Weekly Update 2023-05-25

Dear Members and Advocates,

This month we witnessed firsthand the power in numbers.  A momentum started that we cannot ignore as we progress toward our goal of abolishing the registry.  An important part of this movement that has begun is making sure that we acknowledge and thank the people in the Florida Legislature that stood up for the rights of all Florida citizens.

Some of the NO votes for HB 833 were not necessarily for the 24-hour reporting of vacation rentals but rather for the opposition shown by many people because the state was trying to take over local control.  Regardless of how one feels about the state taking over control from municipalities/counties, these NO votes by some representatives still showed that they were listening to the concerns of individual Florida citizens rather than their political party.

We are listing below the names of the legislators who voted NO for the heinous bills we opposed.  The phone numbers listed are for the legislator’s district offices as they are currently not in Tallahassee.  Some members have asked that we group the email addresses together.

PLEASE contact as many of these legislators as you can to let them know that you have observed and appreciate what they are doing to represent ALL FLORIDA CITIZENS.  The emphasis should be on “all citizens”, not “people forced to register.”

 HB 1085 (red lettering)

NO votes for HB 1085 in the three committees that it passed through in the House of Representatives:

1. Representative Anna Eskamani:  [email protected]; (407) 228-1451
2. Representative Hillary Cassel:  [email protected]; (954) 893-5030
3. Representative Michael Gottlieb:  [email protected]; (954) 655-5498
4. Representative Yvonne Hinson:  [email protected]; (352) 264-4001
5. Representative Christine Hunschofsky:  [email protected]; (954) 956-5600
6. Representative Felicia Robinson:  [email protected]; (305) 620-3711

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

NOTE:

Representatives Gottlieb, Cassel, Hunschofsky, Eskamani, and Robinson not only voted against HB 1085, but they also individually spoke against the bill.

SB 1252 (red lettering)

NO votes for SB 1252 in the three committees that it passed through in the Senate:

1. Senator Lori Berman:  [email protected]; (561) 292-6014
2. Senator Shervin Jones:  [email protected]; (305) 493-6002
3. Senator Rosalind Osgood:  [email protected]; (954) 321-2705
4. Senator Linda Stewart:  [email protected]; (407) 893-2422
5. Senator Geraldine Thompson:  [email protected]; (407) 245-0194

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];

NOTE:

Senators Berman, Jones, Osgood, Steward, and Thompson not only voted against SB 1252, but they also individually spoke against the bill.  Senator DeCeglie, the sponsor of SB 1252, stated in the Fiscal Policy Committee meeting that he was willing to work with the other senators to improve the bill, and he eventually filed an amendment to remove the red lettering wordage from the bill.  (Nick DiCeglie:  [email protected]; (727) 563-1910)

HB 833 (24-hour reporting for vacation rental)

NO votes for HB 833 in the three committees that it passed through in the House:

1. Representative Bruce Antone:  [email protected]; (407) 297-2001
2. Representative Kristen Arrington:  [email protected]; (407) 846-5016
3. Representative Christopher Benjamin:  [email protected]; (305) 654-7100
4. Representative Daryl Campbell:  [email protected]; (954) 467-4205
5. Representative Michael Caruso:  [email protected]; (561) 650-1066
6. Representative Joe Casello:  [email protected]; (561) 292-6015
7. Representative Dan Daley:  [email protected]; (954) 845-6005
8. Representative Anna Eskamani:  [email protected]; (407) 228-1451
9. Representative Dianne Hart:  [email protected]; (813) 224-1956
10. Representative Dotie Joseph:  [email protected]; (305) 892-4296
11. Representative Chip LaMarca:  [email protected]; (954) 784-4531
12. Representative Patt Maney:  [email protected]; (850) 833-3713
13. Representative Angela Nixon:  [email protected]; (904) 381-6013
14. Representative Michele Rayner-Goolsby:  [email protected]; (727) 892-2468
15. Representative David Smith:  [email protected]; (407) 971-3570
16. Representative Allison Tant:  [email protected]; (850) 717-5009
17. Representative Susan Valdes:  [email protected]; (813) 673-4673

[email protected]; [email protected];  [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];  [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; ; [email protected];  [email protected]; [email protected];  [email protected];  [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];

Please thank any additional legislators whom you feel deserve to be acknowledged.

Sincerely,

Florida Action Committee (FAC)

ANNOUCEMENTS

Monthly Membership Call – Thu Jun 1 at 8pm ET. 319-527-3487. Topic:  Communicating with your Legislators – Keep the Momentum Going!  If you have any problem connecting for free, you can text CALL ME to 319-527-3487 for a call back from Free Conference Call and you will be connected to the meeting at no charge.

New Member Orientation Call – Thu Jun 8 at 8pm ET. 319-527-3487. NO Agenda.  Call in to learn more about the organization, volunteer opportunities, where to find support, get resources and referrals, or just share information.  If  you have any problem connecting for free, you can text CALL ME to 319-527-3487 for a call back from Free Conference Call and you will be connected to the meeting at no charge.

Family Support Group – Sat Jun 10 from 11am-1pm.  By Invitation only for non-registered family members with loved ones on the Registry.   Must be an FAC member. To participate, contact [email protected] or call 833-273-7325, Option 1.

MEET and GREETS 

Sat Jun 3 -Sarasota, 1-4pm.  RSVP to [email protected] or call 941-500-4706

Sat Jun 10 – West Palm Beach, 10am-1pm RSVP to Danell at [email protected] or call 772-494-1947.

Sat Jun 10 – Miami, 4-6:30pm RSVP to Dessie at [email protected] or call 772-226-0304

Sat Jun 10 – Jacksonville, 3-5:30pmRSVP [email protected] or call/text (904) 300-0109.

Sat Jun 17 -Tampa, 1-3pm  RSVP to Daphne at [email protected] or call 757-570-2060

Sat Jun 17 -Fort Myers, noon-3pm. RSVP to f[email protected] or call/text to 904-428-8724

Sat Jul 29 -Apopka, noon-3pm.  RSVP to [email protected] or call 833-273-7325,Option 1.

Sat Aug 5-Clearwater – 1-3pm -RSVP to [email protected] or call 217-218-2749.

Sat Aug 12-Citrus County-2-5pm RSVP to [email protected] or leave message at 833-273-7325 Option 1.

Sat Aug 19-Highlands County- 11am-2pm RSVP to Morris at [email protected] or leave message at 863-256-3026

VOUNTEERS NEEDED – If you are interested, email [email protected] or call 833-273-7325,Option 1.

County Coordinators – New Training class runs May 21 to Jun 18, from 7-8:30pm each Sunday night.

Staff Writers are needed for articles, posts and Weekly Updates.  If you have a story, article or topic of interest to share, please submit it to [email protected]

Membership Communications – Return phone calls and emails from members seeking information. Training provided.

PenPal Communications – Respond to letters from inmates seeking information and support. Training provided.

With Unity Comes Change -Get Involved and Volunteer Today!

Florida Action Committee
www.floridaactioncommittee.org
[email protected]