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Traffic Shift Along John Young Parkway in Orlando

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During the week of April 22, a traffic pattern change is expected on State Road (S.R.) 423/John Young Parkway between S.R. 50/West Colonial Drive and Shader Road. The work is part of the department’s widening project.

The traffic shift will affect northbound traffic. Initially, traffic between Technology Drive and Silver Star Road will be shifted west onto the existing southbound lanes. Once past Silver Star Road, northbound traffic will move back east onto the newly constructed temporary pavement until it transitions back to the existing configuration at Shader Road.

Electronic message boards and other signage will be used to direct traffic. Motorists are asked to be prepared for the changes and exercise extra caution when driving through the work zone.

Please note construction schedules may change due to weather or other circumstances. Electronic message boards will be used to alert motorists to lane closures and detours. Updates will be available on the FDOT’s Central Florida website CFLRoads.com.

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT Communications Office at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].

Gov. Scott: Florida Businesses Created More Than One and a Half Million Jobs Since December 2010

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Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida businesses have created more than 1.5 million jobs since December 2010, including 12,500 private-sector jobs in March and more than 167,000 in the past year. Governor Scott made the announcement at VOXX International in Orlando, which moved its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to Orlando in 2015.

Governor Scott said, “When I took office, I made it my number one mission to make Florida the best place in the world for job creation. I’m proud to announce today that Florida has achieved another incredible milestone – 1.5 million private-sector jobs have been created since December 2010. This incredible turnaround should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the country. If you cut taxes, eliminate burdensome regulation and invest in the priorities that matter most to families, like education, job creators respond by growing and creating jobs. Congratulations to every business who has chosen Florida as the best place to create jobs.”

Florida’s annual job growth rate of 2.3 percent continues to exceed the nation’s rate of 1.8 percent. Florida’s annual job growth rate has outpaced the nation for 71 of the past 72 months. The only month in which Florida did not exceed the nation was a result of Hurricane Irma.

As of March, Florida’s unemployment rate remains low at 3.9 percent, a drop of 6.9 percentage points since December 2010; this drop is faster than the national decline of 5.2 percentage points. In the past year, 132,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 1.3 percent, which is greater than the national labor force growth rate of 1.0 percent.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Since December 2010, businesses have created more than 1.5 million jobs for Floridians and their families. This tremendous growth demonstrates Florida businesses’ confidence in our economy and our talented workforce.”

Other positive economic indicators include:

  • Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-year were:
    • Professional and business services with 38,100 new jobs;
    • Leisure and hospitality with 32,300 new jobs;
    • Construction with 31,600 new jobs;
    • Education and health services with 21,200 new jobs; and
    • Financial activities with 15,600 new jobs.
  • Florida job postings showed 255,327 openings in March 2018.

To view the March 2018 employment data, click here.

PSC Declaratory Statement Allows Residential Solar Equipment Leases

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today issued a declaratory statement that affirms Sunrun, Inc. can offer residential solar equipment leases in Florida. After reviewing Sunrun’s draft lease agreement, Commissioners determined that Sunrun’s 20-year solar equipment lease is not a retail sale of electricity.

PSC rules have long allowed leasing of renewable energy equipment, but the lease terms cannot be structured to, in effect, sell electricity to the customer. Commissioners originally considered Sunrun’s petition at the March 1 Commission Conference, but requested to evaluate its lease agreement before making a decision. Sunrun filed its draft lease on March 20.

Today, Commissioners agreed that Sunrun’s lease conforms to its petition by offering customers fixed payments independent of electric production. As a result, Sunrun will be allowed to lease rooftop solar equipment to homeowners without being considered a public utility under the Commission’s jurisdiction. Homeowners can lease equipment to generate electricity for personal use and also benefit from interconnection and net metering with their local utility.

“Residential equipment leasing makes solar more attractive for some customers, and today’s decision confirms that Florida’s ratepayers have that option,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham.

In its declaratory statement, the PSC found today that:

  • Sunrun’s residential solar equipment lease does not constitute a sale of electricity;
  • Offering its solar equipment lease to customers in Florida will not cause Sunrun to be a public utility under Florida law; and
  • The residential solar equipment lease will not subject Sunrun or its customer-lessees to Commission regulation.

Located in Tampa, Sunrun is the nation’s largest dedicated residential solar storage and energy services company.

Thirty-Four Florida Students Earn National Merit Scholarships

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This week, Commissioner Stewart commended the 34 Florida students who were honored as National Merit Scholarship recipients. The awards, funded by approximately 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations, recognize students who have excelled academically and demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities.

“This announcement highlights the fact that hard work truly does pay off, and I applaud these students on this tremendous accomplishment,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “In Florida, we are proud to offer students a high-quality education that prepares them to succeed in college, career and throughout their lives. I appreciate the scholarship’s sponsors for recognizing the importance of investing in our students’ futures and making it even more affordable for these students to pursue postsecondary education in Florida.”

Most National Merit corporate-sponsored scholarships are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends ranging from $500 to $10,000 per year, while some provide a single award amount between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their award at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship Award, students must fulfill several requirements, including a detailed application that incorporates the student’s academic record throughout high school, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities and honors and awards received. The student must also be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn an SAT score that confirms their earlier high performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students are selected based on exceptional skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a not-for-profit organization established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The scholarships honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.

The list of Florida’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists can be found HERE.

For more information about the program, visit National Merit Scholarship Program.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.

League of Women Voters of Florida Welcomes New President

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The League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) today announced the installation of veteran state board member and Orange County league leader Patricia “Patti” Brigham as the organization’s new state president. Outgoing president Pamela Goodman will pass the gavel to Brigham at the meeting of the state board on Saturday.
Goodman has presided over three years of unprecedented growth in membership and expansion of league engagement in voter education and advocacy. Her term capped 13 years serving in voluntary leadership positions at local, state and national levels. She is resigning from league leadership to pursue a new professional opportunity. As executive director of Ruth’s List, she will be working to encourage more women to run for public office in Florida.
“Our strong board of directors and our leadership succession plan allows this organization to seamlessly continue its mission under the new leadership of Patti Brigham,” Goodman said. “Our members are the lifeblood of this organization and I am confident their passion, commitment and professionalism will continue to make LWVFL a powerful force for Florida’s voters and our future.”
A proven national and Florida grassroots leader and coalition builder, Brigham joined the LWVFL state board in 2015 and moved into the position of first vice president in 2016. After joining the League of Women Voters of Orange County (LWVOC) in 2013 Patti quickly assumed leadership duties, serving on the Membership Committee and working with young League members to organize and host “Speak Easy with the League” events. In 2014 she formed the LWVOC Gun Safety Action team which was later adopted statewide. That same year she was appointed to the LWVOC Board of Directors and served for two years. In 2016, in the days following the mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Patti partnered with Goodman to form the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence which now includes more than 100 organizational partners.
“This is an exciting time for the League with the growth we’re experiencing and so many young people eager to be ready to vote,” Brigham said. “I hope to carry forward Pam’s many accomplishments and build on them.”
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. League has never endorsed a candidate or a political party in its 98 year history. Voting rights, voter registration, and election reform are consistent priorities of the organization. Other current issues include Education, Healthcare, Natural Resources and Solar Energy expansion, Gun Safety and Juvenile Justice. LWV Florida has experienced an 80 percent growth in membership in the last 3 years and is now the second largest league in the country. Florida touts the largest local leagues in the country with Palm Beach County, Orange County, and St. Petersburg leading the way. The League is represented in 30 counties throughout Florida.
“Election years are when the League becomes particularly vital to voters to help them make informed choices,” Brigham added. “I’m ready and excited for the challenge!”
To learn more and find your local chapter, visit lwvfl.org.

UNF’s CAMP Osprey Leadership Mentoring Awards Feature Leadership Guru Drew Dudley

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The University of North Florida’s Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management along with the Taylor Leadership Institute will host the Collegiate Achievement Mentoring Program (CAMP) Osprey Leadership Mentoring Awards, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at the Student Union, Building 58W, Ballroom, Room 3703.

The ceremony will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the CAMP program which has impacted more than 1,500 students and trained over 500 collegiate mentors. Drew Dudley, Ted Talks speaker, author and founder of Day One Leadership, will be the inspirational keynote speaker. Jonathan Catherman, best-selling author of “The Manual to Middle School” will also provide advice to students on achieving their full potential.

“This event serves to honor the work of the amazing leaders who have helped to create CAMP Osprey,” said Dr. Matthew Ohlson, program director and assistant professor of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management. “We want to model our mission of ‘leaders can change the world, one person at a time’ by allowing every participant the opportunity to enhance their own leadership skills and be a force for positive advancement in their schools and communities.”

The ceremony will honor three student mentors from the CAMP Osprey program, junior Nicholas Marchese, sophomore Casey Estes and senior Diandra Thompson. Three community leaders will also be recognized, including Tenikka Hughes, Emmy-nominated Action News journalist; Dr. Bruce Taylor, former UNF Board of Trustees chairperson and co-founder of the Taylor Leadership Institute; and Lt. General Rick Tryon, Taylor Leadership Institute director. Francesca Enea-Bruey and Jason Watkins, two former mentors who helped to get the initial program off the ground, will also be honored.

Marchese is a student-athlete who received the Jeffrey Dow Leadership Award for his commitment to service as a leadership mentor working with high-poverty students from Putnam County. Estes is a student-athlete who served as a mentor at Tiger Academy in Jacksonville’s Northside and exemplified service leadership by helping a group of high-needs girls increase confidence as well as leadership skills. Thompson is a communications major who created her own expanded mentoring model for female students within the culturally diverse River City Science Academy.

Hughes will be honored with the Community Engagement Award for her passion in promoting education and for making a positive impact on local youth. For their exceptional commitment to creating leaders at the University and in the community, Taylor will be honored with the Leadership Legacy Award, while Lt. Tryon will receive the Leadership Catalyst Award. Students and community partners from Flagler County schools, Putnam County schools and River City Science Academy will also be honored.

Admission is free with a children’s book donation to Tenikka’s Books for Kids drive to benefit the Jacksonville Public Library’s summer learning programs. Ticket and sponsorship packages are available on the CAMP Osprey website. Contact Ohlson for event questions at (904) 620-5271.

In 2008, the CAMP program began pairing collegiate students with high-needs children as CAMP Gator at the University of Florida. The hallmark of the program is effective leadership development that increases student achievement, confidence and leadership abilities.

The program moved to UNF as CAMP Osprey in 2015 and has expanded to nine schools in three states utilizing face-to-face and virtual mentoring. CAMP Osprey has been supported through generous grants from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Deerwood Rotary, the Cummer Foundation, Clay Electric and Florida Blue.

Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement on Gilchrist County Deputies Killed in Line of Duty

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement regarding the two Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who were killed in the line of duty this afternoon.

“This heinous and senseless act of violence has claimed the lives of two of our state’s heroes. The deputies killed today will forever be remembered for their courageous and selfless dedication to protecting others. My prayers are with the family and loved ones of the fallen deputies, as well as the entire law enforcement community, during this tremendous time of grief.”

Gov. Rick Scott Statement on Shooting of Gilchrist County Deputy Sheriffs

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Governor Rick Scott made the following statement this evening regarding this afternoon’s shooting in Gilchrist County that resulted in the loss of two Gilchrist County Deputy Sheriffs.

Governor Rick Scott said, “My wife, Ann, and I are heartbroken by the loss of two law enforcement officers in Trenton. I have spoken with the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office and committed all available state resources they may need. I have also been briefed by FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen who has officers on the scene. It is true evil for anyone to hurt a law enforcement officer, and in Florida, we have zero tolerance for violence, especially against the police. Tonight, I ask every Floridian to honor these law enforcement officers, their brothers and sisters in uniform and their families. May God bless those who work to keep our communities safe.”

Congressional Members Blast AAF/Brightline During Hearing on PABs

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Congressmen Mast and Posey play important role on behalf of Floridians

Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations today grilled the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Grover Burthey and Patrick Goddard, President and COO of All Aboard Florida, regarding the use of Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for the All Aboard Florida project. The hearing, chaired by Congressman Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina), was attended by Congressman Brian Mast (R-Palm City) and Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge).

Testimony was also heard from Dylan Reingold, Indian River County Attorney, Bob Crandall, CARE FL Steering Committee Member and former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines and Dan Wouters, Division Chief Martin County Fire Rescue. The Treasure Coast witnesses addressed a number of concerns, including the legality of the PAB allocation to All Aboard Florida, the unfunded mandate the project places on local communities and serious public safety concerns.

In his opening statement, AAF’s Goddard sought to dismiss the legitimate concerns of Martin County, Indian River County and CARE FL by referring to them as “a minority of narrow-minded residents of two counties on our corridor.” He also referred to them as a “small group of obstructionists.” Chairman Meadows quickly took issue with Goddard’s tone and description of the project’s opponents, advising him to keep personalities out of the conversation since it would not help his case.

The review of the PABs was made at the request of Congressman Brian Mast in a letter to Chairman Meadows.  In requesting the hearing, Congressman Mast stated, “Brightline is continuing their deceptive business practices, seeking public financing for this expansion by claiming that their passenger rail train is actually a ‘highway’ because they fail to qualify for public financing under the statutory definition of high-speed rail.”

During the two-hour hearing the Chairman and members asked a number of questions about how AAF qualified to receive PABs under the federal statute governing the program. AAF recently received two PAB allocations, $600,0000 for Phase I and $1.15 billion for Phase II.

In an exchange with DOT’s Burthey, Chairman Meadows challenged the agency’s interpretation that AAF qualifies as a highway for the purpose of receiving PABs. He noted it was not the intent of Congress for the statute to be applied so broadly and added that maybe it was time to change the law.

CARE FL Steering Committee Member and former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines Bob Crandall stated that, “In recent years, there have been several attempts by which the Obama Administration or individual members of congress have proposed to amend the statute to include passenger rail projects that do not meet the current high-speed definition. None of those proposals were ever enacted, but the fact that they were proposed is a clear admission that the authority does not exist.”

The use of taxpayer subsidies also became a topic of discussion during today’s hearing. Despite years of public comments by AAF, which has repeatedly stated that it is a privately funded rail project, today under oath, and after being pressed by Congressman Mast, AAF’s Goddard admitted, “There has been public funding granted to the corridor.”

Chairman Meadows questioned AAF’s Goddard and the company’s decision to pursue PABs rather than private funding. Chairman Meadows proclaimed that, “There is a benefit to your company that comes at the expense of the American taxpayer, is there not?” Goddard admitted that there is a deferral of taxes to investors, and added that the reason they were interested in a “financial instrument such as PABs is, it’s a cheaper cost of money, it’s a less expensive cost of money.”

The hearing also focused on the financial burden AAF is imposing on counties that will have to pay for the costs of maintaining the necessary safety improvements in perpetuity.

In his testimony, Indian River County Attorney Reingold stated that, “An initial calculation performed by Indian River County estimates that these long-term maintenance costs will be $8.2 million through 2030 for our community alone – a significant sum for our small county.”

Chairman Meadows then questioned why AAF expects the counties in which there is no stop to bear the burden of safety costs. He asked, “If you are going to do railroad crossings and you are going to ask them to maintain something that they don’t get a benefit from, do you not see a problem with that?”

Goddard responded by saying, “I can see how… potentially…”

Chief Dan Wouters, Division Chief Martin County Fire Rescue focused his testimony on public safety. He highlighted that Martin County has 27 at-grade road crossings, and that Indian River County has 31 at-grade crossings within the corridor.

He went on to express concerns that the significant increase in the number and speed of passenger and freight trains will impact public safety because it will increase delays for fire rescue calls. In addition, Chief Wouters also highlighted the fatality and injury track record along the rail corridor and stated, “If 32 high-speed passenger trains and 20 faster freight trains are added to these tracks, statistically these fatality and injury figures will increase.”

Also attending the congressional hearing were Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne), Rep. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), Rep. MaryLynn Magar (R-Tequesta) and Brent Hanlon, Chairman of CARE FL.

Attorney General Bondi’s Statement on Two Gilchrist County Deputies Killed in the Line of Duty

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Attorney General Pam Bondi today released the following statement regarding the death of two Gilchrist County Sheriff’s deputies:

“My heart breaks with the tragic news of two Gilchrist County deputies that were senselessly killed today while in the line of duty. The daily risk that law enforcement officers take to protect our communities is overwhelming. My deepest condolences and prayers are with their families as they mourn the devastating loss of their loved ones. May their families, friends and fellow officers find peace and comfort during this very difficult time.”