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.

Friday, April 26, 2019

YOUR RESISTANCE NEWSLETTER
WEEK OF APRIL 28, 2019

BE SURE TO ATTEND OUR NEXT GENERAL MEETING ON MAY 9  (please note date change from May 2)


Homestead, Fl children's prison Call to Action

What is Homestead Detention Center?  Homestead, Florida is the site of the largest child detention center in the country, the ONLY for-profit center, and the only shelter deemed “temporary”.  It was opened in June 2016 to house what HHS calls unaccompanied alien children (UAC).  From June 2016 to April 2017 it sheltered 8,500 children, then closed.  It was reactivated in March 2018 and currently houses more than 2,000 children.  HHS now plans to expand to house up to 3,200 children beginning in mid-April.  Children at Homestead are 13-17 yrs of age. About 75% are male and 25% female.  According to HHS children remain an average of 52 days (although there are reports of children staying much longer).  
What can we do?  While media coverage of the Homestead detention facility is growing, there is a need for greater awareness and action.  
Lobby Contact your representatives at state and local levels.  Write letters to local newspapers.  Share on Facebook. Follow the Witness Homestead Facebook page.  Write petitions to close Homestead. Support Senator Merkley’s Bill 397 “Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act”.
Donate The Witness Homestead group is requesting donations to help keep monitors on the ground.  There is a Go Fund Me account called “Witness Homestead Support”.  Donate here

Arming Florida school teachers
The bill to arm Florida's public schoolteachers has passed the Senate, it will likely also pass the house and be signed into law by the governor. If that happens, we'll need to show up at the school board meetings. Stay up to date by RSVPing to this event

Contact your local legislators.  

The legislative session ends Friday May 3.  If you're a constituent of Cyndi Stevenson and want to raise awareness of your important issue, contact her office before Friday .  District Secretary Shorty Robbins 904-823-2300 or Legislative Assistant Kaley Slattery 850-717-5017
If you're a constituent of Paul Renner, contact Legislative Assistant Samantha Story  850-717-5024                                                            

Medicaid Expansion drive continues - Anyone who has ideas about venues and wants to help out can email andrea.degeorge@gmail.com. If you want to understand the benefits of expanding Medicaid, follow this link https://www.ncpssm.org/documents/medicaid-legislation/medicaid-expansion-benefits-states-and-beneficiaries/

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St. Johns County Legal Aid is sponsoring a training on Section 8 Housing on May 8, 2019, 11AM – Noon.

Gainesville attorney and Section 8 expert, Kevin Rabin, will be leading the session.

All are welcome to join the meeting in the Kingfisher Conference Room at the SJC Health and Human Services Building, 200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, FL 32084.

Refreshments will be available. No reservation is needed. Please share this information with your contacts.


Get tickets here




Next meeting is May 2


WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND NEW IDEAS! 

KNOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS

Senator Travis Hutson District 7 Republican

                                   
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
Member of the Florida House of Representatives   Cyndi Stevenson 17th District  Republican

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















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

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
                                                                                      Samantha Story

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