MISSION STATEMENT: To build and sustain an inclusive proactive community that will protect our environment, our freedoms and our basic human and civil rights. We are committed to an indivisible St. Johns County with liberty and justice for all.

Monday, August 5, 2019

YOUR RESISTANCE NEWSLETTER
WEEK OF AUGUST 4, 2019




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Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

AG Bill Barr orders execution dates for 5 on Federal Death Row.

Despite dramatic declines nationwide in use of the death penalty and continued exonerations of innocent people on our state death rows (166 so far, 29 in FL) U.S. Attorney General William Barr has been ordered to restart federal executions. The last federal execution was in 2003. Five executions will begin on Dec. 9th. The Justice department says more executions are coming. Read more here.

Take Action! Email President Trump or Call President Trump: Comments 202-456-1111.

Fast Facts:
Federal Execution Dates: Daniel Lee - Dec. 9, Lezmond Mitchell - Dec. 11, Wesley Purkey - Dec. 13, Alfred Bourgeois - Jan. 13, Dustin Honkin - Jan. 15.

62 people on Federal Death Row. Only one convicted of treason, espionage, or terrorism.

Death Row and Death Chamber: U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, IN.

Florida Execution Date: Gary Bowles - Aug. 22. Please Take Action! Contact Governor De Santis

State Rep Cyndi Stevenson will host five mobile office sessions throughout House District 17 in August

  • from 10am-noon Aug 6 at the Anastasia Public Library Branch at 124 Seagrove Main St in St Augustine Beach
  • from 10am-noon Aug 8 at the Main Branch Library at 1960 N Ponce De Leon Blvd St Augustine
  • from 10am-noon Aug 20 at the Ponte Vedra Branch Public Library at 101 Library Blvd in Ponte Vedra Beach
  • from 10am-noon Augu 21 at the St Johns County Service Center Julington Creek Branch Multipurpose Room at 725 Flora Branch Blvd in St Johns
  • from 10am-noon Aug 27 at the St Johns County Convetion Center at World Gulf Village at 500 South Legacy Trail in St Augustine
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Eyewitness 2: Focus on Homestead 
August 7 at 7 p.m., UU Fellowship 2487 A1A So., 32080

A new focus group, "Border Witness St. Augustine," emerged from our June panel on refugee conditions at the border.  The new group will focus on the fate of refugee children and families in Florida, particularly those touched by Homestead Juvenile Detention Center (near Miami), the largest in the country. We will learn why many are demanding that it to be closed.
Speakers
Laurie Holcomb-Ramos of Indivisible, who has visited Homestead twice and lobbies for closing it
Anny Leon-Harbison, Jacksonville immigration attorney who studies Homestead
Tony Ollarvia, a researcher who will discuss the possibility of Welcome Center in Florida to meet the needs of asylum-seekers.
Reception and Actions  

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Voter Registration Outreach
If you are interested in assisting Gary Farris with Voter Registration efforts, please contact him at 904-599-6241 or glandlkfarris@comcast.net or join him for voter registration training on August 7 at 2:00 PM at Democratic Headquarters. 
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SAVE GUANA NOW

At the Environmental Caucus meeting on Tuesday evening, Nicole Crosby of Save Guana Now presented useful information about our cooperative effort to preserve The Outpost in Ponte Vedra, 74 acres of conservation land at risk of being bulldozed for a development of homes.  This development would create polluted run-off into the Guana River and the GTM Research Reserve, and endanger this precious wildlife habitat. Whether or not you were at Tuesday evening's meeting, here are two ways you can participate in this this important local environmental cause:

WRITING EMAILS:
We're asking you to WRITE EMAILS NOW. Email addresses of local decision makers, and supportive points, are available at  https://www.saveguananow.org The Ponte Vedra Corporation, a subsidiary of the Gate Corporation, is the property owner that wants to develop the land. 

ATTENDING PUBLIC MEETINGS:
There are two important public hearings coming up. The greater attendance we have at both, the better our chances we have of defeating this development. 

• On Thursday, August 15th, 1:30 pm,  there will be a meeting of the Board of the Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA). The meeting will take place in the St. Johns County Administration Building, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine. 

• On Tuesday, September 17th, there will be a transmittal hearing at the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting. This hearing will also be at the County Administration Building, in the morning, either 9:00 am or 10:00 am. The exact time will be posted at the above website when it is known; best to check the above website on Monday, September 16th. The white shirt request applies to this meeting, also.

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From Daily Kos voting rights roundup

FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT

• Florida: Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, a Democrat estimates that those affected owe roughly $500 million and that typically just 3% is collected. It's still unclear how many individuals owe money and what the average debt is, but Warren's office could make a big dent in those numbers with his plan to have a court to waive these fees or convert the debts into community service.

VOTER SUPPRESSION

• Florida: Amid an ongoing lawsuit challenging Florida Republicans' attempts to ban early voting locations on college campuses, a new study by University of Florida professor Daniel Smith finds that a 2018 court ruling that finally brought early voting back to campuses led to an increase in turnout. The availability of early voting on campus brought, in particular, young black and Hispanic voters into the electorate who otherwise might not have voted.
Nearly 60,000 voters cast ballots early on 12 college campuses in 2018, but Republicans have continued to try to ban such polling sites. After their outright ban was struck down in court last year, Republicans passed a law earlier this year that attempts to do the same thing under the pretext of new regulations requiring a certain amount of parking at early voting locations, which is now the focus of the continuing litigation.
The 2020 session begins January 14. Mark your calendars for UUJF Legislative Days in Tallahassee January 27-28.

Looking ahead to the 2020 session, I am preparing a list and talking points with approximately 150 bills that we supported in 2019 but failed to pass during the session.   I will be urging you to form small teams in your congregations or with Indivisible groups or other organizations and schedule meetings with your legislators and staff in their local offices this fall from mid September to mid November.

AoCC Voter Empowerment Project

Every American should be able to cast a ballot easily and securely.

When laws take ballots away from citizens, it weakens our democracy. When states use vulnerable voting systems, it weakens our democracy. There is a real risk that the current president may refuse to honor the outcome of the next election. This is unacceptable in a democracy.

2020 hinges on weakened systems.

With 70-ish weeks to the next presidential election, the time to act is now. Voting laws take months to change. Will we be ready when the president questions election results?

Our June goal: 1000 actions for voter empowerment.

Will you help? Join other Americans of conscience in spending one hour per week for the month of June to ensure that every citizen can vote and each vote verified in 2020.

Learn more here about specific actions you can undertake.

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Demand hearings on ERA  Ratification in next FL legislative sessions by  contacting local Legislators.

In 2019, two bills related to passage of the ERA were introduced:

HCR 255 House Bill   - Introduced Patricia Willimas D Lauderdale Lakes 
                                     Died in Civil Justice Committee  5/2019

SCR 266  Senate Bill - Introduced  Audrey Gibson D Jacksonville 
                                     Co Sponsor  Lori Berman   D Lantana
                                    Died in Judiciary Committee 5/2019
                                                    
Relevant issues to promote idea to hold hearing on passage of ERA in FLORIDA:
Pay Equity
Pregnancy, Maternity and Caregiving Equity
Gender protection from  violence and abuse
MeToo Movement                                    

Click here to see what you do in Florida to request a hearing on passing the ERA.

Voter Registration Outreach
If you are interested in assisting Gary Farris with Voter Registration efforts, please contact him at 904-599-6241 or glandlkfarris@comcast.net or join him for voter registration training on August 7 at 2:00 PM at Democratic Headquarters. 


Homestead, Fl children's prison


The Miami Herald reports that all children have been moved from the Homestead detention center., probably response to the hurricane season. The Government did not say where the children had been moved.
HS children


          

Next meetings August at 2PM at 
Grower's Alliance




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Get the weekly

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             WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND NEW IDEAS! 
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KNOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS


FLORIDA REPORT CARD -  Follow link to learn more about Progress Florida

In 2019, which Florida state legislators voted to put people first instead of powerful special interests?

We've graded each legislator based on their votes on issues that matter to Floridians: our economy, our public schools, our environment, our civil rights, reproductive freedom, gun safety, and more. Click on the Report Card link below next to your representative to see their report card for the 2019 legislative session.

Senator Travis Hutson District 7 Republican
Florida Report Card Hutson
                   F (35%)

                                   
District Office                                                             Tallahassee Office
4875 Palm Coast Parkway, NW                                      314 Senate Building
Suite 5                                                                        404 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137                                                   Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(386) 446-7610                                                           (850) 487-5007
Senate VOIP: 40700                                                     Senate VOIP: 5007
FAX (888) 263-3475
Legislative Assistants                                                Legislative Assistant

Danielle Curbow and Matthew Kauffmann                      John Kotyk

Florida House of Representatives   
Cyndi Stevenson 17th District  Republican









District Office
Suite 902
309 Kingsley Lake Drive
St Augustine, FL 32092-3048
Phone (904) 823-2300
District Secretary: Shorty Robbins












Florida Report Card - Stevenson

F (29%)



Capitol Office
402 South Monroe Street
303 House Office Building
Tallahassee, FL   32399-1300
Phone: (850) 717-5017
Legislative Assistant
Kaley Slattery
:
Kaley
Paul Renner 24th District  Republican

                    F (29%)
                                     

District Office                                             Capitol Office


Suite 1                                                        418 The Capitol

4877 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest                 402 South Monroe Street 

Palm Coast, FL 32137-3677                                Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

Phone (386) 446-7644                                       Phone (850) 717-5024
                                                Legislative Assistant


                                                                                    

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