FLORIDA DIGEST - June 08, 2008

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Hotel deal taps tourism tax dollars in case of bailout
Hoteliers across Broward County could soon be forced to help pay formarketing the hotel that tourism officials want built next to FortLauderdale 's convention center. [...] The idea is raising the ire of otherhoteliers and being attacked by critics as legally suspect. ."We areoutraged, absolutely outraged," said Joe Van Eron, owner of Liberty Suitesin Dania Beach. "Tourism development taxes should not be directed to any oneentity. It's insanity at a time all the small hotels are in survival mode."
[...] As a Tourism Professional & Leader ... Small Business Owner...and,Broward County Voter.. "This post sounds eerily similar to a certainCommissioner's previous comments at a recent workshop on thisproject...."There is no groundswell of opposition", only "The voice of a fewactivist hotels", and "It's not their money"......I assure you that there isa huge "groundswell", and if the commission would only have their ears tothe ground, they would hear their constituents pain in surviving to remainin business, keep a roof over their heads and feed their families. There isnot a one of us that wouldn't want taxpayer dollars to guarantee oursurvival....but this would be wrong and illegal!??....over the last 6 yearsthe State of Florida and Broward County have lost over 40% of their SmallHotels which are mostly owner operated, family Mom & Pop ( or Pop & Pop)businesses, largley due to the greed of developers and the failure ofgovernment to offer significant property tax and insurance reform.....adisatrous loss of revenue, local jobs and affordable options for ourvisitors and residents.
Contact Ray's List for the full article.


=
From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-TERI Grant Proposal Celebration, Sunday June 8, at Hagen Park Please planto come out and support TERI as we celebrate our recent successful bid for a$2500 grant from Pride South Florida, Inc. It will be held at the PrideSouth Florida 20th Annual Picnic on Sunday June 8, from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pmat Hagen Park, located at 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, just West ofGeorge's Alibi on the South side of Wilton Manners Drive. [...] Admissionto Hagen Park is FREE. You may bring your own picnic basket or purchasefood, drinks, and beer at the park. Unfortunately, Hagen Park DOES NOT ALLOWPETS. For more information call the Pride Line at (954) 561-2020.

=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####