Happy Mother's Day to all those who mother another!
Office Hours
Our regular office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our address is 2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Downtown Vero Beach.
Please note that on Monday, May 9th, the office will close early at 11:30 a.m.
Teacher Appreciation
A statement from Secretary Miguel A. Cardona who was sworn in as secretary of Education on March 2, 2021.
“Teaching is the foundation of all opportunity in America. It’s time state, local and federal government leaders treated the profession as the profound public service it is.
I will always be a teacher, and with me as secretary, the Department of Education will live out our appreciation for teachers with policies that reflect their invaluable contributions to our country.
The time has come to put teacher appreciation into action.”
Newsletter Highlights
School board candidate Cindy Gibbs needs help with fundraising. Find out how to help in the School Board Candidate section!
Florida taxpayer’s are suing DeSantis. Read more about it in the State section.
A math teacher pulled the ultimate prank on his students. Watch the magic in the Tidbits section.
School Board Candidate
Thanks to all of you who signed a petition, Cindy is officially finished with the 1,245 petitions she needed to get on the ballot. Thank you!
Cindy Gibbs is running for Jackie Rosario’s seat on the school board. Here are ways you can help:
It takes money to run a campaign, especially when you are running against a Republican. Could you host a house party for Cindy? Invite some friends over for some light snacks and drinks and let Cindy speak for a few minutes. Then ask your friends to support Cindy with a donation.
Cindy now has 425 followers on her Facebook page. Please like and share the Cindy Gibbs for School Board Facebook page - @gibbs4schools
Share her campaign website on your social media or in emails to friends and colleagues in Indian River County http://www.gibbs4schools.com
DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER
Democratic Women’s Club
The DWC Environmental Committee monthly meeting on April 27 was preceded by a beach cleanup at Humiston Park.
The DWC BOOK GROUP will resume in person meetings on May 27th at 2 p.m. at the Indian River County Main Library. The book to be discussed is titled “Black Was the Ink” by Michelle Coles. If you are not a book group member and would like further information, please contact Rita Milelli at [email protected].
Democratic Club of Indian River
The Club will have a booth at the Treasure Coast Pridefest this Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the PSL MIDFLORIDA Event Center. If you would like to participate, please email Wendy at [email protected]
FEDERAL
These 13 corporations have spent $15 million supporting anti-abortion politicians since 2016
DeSantis’ revenge against Disney is going to cost the taxpayers of Orange and Osceola county great financial harm. They decided to fight back. You can read more here:
The Florida Democratic Party is excited to share that our annual Leadership Blue Weekend has been scheduled for Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17 at the JW Marriott on Water Street in Tampa!
To see the latest updates and information on this year's Leadership Blue weekend, visit leadershipblue.com. We hope you will save the date and join us for a weekend in support of the FDP and Florida's Democratic candidates!
Below are a couple of good letters to the editor this week. Remember, if we stay quiet and don’t speak out, we become complacent. PLEASE write a letter to the editor and speak up. If you would like to write a letter to the editor to respond to any of these letters, you can submit your letter here: https://static.tcpalm.com/forms/?wid=q1jkscld1v7h87e
Florida Legislature passed harmful and shameful bills and mandates this year
In “Jaws 2,” when the residents thought it was safe to go back into the water, it wasn’t, because another killer shark was lurking. Florida’s “Jaws 2” comes in the form of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his school of sharks, the Florida Republican-led legislators.
Just when we thought our rights were safe from further restrictions from DeSantis and his cronies, because the legislative session was over, DeSantis called for a special session.
The purpose of this special session is clear: first, to approve the voter redistricting map created by DeSantis, which will lessen the number of seats held by African Americans, help ensure his re-election for governor and bid for the presidency; and second, punish Disney for picking a fight with “the wrong guy” (DeSantis’ words) by stripping Disney of its special self-regulating privileges of its property because Disney’s CEO had the courage to criticize one of DeSantis’ pet bills, the “Parental Rights in Education Act," or, more accurately, the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.”
It’s important to recap the hateful, harmful and shameful bills and mandates DeSantis and the Republican legislators passed this session: whitewashing of America’s history surrounding slavery by stripping down curriculum and banning books (including math books!), restricting voting rights by reducing voting sites, limiting mail-in voting procedures and redistricting voter maps, banning mask mandates, muzzling teachers’ discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ issues, limiting women’s rights and access to abortion, and who knows what other “Goofy” bills will sneak in during this special session.
During this legislative session, our state legislators did not deal with the real issues critical to Florida’s public safety, health, economy and waters; rather, they pandered to DeSantis’ needs. If this is a harbinger of legislative sessions to come, it may never be safe to go back into the water.
Kathryn Edwards, Palm City
The GOP’s double standards permeate many aspects of life
When a baker in Colorado refused to make a wedding cake for the gay couple, the gay couple sued. The Republicans’ position was that a private business should be allowed to operate as they see fit, and as a private business have a right to reject the gay couple’s business.
For 100 years the Republican Party’s mantra has been let business run their business as they see fit.
Now when Twitter, a private company, is running their business as they see fit, the Republicans scream foul. So the baker can shun gay couples, but Twitter cannot shun conservatives.
Republicans say citizens have the right to make their own medical decisions when it comes to fighting the virus, but when it comes to your pregnancy the government shall make the decisions. Whether a woman chooses to have an abortion or not does not affect my health or life. A person positive with the virus who refuses to wear a mask and breathes on me is a threat to my life.
The Founding Fathers had two bedrock nonnegotiable principles — everyone votes and religion and government shall never mix. The current Republican Party is waging war on both.
