Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator William “Brock” Long urging FEMA to reconsider an upcoming vendor transition that could delay the processing of federal flood claims in Florida. CFO Patronis asked FEMA officials to release a transition plan that ensures no pending claims face delays or to consider delaying the transition until the end of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
CFO Patronis said, “…I am concerned that an upcoming vendor transition within a critical federal program may present a roadblock to Florida’s current progress. It is my understanding that the National Federal Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will soon transition to a new policy management vendor, a move that is set to impact more than 600,000 policyholders. Many of these 600,000 policyholders reside in Florida, and I fear that Floridians may be forced to bear costly consequences caused by this change. With an estimated 18,000 damage claims resulting from Hurricanes Irma, Maria and Harvey currently pending, scheduled changes to claims processing and payment procedures stand to create delays and potentially derail Florida families from getting back to normal life during these high-stress times.”
To read the CFO’s full letter, click here.
Featured
DCF Issues Updates on Federal Disaster Food Assistance Program
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) today issued updates on the federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) operations in Florida. DCF continues to operate federal DSNAP and since September 27, has served individuals in 34 counties. DCF has processed more than 625,000 DSNAP applications that meet the federal requirements and more than $873 million in federal food assistance has been distributed between DSNAP and SNAP supplements across Florida. This will help more than 6.7 million Floridians through SNAP and DSNAP as they continue to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Irma.
“We are grateful for our local partnerships that have been essential in facilitating successful federal DSNAP operations across the state. Today, as operations continue in Palm Beach and Polk counties, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Lakeland Police Department have been exemplary partners in providing a safe and orderly environment for DCF to conduct the federal DSNAP program in their communities. Our law enforcement partners in these communities are working hard alongside us to ensure the citizens of their counties get the help they need,” said DCF Secretary Mike Carroll. “I am also very proud of the thousands of DCF personnel and those we’ve brought on temporarily to assist who are working very long hours to serve their communities and neighbors by administering this much needed federal aid.”
Public safety is paramount and is DCF’s first priority as we operate assistance sites throughout the state. DCF will continue to follow the direction of local law enforcement in every community to ensure the safety of those we are committed to serving. DCF defers to local law enforcement for all determinations related to traffic or public safety issues.
DCF has aggressively pursued actions to ensure operations are as expeditious, safe, and efficient as possible. Following the conclusion of the Food for Florida program statewide, DCF will conduct a thorough after action review of all operations.
State actions taken, local information, and important reminders are below.
- DCF submitted the first request for disaster food assistance to the federal government on September 13, just three days after Hurricane Irma’s first impact to Florida.
- DCF sent a letter to the USDA on October 17 to request additional flexibility and resources in administering the federal DSNAP program in Florida.
- Operations in several large counties have already concluded and successfully provided assistance to thousands of residents, including:
- Hillsborough – 207,674 individuals issued benefits
- Duval – 184,827 individuals issued benefits
- Lucie – 129,482 individuals issued benefits
- Osceola – 125,910 individuals issued benefits
- Brevard – 121,185 individuals issued benefits
- Volusia – 116,215 individuals issued benefits
- Pinellas – 108,546 individuals issued benefits
- Statewide data on DSNAP by county as of October 17 is available here.
- Deployed 110 DCF staff from Miami to assist with operations at two Palm Beach County sites
- Assigned 750 staff at headquarters to support processing of applications
- Deployed more than 6,000 staff to assist in operations and administration of this federal program, including nearly 1,500 temporary workers, to Food for Florida sites to process applications
- Deployed staff from the panhandle to support operations in affected counties
- Extended operating hours at the three Palm Beach County sites to 7:00 p.m. each day
- The ACCESS Call Center hours have been increased to help serve more people during the day for the duration of the DSNAP program to 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
- Welcomed Pasco County residents for service in Polk County yesterday and today
- Requested additional days to serve Miami-Dade County past the standard seven-day limit
- Hired traffic control companies to aid with parking and traffic control
- Special accommodations are available for the elderly and disabled. Onsite staff are working to monitor the population of those in lines to assist elderly and disabled residents to the front of the line. Those who need these accommodations should find staff to inquire about expedited service.
- Shuttled staff from remote locations to allow for more onsite parking
- Additional sites will open in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Marion counties to continue to serve residents in these areas. Details will be announced at www.myflfamilies.com/fff as soon as possible.
- Every site is distributing bottled water to individuals.
- DCF takes the responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer money very seriously and investigates all instances of potential fraud. DCF’s Public Benefits Integrity (PBI) program has investigators on-site at each FFF location to review potentially fraudulent applicants and conduct investigations for profiles flagged as fraud-prone. PBI investigators are also monitoring social media sites for fraudulent sales of food assistance. Individuals who are found guilty of submitting false information on their application for D-SNAP benefits are subject to criminal prosecution and will be required to pay the money back. PBI on-site staff reviewed 21,190 D-SNAP applications as of October 17 and have avoided issuing more than $5.2 million in fraudulent benefits.
In addition to DSNAP, DCF applied for federal food assistance program waivers and provided:
- Early release of food assistance benefits prior to Hurricane Irma making landfall to help families prepare
- Hot Foods Waiver, and a subsequent extension, to allow families to purchase prepared food with their EBT cards at participating retailers
- Extended the time frame to report food loss from 10 to 20 days
- Mass food assistance replacement benefits for September to SNAP recipients in 52 counties effected by Hurricane Irma
- Extended October SNAP recertification deadlines for three months
Lake City woman claims top prize in LUCKY $200,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE Scratch-Off game
Wendy Holmes poses with her oversized check after claiming a top
prize in the LUCKY $200,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery today announced that Wendy Holmes, 46, of Lake City, claimed a top prize in the LUCKY $200,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE Scratch-Off game at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $3,202,017.41.
“All of this feels so unreal to me! I had to check my ticket several times to make sure it was a real winner,” said Wendy. “I’m so excited, but I’m still in shock. I can’t believe that I won all this money.”
Holmes purchased her winning Scratch-Off ticket at Stop N’ Go Food Store, located at 1263 U.S. Highway 90 West in Lake City. The retailer will receive an $8,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $20 Scratch-Off game, LUCKY $200,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE, launched in January 2010, and features more than $450 million in total prizes. The game’s overall odds are one-in- 2.94.
Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.
ICUF Offer Assistance to Students in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
ICUF affiliated schools offering tuition and housing
assistance to students displaced by recent hurricanes
The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) today announced many of its affiliated schools are offering tuition assistance, expedited admissions, fee waivers and scholarships to students who have left Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The efforts came in the wake of devastating losses in the Caribbean due to Hurricane Maria. Additionally, the student bodies of many ICUF affiliated schools have participated in on-campus and community based relief efforts to send desperately needed supplies to the Caribbean.
Schools like St. Thomas University, Barry University, Stetson University and others are offering direct support to incoming students including free room and board, as well as books and meal plans, while other schools are bringing relief directly to the affected areas. Nova Southeastern University recently donated nearly 1,500 pounds of medical supplies to Puerto Rico. A full list of relief efforts is provided below.
“Many of our faculty, students and their families are from the areas affected by Hurricane Maria. To see our schools and students coming together to help our neighbors and families in the Caribbean has been truly remarkable,” said Dr. Ed Moore, President of ICUF. “All of the ICUF schools are committed to finding ways to bring relief to those hardest hit by the storm and working to make sure that students from these areas do not lose progress towards their degrees. With so much catastrophic damage to infrastructure, places like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will need long term solutions that I know ICUF can play a part in creating. By equipping these students with the ability to continue their education with as little interference as possible, our hope is they will be able to use the knowledge gained at our institutions to help rebuild their communities and make them stronger than before.”
Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU)
- Conducted a week-long supply drive for Puerto Rico, in collaboration with Florida Hospital and the Florida Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church; provided two pallets containing 20 boxes of food and non-food items and cases of water.
- Volunteered at a “Blessings for Puerto Rico” sorting and packing project hosted by Florida Hospital; part of a collective effort at this event that sent six 24-foot trucks of supplies to Puerto Rico.
- Engaged in relief efforts in the USVI through an ADU faculty member who assisted a team from Florida Hospital on a medical mission; also promoting a link for monetary donations.
- Discussing a framework of assistance to students from Puerto Rico and the USVI.
Barry University
- Offering expedited, flexible admissions and financial aid to affected students; current students affected will be able to file an appeal to have their financial aid re-evaluated and will not be assessed a penalty fee for late payment of fall tuition.
- Chartered a commercial airline to evacuate more than 70 students, faculty, staff, family members and pets from Barry’s St. Croix Physician Assistant program as Hurricane Maria approached; housed, fed and provided other on-campus amenities to these individuals.
- Coordinating various relief efforts, including fundraising, collection of items, volunteer/mission trips and monitoring the needs of hurricane victims.
- Reached out individually to all students from the Caribbean and offered guidance based on students’ unique needs.
Everglades University
- Providing leave-of-absence and appropriate academic interruption assistance to online students in Puerto Rico.
- Offering institutional scholarships to Puerto Rican students to assist them and welcoming and expediting transfer students from Puerto Rico.
- Collecting and shipping supplies to Puerto Rico from a drop-off location at the Everglades Boca Raton main campus.
Flagler College
- Responding to inquiries from students enrolled in institutions in Puerto Rico and the USVI related to opportunities to complete or continue their college education.
- Admissions, Financial Aid and the Registrar’s offices are making every effort to accommodate the students’ requests and to ensure that credits earned at Flagler will be transferable to the institution that will award their degrees, if Flagler College is not to be that institution.
- President Joyner also established an emergency aid fund to assist any students who needed financial support for travel or other short-term needs.
Florida Southern College
- Working with students who may have difficulty paying tuition due to storm effects; students can meet with financial aid specialists for assistance on an individualized basis.
- Several clubs and organizations have held or plan to hold fundraising activities for victims.
- A relief trip is planned for spring break if conditions permit.
- Reached out to students with Puerto Rico or USVI as country of origin to offer emotional support and counseling as needed.
Jacksonville University (JU)
- Waiving the application fee for prospective students in affected regions; the Honors deadline has been extended on a case-by-case basis for these students.
- Working individually with JU’s Puerto Rico-based Master of Fine Arts in Choreography program students to provide support and continuity in their education and programming.
- Contacted all current students from the affected areas (Puerto Rico, USVI and throughout the Caribbean) to provide support or assistance as needed, including financial aid; Student Counseling Center is offering natural disaster support group meetings.
- Its students are engaged in various projects to fundraise for and support disaster relief for hurricane victims; the College of Fine Arts will use funds raised through its three-day Fall Dance concert in November to help provide relief for residents of Puerto Rico.
Keiser University
- Offering affected students the opportunity to enroll at one of Keiser’s 19 campuses within Florida, the Nicaragua campus or through the Online Division.
- Keiser operates on a modular schedule which offers monthly enrollment in new courses and intakes (accepted) new (and transfer) students, allowing these students to not delay/interrupt their education.
- Offering Disaster Relief Scholarships to displaced students in need.
- Due to transcripts and school records possibly not being readily available to support transfers, the institution will work with these students and rely on other verification processes to determine admissibility.
Lynn University
- Offering institutional scholarships to incoming Lynn students from areas impacted by the hurricanes.
- Organized a donation drive for Hurricane Irma victims in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean Islands, with the supplies to be distributed first to the Florida Keys, and remaining items delivered to the Caribbean Islands via a Norwegian Cruise ship; volunteers also worked with Feeding South Florida to distribute meals to affected Florida Keys residents; coordinating relief volunteer trips to Naples, Florida and the Florida Keys, as conditions permit.
- Volunteered at Boca Raton’s Red Reef Park to clear hurricane trash and debris.
Reached out to all students whose families were impacted by disasters in affected areas of Florida and the Caribbean; offered support including counseling, health and financial services to affected students and employees, as needed.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
- Using a plane and carrying medical supplies and personnel provided by NSU donor Dr. Kiran Patel, NSU officials flew three relief missions, each with 500 pounds of supplies provided by the university to Puerto Rico; also organizing collection drives and donating supplies to relief organizations.
- Opened a path for graduate students who could make their way to the mainland to be accommodated and continue their studies at NSU’s Florida campuses; also adapting curricula and delivery methods to allow affected graduate students to continue their education after normalizing their living situation.
- Established an outreach program to confirm NSU students’ wellbeing and whereabouts via multiple means; launched a dedicated webpage and sending daily messages on all platforms advising of aid/support.
- Created and utilized “NSUcares,” a fundraising/volunteer channel originally established by President Hanbury, to help NSU victims of Hurricane Irma as well as aid NSU victims of Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Harvey.
Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA)
- Working with SF4PR (South Florida for Puerto Rico), which was created by an alumnus and adjunct instructor to collect needed donations.
- Holding themed donation events on campus, i.e., soliciting flashlights and batteries for “Light for Puerto Rico;” prepping donations for shipment.
- PBA has a representative on “Palm Beach County Cares,” which is gathering donations county-wide for Puerto Rico; PBA is providing volunteers for those efforts as well.
- Considering staging a relief trip to Puerto Rico.
Rollins College
- Offering a discounted transfer program for the Spring 2018 semester to degree-seeking students currently enrolled in Puerto Rican and Caribbean colleges and universities.
- Eligible, admitted students will be charged a flat fee of $8,500 for the semester, covering tuition and room and board.
- Students enrolled at Rollins for the Spring 2018 semester under this program may continue their studies at Rollins for the 2018-2019 semester with satisfactory academic performance.
- Working individually with each currently enrolled student from the affected areas to provide maximum financial and emotional support through its Offices of Financial Aid and Student and Family Care.
Saint Leo University
- Tracking all affected current students to locate them and check on wellbeing; assisting these students with continued attendance, if able, or to take temporary leave.
- Offering counseling and disaster assistance/relief to affected students; have begun disbursing relief funds.
- Offering free room and board and discounted tuition of $8,500 for the Spring 2018 semester to college students in Puerto Rico whose studies have been affected by the hurricanes; these students may continue their studies at Saint Leo with satisfactory academic performance.
Southeastern University
- Four trips planned to Puerto Rico to assist with relief efforts, starting Thanksgiving break.
- Reached out to affected students, resulting in efforts including shipping supplies to students’ families, purchasing airplane tickets for students and providing for a delayed exam schedule.
- Social Work Club and Department sponsoring a donation drive gathering essential items to send to Puerto Rico, as well as holding weekly support meetings for those with family in Puerto Rico.
- Established a fund to provide financial assistance to those impacted by the recent hurricanes.
Stetson University
- Waiving all room charges for the Spring 2018 semester to new students from the affected islands.
- Reaching out to students able to be identified who may be affected.
- Offering support such as counseling, academic support and financial assistance as needed to those students.
- Created a Hurricane Relief fund to assist students submitting financial appeals related to the hurricanes; funds are granted to students from the USVI, Puerto Rico and Florida not able to make payments for hurricane-related reasons.
St. Thomas University
- Offering free room, board and books to prospective students from the affected islands transferring in to St. Thomas; Metz providing free meal plan and Follett providing books.
- Making it possible through testing and other means for these students to continue with the current semester’s work.
- Offering 50 percent Disaster Relief Scholarships through Spring 2018; received a $250,000 gift from the Knight Foundation to support the University’s efforts to help these students, the funds of which will apply directly to scholarships.
- Offering support to sister institutions in Puerto Rico and USVI.
University of Miami (UM)
- As with Hurricane Katrina, accepting undergraduate students into classes at no tuition charge, committing to prohibit these students to transfer to UM or remain at UM once their home institutions reopen so as not to deplete future revenue from these schools when they reopen.
- Hosting faculty and graduate students from Puerto Rico and USVI institutions so they can continue their academic/scholarly endeavors and activities; providing access to UM offices, labs and resources at no cost.
- UM estimates the ability to support up to 300 such undergraduate students across its schools and disciplines at UM.
The University of Tampa
- Identified affected students and working closely with them on payment schedules for the Spring 2018 term; routinely issuing statements to targeted student groups affected by disaster.
- Ongoing support groups and one-to-one counseling for students affected by the storm.
- Vice President for Student Affairs hosting weekly lunches, supporting fundraisers and meeting with Caribbean Student Organization leadership to better understand needs and lend support.
- Holding relief/aid activities/events on campus, as well as providing information to all campus community members about ways to help.
The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) is an association of 30 private, non-profit educational institutions based in Florida and accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Serving 157,000 students at 127 sites throughout the state, ICUF offers programs at main campuses and branch campuses in communities and on state colleges. For more information, please visit www.icuf.org.
The Florida Bar Launches Public Education Program to Engage Floridians in Constitution Revision
Program Urges Florida Voters to “Revise with Caution”
With a recent survey showing that 9 of 10 Floridians are unaware of what the Constitution Revision Commission does, The Florida Bar today launched Protect Florida Democracy: Our Constitution, Our Rights, Our Courts, a statewide public education program to fill the void in Floridians’ awareness of constitution revision and engage Floridians in this critical process.
“Florida’s constitution determines how much power we the citizens give to our state government and what form that takes,” said Michael J. Higer, President of The Florida Bar. “It is therefore important that we all tune in, stay informed and educated as to any process to amend Florida’s Constitution. It is critical we stay engaged to make sure that we exercise great caution as to any proposed amendment.”
A recent independent survey by Breakthrough Research found that 8 in 10 Floridians had never even heard of the Constitution Revision Commission. Of the few who had heard of the CRC, 1 in 3 wrongly identified its role, which spurred the Bar to create the Protect Florida Democracy public education program. The survey collected responses from a representative sample of about 800 Florida voters.
While 44 percent of voters surveyed identified the Florida Constitution as “the people’s contract with their government,” the survey revealed confusion about the roles of the branches of government, with 71 percent failing to identify the executive branch as the branch that carries out and enforces laws (57 percent said judicial, 10 percent said legislative, and 4 percent said they didn’t know).
“As citizens consider the merits of proposed constitutional amendments, they should think about any unintended consequences. Maintaining the equality of our three branches of government including the judiciary is fundamental and sacrosanct. This is a bedrock principle that safeguards us all,” Higer said. “The Bar’s Protect Florida Democracy initiative is an important educational effort to help every citizen understand that the constitution should not be amended without careful thought.”
The survey does indicate that Floridians understand the importance of the separation of powers. A total of 93 percent said they consider the separation of powers very important and 96 percent expressed concern about any attempt to give one branch of government more power than another.
Kicking off the educational effort at Florida’s Historic Capitol were two historical figures — Alexander Hamilton and Frederick Douglass — to lend their perspectives, in character, about the importance of both the federal and state constitutions.
The Bar intends to engage Floridians in Protect Florida Democracy through an informational website, weekly newsletter, statewide speakers bureau and engaging social media campaign. The initiative will leverage historical figures who helped shape and protect the democratic process throughout history, featuring original line drawings of and quotations from such select “protectors of democracy” as Hamilton, Susan B. Anthony, Thurgood Marshall, Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch — noteworthy Americans who have worked to uphold foundational principles of a democratic system of government.
“The work of the Constitution Revision Commission has the potential to impact the lives of every Floridian, now and for many years to come. The Florida Bar is pleased to launch this program to inform and educate Florida’s citizens and give them a voice in what happens,” Higer said. “We urge every Floridian to get involved and participate in shaping our state government by following and participating in this once-every-20-year constitution revision process.”
Besides educating the public, the Bar also has created a special committee to provide technical legal assistance to the CRC upon request.
The CRC meets every 20 years to review and revise the Florida Constitution. It is the only method by which amendments affecting the full scope of Florida’s Constitution may be put on the General Election ballot without review by the legislative, judicial or executive branches.
The commission convened in May and traveled the state on a listening tour to hear residents’ thoughts and ideas about proposals to revise the Florida Constitution. All proposed amendments by the CRC are due to be filed by May 10, 2018. Protect Florida Democracy will remain active throughout the duration of this period, providing information and updates to Florida residents.
Protect Florida Democracy is a nonpartisan public education program by The Florida Bar, with the goal of improving knowledge about the Constitution Revision Commission among Floridians and encouraging participation and engagement in the process. Learn more at www.protectfldemocracy.org.
Senator Jack Latvala to Speak at Florida Redevelopment Association Annual Conference
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHO: Members of the media
WHAT: Sen. Latvala at the Florida Redevelopment Association’s Annual Conference
WHERE: Hilton Daytona Beach Ocean Front Resort
100 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
WHEN: Thursday, October 19, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WHY: For annual conference attendees to hear from Sen. Latvala on the upcoming legislative session, what private and public sector professionals can expect and how it will impact community redevelopment.
One of Florida’s top leaders and expected gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is set to speak during the annual conference of the Florida Redevelopment Association – a statewide organization dedicated to assisting Florida professionals and volunteers in community revitalization efforts.
Latvala’s plenary session will start at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 19, and cover the upcoming legislative session as well as discuss issues surrounding community redevelopment.
The Florida Redevelopment Association 2017 Annual Conference provides real-world solutions to the ever-changing landscape of challenges faced by agencies, organizations and businesses committed to successful redevelopment initiatives across Florida. Attendees include redevelopment professionals, elected officials and business community leaders.
For more information on the FRA or its annual conference, visit redevelopment.net.
Consumer Alert: Romance Scams
Online social platforms are everywhere, including dating websites. Unfortunately, scammers are trolling online social and dating platforms, looking to target unsuspecting victims. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation encourages Floridians to remain vigilant when navigating online social connections.
Romance scams can happen on social media networks and websites dedicated to romantic connections. Common claims by scammers, posing as online love interests, are that they would like to meet in person but cannot afford to, that they are living in another country or even that they are responsible for a sick relative. These false claims will usually lead to a request for money. If the person has a list of reasons why they cannot meet in person, especially any excuse relating to money, it may be a scam.
Below are some tips to help protect yourself from becoming a victim:
- Remain wary of online friends who ask for money or for information about your financial situation, especially unsolicited friends.
- Think twice before you post something on social media. Consider if the information could be used to help scam you.
- Don’t give out location information or personal identifying information to anyone online.
- Beware of anyone who “comes on strong,” is aggressive, or quickly asks you to move your relationship offline.
- Be extremely cautious of any investment opportunity or business venture pitched through social media or online dating platforms. Do your homework on any opportunity before committing, and make sure that the business or individual is properly licensed.
As a real-life scenario of this type of scam, in the Orlando area from 2003 through 2013, Scott Campbell used online dating websites to target single women with an investment scam. He enticed more than 30 victims into investing in his fake musical recording and talent search business with promises of a portion of his company’s future profits. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation’s investigation revealed that Campbell spent most of the $1 million collected from his victims on gambling and personal living expenses. In February 2015, Campbell was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of probation.
If you are a victim of a romance scam, please file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you feel that you may be a victim of investment fraud or to report suspicious activity, please file a complaint with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation online, www.flofr.com, or call (850) 487-9687.
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation offers an online Consumer Knowledge Center, where Floridians can learn more about how to spot potential scams.
Coral Springs Man Arrested for Human Trafficking
Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force today announced the arrest of Robert Atlee Miner V for human trafficking multiple victims. According to the investigation, Miner, 27, recruited and exploited young women since January 2015 through sex trafficking for personal profit.
“The defendant is charged with preying on women and, in some cases, using violence to force them into sex trafficking; all while depositing large amounts of cash into his bank account,” said Attorney General Bondi. “The facts of this case are appalling—that anyone is charged with forcing another human being into the sex trade.”
Miner allegedly recruited victims using online advertisements seeking to hire young women to work as dancers or companions. Victims then answered the ads seeking to be dancers, and Miner forced them with threats or physical harm to perform sex acts for money instead. In addition to using the Internet to recruit victims, Miner also used websites such as Backpage.com to advertise the women and services. At one point, Miner arranged for one of the victims to fly to and work in Las Vegas.
There is no record of Miner having any legitimate source of income, yet bank account records reveal Miner consistently making large cash deposits, totaling more than $225,000 since January 2015. Financial records also show, in multiple situations, that Miner paid for hotel rooms on the same night, but in different cities.
Miner faces multiple counts of human trafficking, deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution, money laundering and structuring transactions. Miner also faces charges for branding, armed sexual battery, unlawful use of a two-way device and renting a room for prostitution. If convicted, Miner faces up to life in prison. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Danielle Dudai with Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is prosecuting this case with the assistance of the State Attorney’s Office for the 15th Judicial Circuit.
Gov. Scott: Sixt to Create 300 New Jobs at New North American Headquarters in Fort Lauderdale
Governor Rick Scott today announced that Sixt North America, a global auto rental company, has selected Fort Lauderdale as the location for their new, expanded North American headquarters. The expansion will create 300 new jobs and invest $10.4 million in the local community. The company chose Fort Lauderdale over other potential sites in Georgia, Texas and California. Sixt Rent-a-Car has more than 2,000 locations in over 100 countries.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Sixt North America has selected Florida over Georgia, Texas and California for their new and expanded North American headquarters. This expansion will create 300 new jobs for families in South Florida and is a major win for our state. Over the past six and a half years, we have worked to cut taxes and make our state more business friendly so Florida can outcompete other locations for new opportunities. By using the newly establish Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, we will continue to encourage businesses to grow and create jobs in our state.”
Sebastian Birkel, Sixt North America Co-President, said, “We looked at a number of locations in carefully selecting our new U.S. headquarters, and, at the end of our search Florida clearly came out on top. The state went out of its way to work with us, encouraging Sixt to plant even deeper roots here. We were extremely pleased with the process, and are proud to be opening our national headquarters here in the near future. Back in 2011, Florida warmly welcomed our first U.S. location at Miami airport—now our flagship location in the U.S.—and we have been impressed with the resources available here. We are able to attract first-class talent, and enjoy the state’s competitive business environment. That’s why Florida is Sixt country.”
Daniel Florence, Sixt North America Co-President, said, “We want to thank Governor Scott for his leadership in this process, he deserves great credit for the numerous jobs that will be brought to this state as a result of our being here, and growing here. Sixt is expanding rapidly all over the U.S. in major markets as fast as we can to meet surging customer demand, and as we do so, what we are doing here in Florida will remain the foundation of how we approach our business around the country.”
Sixt cited the strength of Fort Lauderdale’s diverse, educated and multicultural workforce, vibrant tourism market, proximity to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport (Sixt’s largest rental locations), and a competitive business environment as strategic reasons for headquarters location.
Alan Becker, Enterprise Florida board member, said, “The expansion of Sixt North America in Fort Lauderdale highlights the strong and diverse workforce that Florida can offer thanks to the hard work of Governor Scott to make Florida the most business friendly state. We look forward to continuing to show companies looking to expand or relocate that Florida is able to meet and exceed their expectations as the best place to work and raise a family.”
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Sixt North America chose Florida to expand its North American operations over several other states. Sixt recognizes our business-friendly environment and the talented workforce we have in the Fort Lauderdale area, and we are proud that it is bringing hundreds of jobs here to the Sunshine State.”
Mayor Jack Seiler of the City of Fort Lauderdale said, “We are proud that Sixt is dramatically expanding and investing in its North America headquarters. Fort Lauderdale’s strategic location, robust business climate, and outstanding quality of life all make our city the perfect place for Sixt to grow and prosper. We wish the company continued growth and success.”
Bob Swindell, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance said, “Congratulations to Sixt North America, and thank you for choosing to expand in Greater Fort Lauderdale. We appreciate the significant investment the company is making in our community and the addition of 300 new high-wage jobs.”
Sixt has its registered international headquarters in Pullach, Germany, near Munich, and is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services for business and corporate customers as well as private travelers. With representation in over 100 countries worldwide, Sixt is continually expanding its presence. The company’s strengths lie in the high proportion of premium cars in the vehicle fleet, its employees’ consistent service orientation and a good price-performance ratio. Taken together, these strengths have given Sixt an excellent market position. Sixt was founded in 1912 and maintains alliances with renowned brands in the hotel industry, well known airlines and numerous prominent service providers in the tourism sector. The Sixt Group generates revenues of EUR 2.4 billion/US 2.8 billion (2016).
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance is Broward County’s official public/private partnership for economic development. Its mission is to lead Broward County in building a stronger and more diverse economy by stimulating the creation of new jobs and capital investment while facilitating the growth and retention of businesses in Broward County. Services offered by the Alliance include assistance with business relocation or expansion and site selection; incentive programs and information; market research; and serving as a liaison for workforce development between CareerSource Broward, educational institutions and the business community.
Florida College System Foundation Awards Florida State College at Jacksonville $50,772 for Student Scholarships
Florida’s 28 colleges will receive over $1 million in scholarships
On behalf of the Florida College System Foundation, today Education Commissioner Pam Stewart presented Florida State College at Jacksonville President Dr. Cynthia Bioteau with a check for $50,772 to benefit first-generation students and students pursuing careers in health care.
“The demand for talented health care professionals continues to grow throughout our state and nation, and we take every opportunity to help first-generation students succeed,” Commissioner Stewart said. “These scholarships are essential to helping students achieve their career goals and to meeting workforce needs. I applaud the Florida College System Foundation for prioritizing first-generation students and students pursuing careers in health care, and I am honored to take part in this check presentation.”
Each year, scholarships funded by the Helios Education Foundation, Florida Blue and Bank of America focus on relieving the national nursing shortage and helping students who are the first in their family to attend college. The scholarships will help add nurses and allied health professionals that reflect Florida’s diverse population while meeting critical workforce needs.
“More than 60% of students enrolled in the Florida College System are part-time students balancing life and work while pursuing their degree”, says Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor for the Florida College System. “These scholarships provided by the Florida College System Foundation, with business partners like Helios Education Foundation, Florida Blue and Bank of America, are essential for many of our students, especially first generation students. Florida’s colleges produce more than 4,500 registered nurses each year, and this is just another great opportunity for students to pursue their dreams, earn a great career while meeting a critical nursing workforce need in the state of Florida.”
“Florida Blue and the Florida Blue Foundation believe that nursing plays a vital role in the safety and quality of patient care,” said Velma Monteiro-Tribble, Director Florida Blue Foundation and Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation Board Member. “We have been committed since 2003 and remain steadfast in our support of nursing education and the nursing profession. We are pleased to partner with the Florida College System Foundation to continue these nursing scholarships, to ensure that there is a qualified and diverse nursing workforce in the state of Florida.”
“An investment in Florida’s students is an investment in the state’s future workforce,” said Paul Luna, President & CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “Helios Education Foundation is proud to partner with the Florida College System Foundation to ensure more students, particularly first-generation students, experience the transformational power of education and are positioned for success in career and in life.”
“The funds we received today from the Florida College System Foundation will make a significant impact in helping our health care students fund their education as they devote their futures to taking care of others,” said FSCJ President Dr. Cynthia Bioteau. “Providing affordable and accessible educational opportunities is one of the most important things we, as a College, can do as an essential pipeline for developing skilled health care workers. We take this responsibility very seriously and are fortunate to receive these funds to help contribute to the long-term success of our students.”
This year, the Florida College System Foundation will award more than $1 million in scholarship funds to Florida’s 28 colleges through the state. Students may apply for scholarships through their local college foundation and/or financial aid office. Eligibility criteria are based on local college requirements.
For more information about the scholarships, visit Florida College System Foundation.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
