FLORIDA DIGEST - October 21, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Gay Democratic group supports Democratic candidates
The political action committee assocated with the Florida State Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic caucus has a series of recommendations on ballot questions and a list of candidates it considers supportive of the gay community. It's recommending a "no" vote on proposed state constitutional amendment 2, the proposal that would add the state's existing ban on gay marriage to the state Constituion. It's also recommending a "no" on Amendment 8, allowing a potential sales tax for community colleges. It's recommending "yes" votes on all other proposed state amendments. It's also recommending "yes" votes on all proposed amendments to the Broward County charter and Fort Lauderdale city charter. The group's bylaws prevent it from endorsing candidates. But it said the caucus considers all the Democratic candidates on the countywide ballot, supportive of the gay community. And it listed three Wilton Manors candidates who are members of the caucus: mayoral hopeful Gary Resnick and commission candidates Justin Flippen and Tom Green.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2008/10/gay_democratic_group_supports.html


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FLORIDA GAY PAC ANNOUNCES BROWARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND CANDIDATE INFORMATION
The Florida Gay Caucus Political Committee (FGCPC) has announced its Broward recommendations and candidate information in conjunction with the start of early voting.

-On Florida Constitutional amendments, the FGCPC recommends:
Amendment 1: Yes
Amendment 2: No
Amendment 3: Yes
Amendment 4: Yes
Amendment 6: Yes
Amendment 8: No

-The FGCPC recommends a YES vote on all Broward Charter amendments, and a YES
vote on the Fort Lauderdale Charter amendment. In addition, the FGCPC is providing information on Broward candidates' positions. The FGCPC considers many factors in its recommendations and also provides information on where candidates stand in support of the GLBT community, their memberships in GLBT organizations, and their backing by labor unions.
President: Obama/Biden
US House District 19: Robert Wexler
US House District 20: Debbie Wasserman Schultz
US House District 21: Raul Martinez
US House District 22: Ron Klein
US House District 23: Alcee Hastings
FL Senate District 25: Linda Bird
FL House District 91: Chris Chiari
FL House District 97: Martin Kiar
Clerk of Courts: Howard Forman
Sheriff: Scott Israel
Wilton Manors Mayor: Gary Resnick
Wilton Manors Commission: Justin Flippen
Wilton Manors Commission: Tom Green
For a link to the scorecard, click here
http://www.floridaglbtdemocrats.org/documents/CandidateScorecardPostcardP1.pdf


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Safe Schools South Florida
www.safeschoolssouthflorida.org
Back to School with Safe Schools South Florida
An update!

-September 6 and September 20, Safe Schools South Florida trainer Lisa La Monica trained twenty South Florida youth as speakers for Safe Schools workshop panels at Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami in collaboration with the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth.

-October 4, Safe Schools South Florida youth staffed the Safe Schools booth at the Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Expo at the Miami Mart. Thank you, Aimee and Veronica!

-October 15 -17, Safe Schools South Florida trainer Lisa La Monica presented its programs to the National Safe Schools Roundtable on GLBT Youth sponsored by the National Education Association and PFLAG and held in Washington, D.C.

-October 18, Safe Schools Co-founder and Executive Director Robert Loupo presented a one-hour training on GLBTQ issues and youth to Switchboard of Miami volunteers.

-October 18, Safe Schools South Florida was recognized as one of the community organization grant recipients at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Recognition Dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel (see "Recent Grant Awards" below).
www.safeschoolssouthflorida.org


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Steve GLASSMAN For Fort Lauderdale City Commission District 2 Leadership for a Change
From Naugle and Rodstrom to a Majority Community-Friendly Commission Gay Leaders excited over the potential for change in the upcoming electionsEven before a single vote is cast in this historic presidential election season, pro-community activists were looking ahead to Fort Lauderdale 's municipal elections. Key leaders optimistic about the potential for change include important voices in Fort Lauderdale's community, political and neighborhood organizations such as Michael Albetta, president of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus and Waymon Hudson, founder of Fight Out Loud .Watching historic change coming to America and the White House, the local leaders sense opportunity for Fort Lauderdale and both have endorsed Steve Glassman's candidacy in the strongest terms. Albetta explained, " Naugle is termed out and so the Mayor's race is wide open. Cindi is departing so that's District 4. And so you have Rodstrom, whose silence on important issues and failure to live up to loudly stated campaign promises has been a slap in the face of the GLBT community." Hudson, who started Fight Out Loud after experiencing a Hate Crime, summed it up, " Look, the last Commission meeting was the latest example of intolerance from the dais that is just outrageous. Rodstrom was clapping after one pro Amendment 2 speaker for goodness sake. I am endorsing Steve Glassman because Rodstrom has become an obstacle to having a commission that is committed to all its citizens."
http://voteglassman.com/



~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Obama Blitzes Florida As Early Voting Starts
Sen. Clinton Adds Emphatic Endorsement
Barack Obama barnstormed the battleground of Florida on Monday with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and others, as voters began going to the polls in a state that has vexed Democrats in the past two presidential elections.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/20/AR2008102003112.html?hpid=topnews


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

-Wife of Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney files for divorce
The wife of Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney filed for divorce Monday, a week after Mahoney admitted to "numerous" affairs. In divorce papers filed Monday by Stuart attorney Karen Steger in the North Palm Beach County Courthouse, Terry Mahoney says the couple's marriage is "irretrievably broken." The two married Dec. 31, 1984.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpmahoneydivorcesboct21,0,2928972.story


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Obama-Clinton pep rally in Florida draws 50,000
Hillary Clinton was in Broward and Barack Obama is expected in Miami Tuesday as the Democrats draw big crowds. With some Florida polls showing the presidential race tightening in the final fortnight, Democratic nominee Barack Obama tried to lock down the nation's largest battleground state with a flurry of early-voting pep rallies and a coast-to-coast tour that wraps up Tuesday night in the heart of downtown Miami.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/campaign-2008/story/734579.html

-AMENDMENT 4: Environmentalists back state Amendment 4 -- with caveat
There is wide support to provide owners tax relief to help preserve wild Florida, but even supporters caution that the devil is in the details. Environmentalists are backing a big tax break for Florida's largest land owners. You read that right. In an election year notable for nastiness, two typically partisan factions have reached accord over at least one thing: Amendment Four, a measure that would reduce or eliminate property taxes for owners who protect their land from bulldozers.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/734509.html

-Opposition scarce to amendment giving waterfronts relief
A proposed constitutional amendment to help working waterfronts avoid heavy tax assessments is on the Nov. 4 ballot. While lobster and stone crab catches held steady at the docks over the last decade, property taxes at Manny's Sea Food went skyward as new condos rose near the Miami River.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/734855.html


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Schools must cut millions
No school resource officers, no middle school athletics and no field trips for elementary and middle school students. Those were some of the stark choices presented to Manatee County School Board members Monday as district staff warned they will likely have to cut between $6 million and $9 million more from this year's budget because of falling sales tax revenue.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081021/ARTICLE/810210386/0/SPORTS0501

-In swing states like Florida, voters need to know rights
Under the rubric of voter fraud, which they cannot demonstrate, and in the face of a massive and successful Democratic voter registration campaign, Republicans are scrambling to limit Americans' right to vote in Florida and other key Electoral College states. These anti-democratic efforts put more pressure on voters to make sure that they are registered properly and know where to vote.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/10/21/a12a_leadedit_elexfraud_1021.html


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Tonight! Tuesday, October 21st, please join Barack and Michelle Obama in Miami, where they will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need. Early Vote for Change Rally with Barack and Michelle Obama Bicentennial Park
1075 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33132
Doors Open: 3:45 p.m.
Program Begins: 5:45 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public.
Tickets are not required; however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged.
http://fl.barackobama.com/MiamiChange


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