LOCAL NEWS
The latest job report shows that Leon County lost 845 jobs in July when compared to last month. There were 155,915 people working in Leon County in July compared to June’s revised employment number of 156,760.
On Thursday September 5, the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency will hold the second and final public hearing on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget and Fiscal Year 2025 – 2029 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program Budget.
The Tallahassee City Commission recently approved a request for funding for ECG Lake Bradford, LP for Lake Bradford Apartments in the amount of $961,300 from the City’s HOME-ARP funding. Construction on the $56 million project is set to begin in January 2025 and be completed in the end of October 2026.
FLORIDA NEWS
Voters will soon get their say on the fate of Florida’s public campaign financing program after lawmakers approved a measure earlier this year putting the question on the November ballot.
With a deadline fast approaching, Polk County Public Schools are now scrambling to hastily renegotiate a badly flawed school bus camera contract with Verra Mobility, hoping to patch up a deal that flagrantly violated state law.
NATIONAL NEWS
Oregon ends first-in-the-nation, four-year experiment with decriminalizing possession of small amounts of fentanyl, heroin, meth, and other hard drugs (More).
One of the largest studies on the effect of a new class of weight-loss drugs on mortality found regular use of semaglutides reduces the risk of death from all causes by almost 20% for patients who are overweight or obese. The results are the latest to suggest the drugs may have wide-ranging health benefits beyond their traditional use in treating diabetes.
US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +1.0%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq +1.1%), with Dow reaching another record high; personal consumption expenditures price index rises as expected in July (More).
TALLAHASSEE WEATHER
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The deck is stacked in Leon County. If you want to run for the School Board, start with paying either the $ 1,800 Primary Election fee – or, you canvas “registered” voters to sign the Candidate Petition Form. Four hundred – signatures required.
When I see somebody running for our School Board – that has amassed $ 50,000 much in anonymous contributions……” it makes me want to puke”
@ Dee… We agree. Citizens United was a bad decision, much like Roe-v-Wade. And like Roe-v-Wade, it should be reversed.
@ David… My father always said, “Why would anyone spend $500k for a job that pays $39k a-year” … In this lay my reasoning for believing the issue worthy of discussion.
@ Edward = The County Commissioners make $93K, the City Commissioner Make/Made $45K (not sure what it is now since they gave themselves a Raise), the State Representatives make about $39K and the State Senate make about $239K. They should drop the Allowed Donation Amounts back down to the 2016 Levels and Outlaw Pac Money Donations.
It’s not that I disagree with Mr Lyle, but his proposal won’t pass Supreme Court muster. Thanks to those honorable justices, money is speech. Citizens United vs FEC 2010.
@ David… I take your point. But on the other hand, if done correctly, it could be a better way to do it and keep special interest money out of the picture. For example:
The amount of money collected by a candidate and spent on a campaign should be limited by law to twice the annual salary of the position they seek. This could be a small donor contribution match concept or a straight funding concept. So long as the limitation remains intact. This would level the playing field for all candidates and prevent the excessive funding of the Special Interests’ pick. Any candidate that exceeds the lawful limit shall be immediately disqualified and removed from the ballot. I think this would force the candidates to use their contributions wisely and may result in an increase in the number of candidate forums and debates. It will become more important for candidates to get out there and tout themselves, their ideas, and their platforms… rather than rely on consultant-developed BS mailers and commercials.
What would truly be better for “We the People”… spending $150k of tax dollars on a candidate to keep the special interest money out, or let the special interest money buy and own our candidate, and thus, our government?
I’m not certain of all the pros/cons on this particular endeavor, but I believe it’s worthy of discussion.
Tax Dollars should NOT be used on Campaigns. No Ifs, Ands or Buts about it.