Florida - The Sunshine State

A friendly post to hear others fared during the storm.

All well here. No power since 9pm last night. Brevard

EDIT: Power restored 10/11 @ ~330pm

Responding to reports that prisoner contact with loved ones helps reduce the recidivism rate, state lawmakers last year approved a $1 million pilot project to allow inmates with good behavior to make one free 15-minute phone call per month to the outside world.

Pleased with its rollout, members of the Florida Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations came back during the 2024 legislative session with a budget line item expanding the program to $2 million from an inmate trust fund, and not from general revenues.

But Gov. Ron DeSantis slashed that line item in June. Advocates for prison and criminal justice reform say that’s a problem.

“Keeping families connected is very important for re-entry and so is the education,” said Karen Stuckey, who’s had to deal with escalating phone bills as both her son and husband have been incarcerated in Florida prisons. “If you want somebody to be successful, you have to keep them connected to their families or their loved ones. Because when you get out, it’s really, really hard.”

https://ghostarchive.org/archive/HrIlf

Our State Parks are under attack. Please help by at least contacting your representatives though this convenient form (it takes less than a minute).

Florida Wildlife Federation - Convenient Form

Information About The 9 Specific Park Plans

Our state government released plans to add golf courses, pickle ball courts, and more unnatural development to some of our state parks. Speak up.

Edit: this also contradicts the State Park mission statement. "FPS Mission Statement Provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources." https://www.floridastateparks.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/2020_12_01_Floirda%20Park%20Service_Operations%20Manual.pdf

Update: Here is a survey the state opened to accept feedback on their new plans: survey. For each park's proposal, it summarizes the proposal, then you can submit a feedback message followed by a satisfaction rating (very dissatisfied to very satisfied).