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The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-chomeless21feb21,0,5489410,print.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Florida reported one-third of all attacks on homeless in U.S., group says
By Jamie Malernee
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 21, 2007
Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for the homeless, with 48 attacks last year, about one-third of all attacks registered nationwide, according to an advocacy group's report released Tuesday.
The report also found that violence against the homeless is spiking across the country. It was the second year Florida ranked first in the statistics complied by the National Coalition for the Homeless, partly because of the now-infamous January 2006 beatings of three Fort Lauderdale men by assailants wielding baseball bats and a golf club. One victim died, and three teens have been charged with his murder.
In Fort Lauderdale alone, seven acts of violence against the homeless were reported last year. Only one U.S. city, Phoenix, reported more.
"South Florida has really become the capital of vicious attacks on the homeless," Hollywood homeless advocate Sean Cononie said.
The coalition's report cited 142 violent acts nationwide in 2006, compared with 86 in 2005. Last year's attacks led to 20 deaths, five rapes and six people set on fire.
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The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editgsaidscapfeb21,0,424822,print.story?coll=sfla-news-editorial
CAPSULE COMMENT
AIDS orphans
South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
February 21, 2007
Doing their part for Haiti's kids
The problem of children left orphaned and homeless by HIV/AIDS in Haiti seems overwhelming, but a Hollywood minister and rabbi are determined to help.
Inspired after reading of the work of activist Aaron Jackson, who has established two small orphanages in Haiti, the Rev. Kennedy McGowan of First Presbyterian Church and Rabbi Allan C. Tuffs of Temple Beth El are planning a four-day mission to Haiti next month. Haiti has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, and Jackson's work there was featured in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's four-part series "AIDS Orphans."
About eight people from the church and synagogue are to go with McGowan and Tuffs on their mission, which hopefully will result in the sponsorship of one or more orphanages.
They won't solve the problem by themselves. But hopefully their noble work will inspire others.
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The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-chomeless21feb21,0,5489410,print.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Florida reported one-third of all attacks on homeless in U.S., group says
By Jamie Malernee
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 21, 2007
Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for the homeless, with 48 attacks last year, about one-third of all attacks registered nationwide, according to an advocacy group's report released Tuesday.
The report also found that violence against the homeless is spiking across the country. It was the second year Florida ranked first in the statistics complied by the National Coalition for the Homeless, partly because of the now-infamous January 2006 beatings of three Fort Lauderdale men by assailants wielding baseball bats and a golf club. One victim died, and three teens have been charged with his murder.
In Fort Lauderdale alone, seven acts of violence against the homeless were reported last year. Only one U.S. city, Phoenix, reported more.
"South Florida has really become the capital of vicious attacks on the homeless," Hollywood homeless advocate Sean Cononie said.
The coalition's report cited 142 violent acts nationwide in 2006, compared with 86 in 2005. Last year's attacks led to 20 deaths, five rapes and six people set on fire.
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/16738215.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Wed, Feb. 21, 2007
A POET'S EFFORT
Spoken-word workshops aimed at gay teens
BY STEVE ROTHAUS
srothaus@MiamiHerald.com
Spoken-word artist Emanuel Xavier says most gay teens have it better today than 19 years ago when his homophobic, fundamentalist mother kicked him ``out on the streets at 16.''
''We've come a long way, but unfortunately the Tim Hardaway incident reminds us we have a long way to go,'' said Xavier, 35, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who'll conduct a series of spoken-word workshops for South Florida gay teens today through Saturday.
Last week, former Miami Heat star Hardaway caused a national furor when he said during a local radio interview that ''I hate gay people.'' Hardaway quickly apologized, but he lost an endorsement contract and the NBA banned him from its All-Star Weekend.
''I'm glad that the NBA stood up for the gay community,'' Xavier said. 'It's one thing for the word `faggot' to slip from someone's mouth; it's one thing to say, 'I do not understand homosexuality.'
For someone to come out and say they absolutely hate -- will not work with gays -- is a whole 'nother thing. There is no justice for that kind of homophobia.''
Xavier expresses himself through words. From A Simple Poem:
I want you to continue writing
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16744671.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Wed, Feb. 21, 2007
LEGISLATURE 2007 | TAXES
Tax switch could bring relief, pain
House leaders want to swap a sales tax hike for eliminating homeowners' property taxes.
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS AND MARC CAPUTO
meklas@MiamiHerald.com
TALLAHASSEE - Lawmakers in the state House of Representatives are ready to stop charging many Floridians property taxes -- by making the state's sales taxes the highest in the nation.
Today, House Republican leaders will unveil their proposal to eliminate homeowners' property-tax bills by raising the six-cent state sales tax by 2.2 cents.
Under the plan, which must be approved by voters in a constitutional amendment, homeowners would no longer pay any property taxes whatsoever. Owners of commercial properties and non-homesteaded homes would continue paying all local-government property taxes, which would be capped and scaled back to 2001 or 2002 levels -- before the real-estate market boomed and local government spending skyrocketed.
The plan, which House Speaker Marco Rubio called a ''starting point,'' could lower property taxes across the state by more than $12 billion. But it's fraught with unknowns and potential perils.
In addition to making Florida's base sales-tax rate the highest in the nation -- California is now the highest, at 7.25 cents per dollar, the proposal would shift even more of the sales-tax burden to businesses. Businesses, which pay about 40 percent of sales taxes now, could see shoppers cut down on spending or head to other states or the Internet. The poor would see a disproportionately higher amount of their wages pay for government.
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16744671.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Posted on Wed, Feb. 21, 2007
LEGISLATURE 2007 | TAXES
Tax switch could bring relief, pain
House leaders want to swap a sales tax hike for eliminating homeowners' property taxes.
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS AND MARC CAPUTO
meklas@MiamiHerald.com
TALLAHASSEE - Lawmakers in the state House of Representatives are ready to stop charging many Floridians property taxes -- by making the state's sales axes the highest in the nation.
Today, House Republican leaders will unveil their proposal to eliminate homeowners' property-tax bills by raising the six-cent state sales tax by 2.2 cents.
Under the plan, which must be approved by voters in a constitutional amendment, homeowners would no longer pay any property taxes whatsoever. Owners of commercial properties and non-homesteaded homes would continue paying all local-government property taxes, which would be capped and scaled back to 2001 or 2002 levels -- before the real-estate market boomed and local government spending skyrocketed.
The plan, which House Speaker Marco Rubio called a ''starting point,'' could lower property taxes across the state by more than $12 billion. But it's fraught with unknowns and potential perils.
In addition to making Florida's base sales-tax rate the highest in the nation -- California is now the highest, at 7.25 cents per dollar, the proposal would shift even more of the sales-tax burden to businesses. Businesses, which pay about 40 percent of sales taxes now, could see shoppers cut down on spending or head to other states or the Internet. The poor would see a disproportionately higher amount of their wages pay for government.
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/16744213.htm
Posted on Wed, Feb. 21, 2007
IRAQ
Sending the Dream Team late in the game
By TRUDY RUBIN
trubin@phillynews.com
As House members were debating their Iraq resolution on Friday, a very different Iraq drama was going on in the Senate, with hardly any attention paid.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was holding confirmation hearings for Ryan Crocker, the new U.S. ambassador-designate to Baghdad. Even Iraq skeptics heaped praise on Crocker, one of the country's most talented and intrepid diplomats.
Crocker's hearing underlined one of the most startling ironies of America's Iraq venture: Late in the day, the administration has filled its top military and civilian posts in Iraq with top officers and diplomats who have been critical of the conduct of Iraq policy.
They include not only Crocker, but also the new coordinator of America's Iraq reconstruction effort, Timothy Carney; the new commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus; and a circle of outstanding military experts on counterinsurgency warfare assembled by Petraeus. The administration has asked them to rescue a near-impossible situation that might have been avoided had it heeded their warnings years earlier.
The theme that runs through these warnings: If you don't grasp the nature of the society and people you are supposed to be helping, you will fail.
• Crocker, whom I first met as a young political officer in 1982 in Beirut, always wanted to be out in the field, learning about the local people. He was one of the first Westerners at the scene of the infamous massacre of Palestinians by Christian Lebanese militiamen in the Sabra and Shattila refugee camps. An Arabic speaker, he has been ambassador to Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, Pakistan -- and served several frustrating months in Baghdad in 2003 working under U.S. occupation czar Paul Bremer.
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Cong. Etz Chaim Holds Second Special Shabbat (March 30-31)
Rabbi Harold F. Caminker, D.D., the spiritual leader of Congregation Etz Chaim of Wilton Manors, will lead the congregation in the second of a series of special Shabbat weekends on March 30 and 31. On Friday evening March 30 there will be a meditative Kabbalat Shabbat service at 7 p.m. The following morning, Saturday March 31, the congregation will have a more traditional Torah service beginning at 11 a.m., and ending with a Kiddush around noon. Both services will be held at the Synagogue, located at 1881 N.E. 26 Street (Wilton Plaza) in Wilton Manors.
For more information phone CEC at (954) 564-9232.
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http://www.fadp.org/news/wmnf_070219_180001_6newsm_224.mp3
[FADPUpdate] The Executioner Speaks
The Florida Governor's Commission on the Administration of Lethal Injectionmet again Monday, Feb. 19, 2007. The Commission was ordered by formerGovernor Bush to investigate the botched execution of Angel Diaz on Dec. 13,2006 and to recommend changes to Florida's lethal injection method ofputting prisoners to death.
The following audio link is a 6 minute WMNF radio news report on Monday'smeeting. It contains testimony from a secret Execution Medical Team member.
Give a listen. The Commissioners and audience were visibly rattled by hismenacing testimony. He has been involved in 84 executions for 5 states andthe Federal Government. Who does this guy sound like - the voice of evilincarnate? Sauron? Darth Vader? You decide.
February 19, 2007 - WMNF Evening News - The Executioner Speaks (audio mp3)
This is the true nature of the death chamber.
Executions are not solemn, medical or humane events.
This audio and more info is available at www.FADP.org.
It is not about what they did...it's about what we do.
Mark Elliott
Director, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
mark@fadp.org
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
"Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal."
"The time is always right to do what is right."
Martin Luther King
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Join the Dolphin Democrats This Saturday at the Broward DEC Fundraiser
There is still time to join the Dolphin Democrats at the Broward County DEC 2007 Jefferson-Jackson Fundraising Dinner, Saturday, February 24, 2007 at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. The VIP Mixer is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with the Dinner, Awards and Speeches at 8:00 p.m. The event is black tie optional.
The featured speaker of the evening is Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico and candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President.
The Dolphins have reserved 2 tables and we still have some seats available. Individual dinner tickets are $125 and tickets to the VIP cocktail mixer are $100 each.
If you would like to join us, please email Bill Vayens at treasurer@dolphindems.org
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Thursday, March 1st, 2007
6:00pm-8:00pm
Food Amongst the Flowers
2345 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
(directions here)
South Florida's GLBT Monthly Networking Event supportingThe Human Rights Campaign
CLUB BLUE!
Club Blue is a monthly social and networking event designed to promote theHuman Rights Campaign and its membership in South Florida. It is held onthe third Thursday of each month!
Join the HRC South Florida Committee each month to network with other GLBTprofessionals and to learn about HRC in South Florida!$10 suggested donation"Flowers" has a great menu and a delightful dining room. If you plan tostay for dinner after the social, you may wish to consider makingreservations in advance: Call (954)569-7752 or online at www.flowers2345.com
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Re-energizing HIV prevention in the Gay Community of Broward
I had the pleasure of joining the Broward community and supporting their HIVprevention outreach efforts this past Sunday. Through the leadership ofManuel Rodriguez, Michael Rajner and all the community providers the patronsof Georgie Alibi not only had fun but were actively engaged HIV preventionactivities that included key theories of HIV prevention and risk reductioneducation. The receptiveness of the patron was attributed to the creativelyand thoughtfulness put into developing this intervention.
This event reminded me of the late 1980’s early 1990’s outreach/preventioneducation days. It was also great to see the support of all the funded DOHproviders, our STD partners and key partners supporting the effort byconducting outreach and one-on-one prevention education. We need toreinvigorate our HIV prevention efforts by creating events such as thisone – because it brings the information to the people in a creative,non-judgment and interactive manner. Furthermore the collaborative unityof all involve made this event successful. I believe the patron thatevening left with increased knowledge on safer sex practices and reductionmethods.
We look forward to joining you in your efforts by replicating similar eventsin Miami-Dade County.
Alberto M. Santana, MS
HIV Prevention Community Planner &
Statewide Latino AIDS Coordinator
Office of HIV/AIDS
Miami-Dade County Health Department
8600 NW 17th Street NW Suite 200
Miami, Florida 33126
Office: (305) 470-6975
Fax: (305) 470-5751
E-mail: alberto_santana@doh.state.fl.us
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Saturday, Feb. 24th: South Florida COMMUNITY DIALOGUE:
Mapping a Culture of Peace in Dade & Broward Counties; 8:45am-12:15; TO
REGISTER (NO COST) see link below.
Though you may be receiving this at the proverbial "11th hour," we wouldnonetheless deeply appreciate your participation in what promises to be astimulating and innovative group process to build the web of relationshipsamong South Florida progressives. Please consider being part of the"conversation" as we unpack common threads that cut across issues ofenvironmentalsustainability, social/economic justice, restoration of vibrant democracy,nonviolence, and related themes that are foundational to a culture of peace.
This event takes place this Saturday morning, February 24, in ConvocationHall inside the Library Building on the campus of St. Thomas University inMiami Gardens.
This Community Dialogue is sponsored by Florida Coalition for Peace andJustice, founded in 1982, with state offices outside Gainesville. There isNO COST to participate in this half-day program, but all participants arestrongly urged to pre-register by completing an on-line RSVP survey athttp://fcpj.org/ or by calling 352-468-3295. Detailed directions and relatedinformation are available at that same website. Background about thedialogue process can be downloaded from a pdf file at the FCPJ websitelocated at: http://fcpj.org/downloads.htm . On that page, click on the firstfile labeled "Mapping a Culture of Peace in Florida." Related information isavailable at: http://fcpj.org/page2.html#community
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