I was ambitious to think that I could continue to write a weekly post in this space during the annual legislative session. It’s not going to happen and I’m sorry. Between travel to and from Tallahassee, early mornings and late nights while in session and my desire to spend every available extra minute with Kim and the kids, I’m just not finding the time to sit down and write, outside of my legislative office’s regular constituent communication.....
POLK COUNTY COMMISSION – DISTRICT 2 This district covers the southern half of the county including the cities/towns of Bartow, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Highland Park, Hillcrest Heights, Lake Wales, and Mulberry, as well as areas of southern Lakeland. The winner will replace Republican incumbant Randy Wilkinson, who is term-limited. — DEMOCRAT — Jacquelyn Smith: (Lakeland [...]
James MacMeekin had something to say about Billy Townsend's Graph of Doom posts. Unfortunately, the MI4 editor mis-posted the response and we're publishing it much later than intended. Let's just say the two men don't seem to see eye-to-eye on the economy, history, and well, read on....
No, probably not. But that's how many the school district would need to lay off to account for the 15 percent budget cut state officials have told Florida schools to expect next year. It comes to $95 million. The Polk district would need to cut 1,700 of its 7,000 teachers to come up with $95 million. It's more likely that every employee will receive a significant pay cut.
Remember the first round of bail-outs? Originally intended to stabilize and re-ignite lending practices? (That worked really well!) And do you remember the cry heard round the nation, “Socialism! We’re running down the road to socialism!” These words resonated with me, too, but in a very different way. You think we’re heading toward socialism? Are you blind? For 75 years socialism has crept surreptitiously into the minds and lives of those unaware.
Don't read this story with the AC turned up high: With solar power, the electric bill is just $3 a month Obviously things have changed since I went to school. Packing any learning would have been helpful then: Orange County schools will pack more learning into same amount of time If you have an unpaid parking fine or toll ticket, you'll want to read this story. If you wonder how the government spends your tax money, you'll want to read this story. If you're read this far, why not just read: City of Orlando, road agencies scramble to address backlog of unpaid toll and parking tickets Today's bonus coverage: Florida Among 6 States To Write Own School Formulas
It's a slow Friday in the region ppers. Sex, drugs, and titillation all lead. Of course, we link to none of that. Instead we have Florida's Gulf, Florida's Teachers, and Florida's Supreme Court Chief Justice. Report: Florida Treats Gulf As a 'Toilet' Newest Teachers Hit Hard By Layoffs New Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince makes history
Today's grab bag of articles takes us from budget cuts to budget winners; from suing developers to green builders; from crime prevention to college promotion and the cherry on top is rate hikes for electric customers. Not everyone felt the impact of budget cuts Buyers sue Four Corners developer Our position: Local and state government can fight crime by making prevention a priority PCC Closer to 4-Year Programs Tampa Gives Preliminary Approval To Building Green Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas Plan To Seek Rate Increase
Yes – that headline says April 15. Your tax forms must be in the mail by midnight tonight. Apopka Cops say that the house being used for a reality show was once used to broadcast live sex acts for an adult entertainment Web site. Can’t you imagine the idiots behind this? “Hey, we got this [...]
The "Move Over" law in Florida states you must leave an empty lane between you and emergency vehicles or, if you can't, slow down at least 20 MPH below the speed limit. To help remind you of the law, the Lakeland Police Department will be out in force from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm today to help educate drivers in the following areas: • The Polk County Parkway. • Harden Blvd between Beacon Road and Lakeside Village Shopping Center. • South Road 98 (Bartow Highway) between Edgewood Drive and South Crystal Lake Drive. According to LPD, "Violators of this law will be stopped and given literature and anything from a verbal warning to a uniform traffic citation."
Tuesday House Representative Seth McKeel introduced HB 1143. Simply entitled University of South Florida Lakeland, HB1143 states: An act relating to the University of South Florida Lakeland; creating s. 1004.345, F.S.; establishing and designating the University of South Florida Lakeland campus; providing legislative intent; requiring the Board of Trustees to appoint a Campus Board; providing membership, powers, and duties of the Campus Board; providing that the university is administered by a Campus Executive Officer; requiring the President of the University of South Florida to consult with the Campus Board before hiring or terminating the Campus Executive Officer; providing duties and powers of the Campus Executive Officer; providing that students enrolled at a branch campus of the university have the same rights as other students; requiring the University of South Florida to provide for a system of student registration that meets certain conditions; providing an effective date. That pretty much sums up the bill. You can read a PDF of the full bill here.
The work on South Florida between Highland and Ariana ended this morning. The barriers were removed and traffic is back to normal. There are a few pieces of equipment left in a parking lot or two, but I don't think traffic will be affected come Monday. View Larger Map •
I made a mistake. At the Ledger forums I posted a comment in the discussion on their article City, Bright House Try To Resolve Fee Dispute. I thought I could slip in, add an important point, and slip out. I should have remembered it isn't that easy. One poster's reply started with, "Your aggression is focused incorrectly at Bright House. The fact is that this is simply another tax by Lakeland Electric or the city of Lakeland." This what I wrote: First, I feel no aggression toward Bright House, and I also don't feel a city (and its citizens) should give away its resources. The attachment fee is not a tax. It is a cost of doing business. I believe Bright House labeled it a tax hoping the word would shock citizens who didn't study the situation. We paid to put up those poles. We continue to pay for them. In order to allow cable and other companies to attach to the poles, we have to buy taller poles than the electric company needs. I have a suggestion. Would you be amenable to Bright House putting up all their own poles? That way they would have to repair them when they're damaged or old. Oh, and your bill would go way up to pay for all those poles. When cable first started the companies were given discount rates to attach to the poles because they were "new." Not just in Lakeland, but all over the US. The rates have not risen with the costs. The attachment fees in Lakeland and other municipalities are fair fee for the burden the cable companies put on our resources. I surely believe the same people would complain if the headline was "Lakeland Gives Free Ride to Bright House." I'd read, "How dare they not charge that company. No wonder my taxes are so high!" As I mentioned in my personal statement about Lakeland Local, I'll try to keep everything as transparent as possible. For those who ask, I've never had a single problem with Bright House service other than expected equipment failures. No problems with bills, no over (or under) charges, no rude technicians or sales staff. On the other side, except for a single instance, I've found the members of our city government very open, forthcoming, and helpful. In order words, I don't have a special like or dislike for either entity. I believe the attachment fee is fair. I believe the company management at Bright House made a mistake by not reporting every pole where their techs attached cable leads. I also feel they dealt in a little propaganda by calling the fee "a tax" and using an inflated number when reporting the fee to their customers. I really hope the attention on this issue will help the two sides sit down and quickly reach an agreement. I urge all Bright House customers to study the pole fee attachment issue as it relates to cable companies. Don't settle for what I, or the Ledger, reports. Especially don't settle for what Bright House and Lakeland Electric puts on a single slip of paper in your monthly bill.
If you've been near your email reader anytime in the last few days, you've probably been forwarded a copy of an email written by Ghassan Zebdaoui, a county employee making serious allegations against County Manager Mike Herr and some members of the County staff. If you haven't, read the only main stream media mention of the email at the Polk County News Blog. Tampa Tribune reporter sums up the most damaging allegations and starts the investigation into the matter. I'm not going to publish the full email here. There are a few citizens mentioned, and I think it would be unfair to them if I published without contacting each for their statements. I'm not going to spend that kind of time on this story. I'll wait to see what the Tribune, and hopefully, the Ledger uncover. However, Zebdaoui mentions in his email a October 23, 2001 incident where his was arrested in a case of mistaken identity. I thought it interesting to research that point. You can read it at the Tahoe Tribune's online archive: City official victim of mistaken identity in post-attack suspicions As you read the article, remember the state of the country those few weeks after the 911 attack. I remember taking a flight not long after and watching airport security follow a man around simply because he looked "middle eastern." I wouldn't be surprised if there are not many men like Zebdaoui who have similar "arrest" stories.
Bio: I’m a Christian, a husband, a father, a son, a real estate consultant, and now, an amateur writer. As well, I am a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 63, or parts of Polk and Hillsborough Counties. My goal in this space is to provide my insight and comment on events shaping our larger region. I hope to consistently remind my community that we live in a connected world and that our commitment to being a player in the Metro I-4 super-region will make all the difference in the world. Selfishly, I also hope to further develop my skills as an amateur writer - a muse with which I’ve always tinkered but, until now, never published. I hope you find depth in my insights and sincerity in their offering. And I hope you’ll let me know how I’m doing… email: mckeel@metroi4news.com