Florida military families
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Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: Sept. 6-12, 2021
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School mask mandate efforts
In the month of August, Polk County public schools saw a surge of students and staff infected with COVID and, subsequently, quarantined. As of Friday, there were more than 10,500 students and staff in quarantine due to the increased number of confirmed cases and related contacts.
These increases are expected to continue through September, unless the School Board takes immediate action to mitigate the risks by mandating all students and staff where masks until infection rates drop. The only exception would be for those who receive a medical opt-out.
Polk County Democrats continue to call on the school board to take action. As one fellow Democrat shared: "Your kids are getting sick at school, they are bringing their sickness home to you and your family. They are carrying that sickness on the bus and back into the classrooms, where more kids and staff are getting sick. You are taking that sickness to your workplace and your co-workers are getting sick. And your co-workers are taking it home with them, to their families. It is a vicious cycle. And it continues because the kids and staff are not required to wear a mask in school.
"People who have a serious illness, not COVID RELATED, are having to find alternatives for their medical care because there are no available beds in the hospitals. Beds are being taken up with unvaccinated patients who are being put on ventilators, many of whom will die or suffer long-term after-effects."
Please call or e-mail your Polk County School Board members and ask to SPEAK to them about adopting a mandate. Here is where you can get thier phone numbers and e-mail addresses. FYI: Lynn Wilson's phone number is disconnected.
The next regular school board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 7
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In related news
Superintendent’s Community Conversations
Polk County School Superintendent Frederick Heid will conduct an outreach tour in September featuring several Community Conversation forums. Each forum will begin at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend these forums and interact with Polk County’s new superintendent.
Sept. 14: Bartow Civic Center — 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow
Sept. 15: Auburndale Civic Center — 115 W Park St., Auburndale
Sept. 16: AdventHealth Fieldhouse — 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
Sept. 20: Presbyterian Church in the Highlands — 1010 Lake Miriam Drive, Lakeland
Sept. 21: Lake Eva Event Center — 799 Johns Ave., Haines City
Sept. 23: Dream Center of Lakeland — 635 W. 5th St., Lakeland
Sept. 27: Virtual Forum — (broadcast live on Facebook (facebook.com/polkcountypublicschools)
**Check the PCPS News website or Facebook page for any schedule changes**
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Developing: Florida lawmakers eye legislation to ban abortions
The Supreme Court last week decided not to block a Texas law banning most abortions, which prompted a number of Republican-led states eager to replicate it - including Florida. Considering Florida is seen an abortion safe haven among southern states, it is expected the anti-choice advocates will mount a challenge to strip women of their rights with the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Call to action: Stay informed and get involved now to push back.
See Abortion Arrives at the Center of the American Political Maelstrom for views on how the Republican move to ban abortions could become a 2022 election issue that may help Democrats.
See also: Texas' new anti-abortion law is a page out of Sen. Marco Rubio's playbook
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Afghanistan update
With the war in Afghanistan now over, there will be a focus in the US on how to settle thousands of refugees the military rescued last month. Radiant Hands is but one regional service offering assistance to an estimated 1,000 Afghan refugees expected to be settled in the Tampa area.
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Training Opportunities
Do You Want to Run for Office?
Join the National Democratic Training Committee on September 7, 2021 from 8-9 pm for a free virtual live training on “Do You Want to Run for Office?.”
You will learn the following in this training:
- Evaluate if you want to run for office
- Practice sharing your news and what you need from your support team
- Distinguish what you need to research to run for the office you want to pursue
For more information or to register, click here.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR - Legislative Delegation Meeting
Representative Colleen Burton, Chair Designate of the Polk County Legislative Delegation, has announced that a Legislative Delegation meeting will be held on October 26, from 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm, at the Center for Public Safety Building, 1251 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven.
The annual public meeting is an opportunity for citizens, elected county and city officials and members of civic organizations to address the delegation before the 2022 state legislative session begins.
We have been advised that those interested in speaking before the delegation will have a chance to register starting Oct. 1. Further details will be provided when that system opens.
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Florida Democratic Party names Rep. Stephanie Murphy Democracy and Voter Protection Program chair
In this role, Murphy will work with the FDP voter protection staff, party leadership, and elected officials to protect democracy by combating voter suppression and disinformation. For more, click here.
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State education commissioner illegally withholds salaries for school board members
The announcement by Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran on Monday "is shocking and outrageous. Just last Friday (August 27), a Leon County Judge determined that Governor DeSantis exceeded his authority when he signed an executive order blocking local school boards from enacting mask protocols. Yet, Commissioner Corcoran has moved forward with these heavy-handed tactics to further the Governor’s unconstitutional efforts to prevent school boards from enacting the health protocols they deem necessary to protect the lives of their students and employees." - Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz
Find the full statement here.
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What would Florida get from President Biden's proposed infrastructure plan?
Highlights:
- Airports would get $1.2 billion for upgrades
- Water systems would get $1.6 billion for improvements.
- Another $29 million to improve cyber-defense to help stop hackers from malware and ransomware attacks that have exposed sensitive data and disrupted supplies.
- Also $29 million to help prevent brushfires and fight them when they do break out.
- Florida could also tap into a $3.6-billion fund to upgrade homes and buildings to make them more energy-efficient.
For more, click here.
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Union says Polk's EMS workers ‘are getting destroyed’
At a time when they're responding to more 911 calls than usual during a pandemic, Polk County's firefighters and EMS personnel are "getting destroyed mentally and physically" by all of the overtime they're required to work due to low staffing levels as more employees leave, union leaders told The Ledger.
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Tyler Sirois, Cord Byrd heading Florida House’s redistricting subcommittees
Both Republicans, it will give Northeast Florida and the Space Coast significant influence in the once-a-decade process.
Click here, for more.
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Agricultural Commissioner urges congressional Dems to erase ‘arbitrary line’ between hemp and marijuana
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has called on Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate to follow through on proposed legislation to end the federal ban on marijuana and ease restrictions stifling Florida’s growing hemp industry.
Rest of the story here.
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Important Dates and Meetings
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Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings
The next DEC Steering Committee meeting will be held on Monday, September 6.
Please note: While this meeting falls on the Labor Day, a public holiday, all available committee members are encouraged to attend to address a number of issues that we need to discuss and move forward on. The meeting starts at 6.30 pm and members will receive email invitations to register.
The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held from 6.30 pm on Monday, September 13 Click here to register.
(Regular DEC meetings are on 2nd Monday of the month) |
Caucus and Club Meetings
Solivita Democratic Club - Wednesday, September 8 at 6:45
Frederick Heid, Polk County Public Schools Superintendent, will be Guest Speaker.
Upcoming Polk County DEC Mobilize Events
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Keep us up to date: If you would like to feature what your club or caucus is doing or introduce a new president, other office holder or person of interest, please send information to polkdemwd@gmail.com
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Democratic Party of Polk County, Club & Caucus Links
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Mailing Address:
Due to the pandemic the Democratic Party of Polk County has closed the office in Lakeland.
The mailing address is the following:
The Democratic Party of Polk County, 6039 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Suite 328, Winter Haven, FL 33884
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