Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2021
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Polk County School Board must follow the science and implement a mask mandate to protect students and staff, their respective families and the wider community
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Polk County Democrats Stand Up for Students
The Polk County DEC would like to thank Democrats who were able to attend last week's school board meeting to wave signs and show support for a temporary mask mandate in our local schools, during this COVID surge. While we may have been outnumbered outside, there were more speakers in favor of a mandate during the public comment section of the meeting that evening.
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Judge delivers blow to DeSantis over unconstitutional ban on mask mandates
On Friday, Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper ruled that Gov. Ron DeSantis acted beyond the boundaries of his authority when he signed an executive order blocking local school boards from enacting mask protocols. The ruling came after a four-day trial in a case brought to court by concerned parents from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Alachua and Palm Beach counties.
In reaction to this development, Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz issued the following statement:
“Judge Cooper’s ruling represents a major victory for schoolchildren and their families all across Florida. It also validates the bold actions of all those courageous school boards in our state that defied an authoritarian governor bent on playing politics rather than allowing them to protect the lives of kids by enacting prudent health protocols.
“Governor DeSantis’s unconstitutional executive order banning mask protocols in schools was born from a stunning combination of blind political ambition and stupefying irresponsibility. It is an outrage that Florida’s parents had to go to court to force this administration to accept the decisions of local school leaders to implement the public health measures they deemed necessary to save lives.
“Be that as it may, I applaud the Judge on his wise ruling, and call on the Governor to stop standing in the way of local school officials trying to do what is best for the health of their students, their families, and their employees. It is time for DeSantis to finally devote the time and energy needed to boost vaccinations across the state so we can begin to lower our COVID infection and hospitalization rates and save Floridian lives.”
Polk County DEC chair Cathrine Price calls for special school board session to adopt mask mandate
In light of Judge Cooper's finding that DeSantis overstepped his boundaries and that local school boards should be able to act to ensure students are kept safe, the Polk County DEC is calling on fellow Democrats to contact Polk County School Board members to request a Special Session for the purpose of implementing a temporary mask mandate for students and staff.
Please call or e-mail your Polk County School Board members and ask to SPEAK to them about calling a Special Session. Here is where you can get thier phone numbers and e-mail addresses. FYI: Lynn Wilson's phone number is disconnected.
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Reuters photograph
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Lakeland Democratic Club First Friday event
Volunteers are again sought to help register voters at the Lakeland Democrat Club marquee site, during the Lakeland First Friday event on Sept. 3. Come downtown to check out the Dog Days Downtown festivities, and then spend an hour or more helping Flip Florida Blue!
To register your interest, click here.
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Call to Action
US House lawmakers on Tuesday approved new legislation through the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, aimed at protecting the right to vote, amid a wave of restrictive new elections laws from Republican-controlled state legislatures.
Florida is among those states, after the Legislature passed SB 90, which places new restrictions on vote-by-mail, limits convenient drop boxes, and prohibits anyone other than an immediate family member from helping a voter return a mail-in ballot. SB 90 makes voting by mail harder for Floridians who rely on it most, including seniors, the military, and those with disabilities.
The bill will now go before the Senate and, as such, Florida Watch is calling for supporters of the measures to write Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to express your views on the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Sign up to send a letter via Florida Watch by filling out the Get Involved information on their website.
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Training Opportunities
How to Boost Your GOTV Email Strategy with Effective Calls to Action
Join the National Democratic Training Committee on Sept 2, 2021, from 1- 2 pm for a free virtual live training on “How to Boost Your GOTV Email Strategy with Effective Calls to Action.”
You will learn the following in this training:
- Review email strategy best practices
- Understand how email strategy can impact your GOTV efforts
- Evaluate effective calls to action for GOTV
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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U.S. Supreme Court allows evictions; asylum restrictions
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Roughly 3.5 million people in the United States said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to Census Bureau data from early August.
It was the second loss for the administration this week at the hands of the high court’s conservative majority. On Tuesday, the court effectively allowed the reinstatement of a Trump-era policy forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their hearings. The new administration had tried to end the Remain in Mexico program, as it is informally known.
More details here.
See also: Thousands in Central Florida at risk after Supreme Court halts eviction moratorium
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‘Leaving money on the table.’ Florida hasn’t applied for food aid for 2 million kids
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has not yet applied for up to $820 million in food assistance to more than 2 million Florida children, raising concerns from food assistance groups and others who note that child hunger remains a significant problem.
The federal program, called the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program, was created last year to help feed children who missed meals because they weren’t attending schools in person during the pandemic. The program deposits money to a card for families of children who qualify for free or reduced meals at their school. It was created by the federal government last year to ensure children were still being fed while they attended school remotely.
Read more here.
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Population growth fuels remake of Florida’s famed I-4 corridor
To understand how Florida’s redistricting process will dramatically reshape the state’s political lines and congressional map, look at Democratic Rep. Darren Soto’s district along the fabled I-4 corridor.
Soto’s 9th District, which stretches from Orlando into the communities of Osceola County clustered near Disney World and then along the southern side of Interstate 4, saw the largest amount of growth of any congressional district in the nation between 2010 and 2020, according to a POLITICO analysis. His district now has nearly 1 million residents.
But that rapid, sustained growth means the GOP-controlled Legislature is almost certain to pare it back when it tackles redistricting in the coming months.
And it won’t just be Soto’s district that gets changed. Reps. Charlie Crist and Val Demings, both Democrats, and Republican Matt Gaetz, who remains under federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking, could all see alterations through redistricting.
For more, click here.
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Schumer says infrastructure bills edge U.S. close to Biden climate goals
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that the United States would be on track to meet its climate goals in the next decade, with measures introduced in two infrastructure bills along with efforts by states and the federal government.
President Joe Biden in April hiked the U.S. target for slashing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 50%-52% from 2005 levels by 2030.
For more, click here.
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As Mosaic aims to expand New Wales gypsum stack, small tear is reported at Bartow facility
On the same day Mosaic attended an open house about expanding a gypsum stack in Polk County, a state environmental agency was issuing a pollution notice concerning a possible liner tear at one of its holding ponds near Bartow. While the events were unrelated, the timing was awkward.
Full story here.
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Rep. Scott Franklin limits constituent communication on Facebook
In an era when public meetings are rare, members of Congress increasingly rely upon social media as a way to reach constituents. Rep. Scott Franklin, in his first term, has taken a different approach than Polk County’s other two representatives, Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, and Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota.
Soto and Steube allow all comments to be visible on their Facebook feeds, including ones that are viciously critical, essentially creating public forums. But Franklin has opted to restrict the visible conversation on his official Facebook feed.
Click here for more.
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President Biden signs PAWS Act, allowing VA to fund the training of service dogs for veterans
The PAWS ACT, or 'Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members for Veterans Therapy Act,' authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a pilot program on dog training therapy that will provide dog-training skills and service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses.
"This has been a five-year battle to try and convince the federal government that what we do every day is valuable and helps veterans," Rory Diamond, CEO of Florida-based K9s for Warriors. "They're finally agreeing and we're getting a big breakthrough here."
More information here.
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Important Dates and Meetings
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Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings
The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held on Monday, September 13 Click here to register.
(Regular DEC meetings are on 2nd Monday of the month) |
Caucus, Clubs and Committees
Lakeland Democratic Club - Thursday, Sept 2, at 7 pm
Guest speaker will be Sarah Fortney, Polk County School Board member, to speak about issues and challenges to the public schools this year.
Please note: The October 7th meeting will have local candidates speaking on their runs for election
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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