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ACTION ALERT

"CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY" will allow MORE GUNS in the wrong hands in Florida.

UPDATE: HB 543 ([link removed]) & SB 150 ([link removed]) Florida Permitless Carry

The bill to allow “Concealed Carry of Weapons and Firearms Without a License” passed its first House committee last Tuesday and final hearing in the House Judiciary Committee was on Tuesday 2/21/23. The Senate companion bill, SB 150 had its first hearing in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Monday 2/20/23.

[link removed]


** Take Action
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** Tell the FL Senate President not to bring forward Permitless Carry.
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Click to Email FL Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and tell her not to bring forward this dangerous bill in the 2023 legislative session. Click to send your email HERE ([link removed])

Call Ron DeSantis and tell him permitless carry is a terrible idea.

English 347-868-6798

Spanish 415-236-2997


** Are you a FL gun owner? Tallahassee needs to hear your voice!
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** Use this email/contact list ([link removed]) to let lawmakers know that as a responsible, concerned gun owner, you support legislation to prevent gun violence. But you don’t support endangering public safety. This is why you are asking them to oppose HB 543 & SB 150. This dangerous bill would allow people to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public without any training, regulations or standards whatsoever.
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Democrats of Indian River


Democratic Women's Club

Friday, February 24, 2023

The DWC Book Group will meet 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Brackett Library on the IRSC Mueller campus and discuss “Braiding
Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of
Plants” by Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer

Saturday March 11, 2023

The DWC Luncheon at 11:30am at the Bent Pine Clubhouse. Kristin Azari of Moms Demand Action will speak on
Gun Violence and Gun Control. Please RSVP to Julie Barone with your meal choice at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or (718) 916-0682. Choose: Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado, Plantain Crusted Chicken Breast or Vegetarian Plate.

Democratic Club

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Democratic Club monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the Irish American Club. Annual Board election will be held, and we still need another officer to fill our slate of candidates. Contact Clay Wild at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or Claudia Martino at [email protected] ([link removed]) .

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NOTICE: Democrats of Indian River Office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. You can always reach us at (772) 226-5267 and at [email protected]

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Paper version of our weekly newsletter is now available in the office and in all Indian River County public libraries.
FEATURED VOLUNTEER

Anne Bert is an office volunteer who is generously sharing her expertise in communications, non-profit development and planning fundraising events. Anne is a welcome addition to our team of Proud Democrat Volunteers!

THANK YOU ANNE!

Proud Democrats Merchandise

Artisan Glass Plates $12 (small) $15 (large)
Artisan Glass Pendants $12
T-Shirts $20
Tank Tops $15
Hat $12
Mug $10
Dog Bandana $5
Stainless Bottle $15

Available in the Democrats' office Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.


CALENDAR

Monday, February 27, 2023

6:00 p.m. - SDIRC School Board Meeting 6500 57th St, 32967

Speakers must arrive early to sign up with receptionist.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR



New College alum: DeSantis playing with fire ants



Ron DeSantis has declared war on Sarasota's tiny New College of Florida, packing the school's board of trustees with loyalists who will march in lockstep with the governor's ideological agenda.

In their first exercise of power, they fired New College's president without even a pretense of cause. (This move appeared to have been planned in advance by the new board members, despite Florida's Sunshine Law.)

Why is DeSantis targeting New College? It's all part of his crusade against "wokeness." What does this buzzword mean? When put on the spot, one of his lawyers defined it as "the belief that there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them." Scary stuff!

New College has been supported by generations of Florida politicians (including conservative Republicans such as state Sen. Bob Johnson), who didn't let the school's alternative culture distract them from its record of educational excellence and innovation.

For me, as a home-schooled student who grew up in Vero Beach and took dual-enrollment classes at Indian River State College, New College offered the ideal continuation of my educational journey. The experience I had there launched me on a successful career, but more importantly, it made me a better person ― more compassionate, more engaged, more aware of the world. Isn't that what college should do?

The idea that New College is some kind of left-wing indoctrination camp is laughable. Having been involved in higher education for close to 20 years since I graduated, I have never seen an institution whose members (students and faculty) were more genuinely free-thinking ― and this, I suspect, is precisely what DeSantis fears.

Bob Johnson used to say that New College was a fire ant: small but tenacious. DeSantis and his cabal may yet discover that these fire ants can ruin their picnic.

Thomas Patteson, a native of Vero Beach, lives in Philadelphia.





DeSantis must show he's governor for all Floridians



I‘ve had enough; I can keep silent no longer. As a gay, Black, non-native Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis has made it crystal clear to me he’s the governor only for white heterosexuals.

Black Americans were diminished by his rejection of an advanced placement course on African-American studies because it mentions gay Black people. Is he not aware that gay people come in all colors? Why single out Black people? Nor do I think it’s a coincidence that most of the people arrested for committing voter fraud in Florida under his no-tolerance policy are Black.

As for the LGBTQ Community, his reaction to the Orlando Philharmonic Drag Christmas concert and his hissy fit about Disney expressing an opinion against his approach on the subject in the K–12 school system show he has no concern for these Floridians, either. Some more famous drag impersonations shown to children in my lifetime include: Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Popeye, Bluto, Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Harvey Korman, Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari, Herman Munster, John Lithgow, Flip Wilson, Dame Edna, RuPaul and Milton Berle.

I have two suggestions for the governor:

1. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO REALITY: He ran to be, and won the chance to be governor of Florida; then govern ALL Floridians, not just the ones who look and think like he does. If he can’t /won’t do that, then resign and let someone else do the job.

2. ABANDON ALL HOPE FOR A BETTER YESTERDAY: Things have been done that can’t be undone. White people overran this country, decimated the native population, then abducted Africans from their homes to become slaves in a far off land. After a long fight to win their freedom, Blacks are now demonized as being the source of many social ills.

Brian E. Cowan, Port St. Lucie

Legislature could have spent $10 million on needy Floridians, but ...



While there are several pieces of legislation passed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature during their recent special session with which I disagree, the most difficult one to swallow is their decision to spend $10 million in state taxpayer money “ … to pull undocumented migrants from anywhere in the U.S. and direct them to what Republicans call ‘sanctuary’ cities and states …” ** (Press Journal, Feb. 12) ([link removed])
.

One can only speculate how these funds could have helped Florida citizens cope with rising costs, outrageous property insurance and power rate hikes and a housing crisis (among others). Instead, the governor chooses to use our hard-earned funds to burnish his conservative credentials and carry on his culture wars so he can stay in the national spotlight until his inevitable announcement to run for president in 2024.

To quote a former president: “Sad!”

Wil Cunningham, Vero Beach

DeSantis' actions show he wants to control Floridians



Our governor has revealed himself as none other than a power-hungry authoritarian!

Under the classic guise of "freedom," he wants to eliminate the "woke" movement and books of subjects that disturb his (and others of his kind) mindsets. He seems to have a goal to create division and breed hatred, with the intent of destroying our democracy and replacing it with a different form of government: authoritarianism!

Read about the horrors of past efforts at authoritarianism before it is too late and such books are banned.

Norman Payne, Port St. Lucie

To submit your letters to the Editor, go to:

** [link removed] ([link removed])

LOCAL



A pause for Brightline


Efforts for a safer railroad

Brightline and the Florida Department of Transportation ** are investing millions in making rail crossings safer. ([link removed])
They also are seeking federal money to help pay for projects such as barriers to keep pedestrians and motorists off the tracks and from going around crossing gates.

Brightline has said its $4.5 billion project between Miami and Orlando will be completed — and passenger service will begin — this year. The railroad plans to extend its route from Orlando to Tampa. Brightline West, connecting the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas, is in the planning stage.

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast has called for a pause to the railroad's expansion through Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties to Orlando International Airport.

In a Feb. 10 letter to Amit Bose, director of the Federal Railroad Administration, Mast, R-Fort Pierce, urged the agency to halt Brightline's final checks on its higher-speed service until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation into the Feb. 8 crash. A preliminary report should be done in 30 days, according to the NTSB.

The railway has conducted 110 mph tests through Martin and St. Lucie counties and 79 mph test runs through St. Lucie and Indian River counties. It's also running 110 mph tests in northern Palm Beach County through March.

"Brightline is already known as the nation’s deadliest train," Mast, who represents the Treasure Coast and northern Palm Beach County, said in a news release. According to an Associated Press analysis dating to 2019, Brightline has the worst per-mile fatality rate of any railroad in the nation along its route between West Palm Beach and Miami.

For it part, Brightline has said the fatalities have involved pedestrians walking on the tracks and motorists trying to beat trains. None has been the fault of train engineers, it said.

"Just one day after the NTSB admitted that there are major safety concerns, two people lost their lives as a result of one of its trains," Mast said. "Something isn’t right here, and there needs to be assurances that this company is taking clear action to improve the safety of its operations before it’s allowed to come barreling through our community." Mast has long been a critic of Brightline, arguing that its expansion will risk public safety, lower property values and disrupt the way of life on the Treasure and Space coasts.

Treasure Coast officials onboard with 'pause'

Treasure Coast officials said they support Mast's effort to slow Brightline's progress until the NTSB finishes its investigation of the Feb. 8 crash.

“I’m glad he’s pushing for this,” said St. Lucie County Commission Chair Cathy Townsend, who admitted she never wanted Brightline here to begin with. She always has had safety concerns, especially in St. Lucie Village, where there are seven railroad crossings, she said.

She’s specifically worried about the line of traffic that will accumulate at the Old Dixie Highway crossing because there’s space for only one car when the crossing gates go down, Townsend said.

Traffic safety, specifically in Martin County, also has been a concern for Stuart Mayor Troy McDonald since the railroad, first called All Aboard Florida, was announced. He supports Mast’s call to pause work and evaluate safety.

“I think the congressman’s goal is a goal we should all aspire to, which is zero deaths in transportation,” McDonald said.

Safety improvements have been part of Brightline's construction in Martin County, but McDonald believes more can be done, such as fencing along the tracks beyond intersections “to seal the corridor as much as possible.”

And while Indian River County is outside Mast's congressional district, County Commission Chair Joe Earman echoed the sentiments of St. Lucie and Martin public officials.

“I don't think we're in any hurry to see Brightline come through the county,” Earman said. “So why not? If (Mast) wants an investigation, probably rightfully so.”

Safety will become a greater concern once Brightline completes its extension to Orlando and begins scheduled passenger service, he said.

Brightline has said it plans to run 32 trains daily between Miami and Orlando.

More: ** Is Brightline still 'private'? New federal grant, and support in D.C., keep raising the question ([link removed])

Olivia McKelvey, Lina Ruiz and Thomas Weber
TCPalm





STATE

DeSantis-Trump donor duel in Palm Beach

Many of his top donors will be in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend, where DeSantis has assembled about 150 donors for an exclusive retreat on the same barrier island that Trump calls home.

The summit will include policy and strategy sessions during the day and dinner, cocktails and cigars in the evening. It’s an opportunity for the GOP money class to see another side of DeSantis, who has earned a reputation for shunning donors at receptions and ducking out of events with guests still waiting for a photo.

“That’s the undertone of the whole thing,” said a Republican consultant familiar with the retreat’s planning. “He’s showing his people that he appreciates them and they’re in the tent and their voices are meaningful and impactful. I think it’s about strengthening those relationships and showing they care.”

DeSantis’ public maneuvering has increasingly drawn the ire of Trump, whose super PAC, MAGA, Inc, is hosting its first major fundraiser at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach on Thursday. In his latest criticism of his one-time ally, Trump said Florida “was doing great long before” DeSantis became governor, while praising the leadership of former governors Rick Scott and Charlie Crist. Beyond his public attacks, Trump has privately expressed annoyance to allies about DeSantis’ 2024 ambitions as recently as this weekend, a source told CNN.

Trump’s remarks come on the heels of the warm reception DeSantis received from law enforcement during his three-stop tour through Democratic turf on Monday. DeSantis was ostensibly on the road to make a sales pitch for police to move to Florida and tout his tough-on-crime policies, but it was clear that those in the crowds were already seizing up the Florida governor as a possible alternative to Trump.

At DeSantis’ stop in Elmhurst, Illinois, Joe McGraw, an Illinois circuit court judge, said DeSantis was “electric” and that it was “pretty much unanimous” among attendees that DeSantis should seek the GOP presidential nomination.

Bob Kopp, a 71-year-old pastor and police chaplain, said he liked Trump’s record, voted for him twice and would vote for him again – but also called the former president “an insufferable narcissist.”

“It was so nice to hear someone reflect American values in a hopeful, positive – it wasn’t really demeaning of anybody,” he said of DeSantis. “He spoke of positive principles and values, and didn’t get into personalities and demeaning.”

DeSantis’ arrival in New York City put the governor in the heart of Trump’s turf in his former home – Staten Island, the only of the five New York boroughs that Trump won in 2020. DeSantis spoke to police officers for 20 minutes and stopped for bagels, where he posed for photos and ** reportedly ([link removed])
shrugged off questions about his political ambitions.

“People can see with their own eyes that things are going well in Florida, so I’m not surprised that his message is resonating. If and when he decides to get in he’ll have to convince people that his vision is best for America,” said New York City councilman Joe Borelli, who met with DeSantis during the visit. “I think it’s going to be a tough choice for Republicans. We’re glad he came, and maybe dipped his foot in the water here, but we certainly welcome a visit from the former president and anyone else.”

Kristen Holmes and Eric Bradner
CNN

FEDERAL

DeSantis gets 7-figure checks from top GOP donors as he soft launches presidential campaign


As Florida Gov. ** Ron DeSantis ([link removed])
intensifies his preparation for a White House bid, several of the wealthiest and most prolific Republican donors are already giving him a major financial boost.

Trader and investor Jeffrey Yass donated $2.5 million to DeSantis’ state political committee on February 7, according to online records maintained by the organization, Friends of Ron DeSantis. And Jude and Christopher Reyes, the billionaire brothers behind one of the country’s largest beer and food distributors, each gave DeSantis’ committee $1 million last week as well.

The seven-figure checks arrived ahead of what has amounted to a late-February soft launch of DeSantis’ highly anticipated run for president. On Monday, DeSantis held campaign-style rallies with police officers in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, where he regaled the crowds with stories of the culture wars. Ahead of a potential GOP primary clash with Donald Trump, DeSantis will next host a three-day retreat for donors this weekend in Trump’s neighborhood. And his memoir, “The Courage to Be Free,” drops next Tuesday, with plans for a national book tour and events scheduled with GOP activists in Texas, California and Alabama.

This cascade of activity is the clearest sign yet that DeSantis intends to jump into the Republican primary, though he’s in no rush to do so. Even as Trump channels his energy at derailing DeSantis, the Florida governor is sticking to plans to wait on a formal announcement until May or June, after state lawmakers hold their annual legislative session, according to sources close to the governor. DeSantis seemed to confirm the timeline during a Monday appearance on Fox & Friends.

“We’re going to sell some books. We’re going to spread the message of Florida. And then on March 8, I have our legislative session that’s kicking off,” DeSantis said. “As we get beyond that, then we decide from there.”

“Wouldn’t you guys like to have that announcement on ‘Fox & Friends’?” he later teased.

The continued financial support from wealthy donors – achieved without actually declaring himself a candidate – explains, in part, why DeSantis is content to remain on the sidelines. In addition to the $4.5 million from Yass and the Reyes brothers, DeSantis’ political committee has more than $71 million left over from last year’s reelection effort, when he shattered fundraising records en route to a lopsided 19-point victory in the Sunshine State. CNN reached out to Yass and the Reyes brothers through their respective businesses to inquire about their donations to DeSantis’ political committee, but they did not respond.

DeSantis’ cash on hand would put him on nearly equal footing with Trump, who had more than $81 million stockpiled across five committees when campaign finance figures were last reported in January, and far ahead of any other competitor trying to usurp the former president for the party’s 2024 GOP nomination. It remains to be seen how DeSantis’ political operation will move his reserve cash, which is parked in a state political committee, into a federal super PAC that could support his presidential campaign without violating campaign finance laws, however; ** CNN previously ([link removed])
reported that is ultimately the goal. A source close to DeSantis’ political team confirmed a recent report from Puck that Phil Cox, a veteran GOP operative and a top adviser to DeSantis’ 2020 campaign, is in the process of recruiting a team to helm that effort. Cox previously ran the super PAC tied to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s 2016 presidential campaign.

A spokesman for DeSantis’ political operation declined to comment on plans for the money left over from the 2022 election. Friends of Ron DeSantis received about $670,000 in contributions in December and January, according to state records.

The early support from the upper echelon of GOP mega donors – many of whom have been shopping for an alternative to Trump – could also make it difficult for other would-be contenders to launch a viable bid for the nomination.

Yass, the world’s 42nd richest person with an estimated wealth of $30 billion according to Forbes, made his presence felt during the midterms, donating more than $55 million to Republican causes in federal campaigns. That doesn’t include the millions Yass spent in his home state of Pennsylvania ahead of the primary for governor there last year, trying to boost Bill McSwain over the far-right election denier Doug Mastriano. Mastriano ultimately won the GOP nomination with Trump’s support but lost the general election to Democrat Josh Shapiro.

The only donors to spend more money than Yass during the last cycle – billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin and Wisconsin shipping magnates Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein – have also supported DeSantis in the past. The Uihleins donated just under $2 million to the Republican’s two gubernatorial campaigns. Griffin, who has vocally called for the GOP to move on from Trump, has twice cut DeSantis’ committee checks for $5 million and has already expressed interest in supporting him in the presidential primary.

En route to raising $213 million for his reelection, the most ever by a non-self-funded gubernatorial candidate, DeSantis collected nearly 300 donations of six figures or higher.

By ** Steve Contorno ([link removed])
, CNN


VIDEO of the WEEK

Kevin McCarthy mouth transplant

** [link removed] ([link removed])





Office Hours

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2345 14^th Ave. Suite 7
Vero Beach 32960

(772) 226-5267

[email protected]


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