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Sen. Linda Stewart

Sen. Linda Stewart Urges Gov. DeSantis to halt state’s muscling of school reopenings

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The letter (below and attached) from Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) was sent to Governor DeSantis this afternoon.

July 16, 2020

The Honorable Ron DeSantis
Governor, State of Florida
Via Email

Dear Governor DeSantis,

No school district should be forced into opening because of an executive order that is written as one size fits all. It does not. No duly elected member of a school board should be bullied into believing their job will be taken from them when they are simply listening to the constituents who elected them, and the science that should be guiding them.

In Orange County, Advent Health is projecting that our recent spike will continue through the end of July. That is not the same as trending down. To allow a safe reopening, it could be another 6 weeks or more before the rate shows a significant descent, yet the state is pushing schools to open next month.

When it comes to a statewide mask order, you defer to local governments, despite the overwhelming evidence that they are the most effective tool we currently have to control the spread of the virus and allow us to reopen in a safe manner; however, regarding school opening, the state is trying to muscle through an approach that fails to take local communities’ needs into consideration and attempts to usurp the authority of locally elected officials who are responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their students, teachers and families.

With a new record of 156 deaths reported just today, the inability to deliver a clear, concise, and steady message is not only undermining Floridians’ confidence in your stewardship, but your ability to effectively handle a pandemic that is quickly spiraling out of control.

Which is it – local control or state strong-arming? If you want to restore confidence in your governing, then do what’s necessary to ensure our citizens are safe – roll back the rushed reopening, adopt a statewide mask order, and delay any school reopenings until it is actually, verifiably, safe to do so. We need strong leadership that listens to science and works independently of Washington, D.C.

Sincerely,

Statement from Sen. Linda Stewart on Las Vegas Tragedy

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“Sadly, Americans woke up this morning to news of another tragic mass shooting, this time in Las Vegas.
“Just one year ago, it was the people in my district, and the people of Florida, who bore witness to the Pulse nightclub massacre, and what was then the worst mass shooting in American history. Last night’s horror set a new standard, testament to the sheer evil unleashed by one man armed with multiple high caliber automatic weapons, intent on provoking death and injury to so many.
“I have no doubt that the hand-wringing will quickly follow. As will the many offers of thoughts and prayers. But what we will not see, and what we will still await, is any kind of meaningful action from our national and state leaders to stem this bloodshed once and for all. Undoubtedly, some will criticize speaking of curbing gun violence so quickly after these killings. To them I say, if not now, when? How high does the body count have to climb before we finally act?
“Last year I filed legislation for Gun Safety, and again this year I refiled this legislation, SB196, for the 2018 session. The bill in 2017 did not get one committee hearing. I am pressuring our State Senate leadership to allow this year’s bill to have a hearing, or at the very least, a workshop – any avenue to bring this up for public discussion in a formal public setting.
“The senseless killings of Americans cannot be the norm for our Country – our Founding Fathers could never have conceived of today’s modern assault weapons. Nor should the easy sale of guns designed for maximum carnage. Military-style weapons belong on the battlefield, not in general use. Americans should be free to attend large events and not be intimidated by the possibility of being mowed down by a man with a grudge.
“I am calling on our leaders to have an honest discussion about the availability of these weapons, the mental health issues that drive these senseless acts of violence, and, where appropriate, and make changes to our policy and State law which will give us a fighting chance for being safe in our communities. Hold hearings on this bill. Let the NRA speak. But let the other voices – the mothers, the fathers, the sons and daughters, the multitude of Floridians who are fed up with the carnage – have their say, too.”

Statement from Sen. Linda Stewart on signing of HB 7069

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“I would like to thank the Governor for visiting Senate District 13, but I’m very disappointed that he used the signing of HB 7069 as the reason to stop by.
“This bill is an unwise experiment in education policy opposed by our state’s teachers, parents, professional administrators and superintendents. That’s why I urged him to veto it. Many of those that have opposed HB7069 have dedicated their lives to educating the students in Florida’s schools. HB7069 was secretly produced, and passed as a 278-page bitter pill that flew in the face of every tradition of transparency and openness required by our state’s laws and constitution.
“Let’s be clear about what HB7069 actually does: it enriches the for-profit education industry at the expense of Florida’s traditional public schools. The same schools that educated the vast majority of Floridians for generations despite daunting odds and an indifferent legislature for the past two decades.
“The legislation you signed today gives to the charter school industry a free hand, and promises them a bountiful reward. It allows corporations with no track record of success, no obligation to struggling students, and no mandated standards of accountability to flourish, with the sole obligation to their shareholders. Not the public. Not to well-intentioned parents desperate to see their children succeed – but to a group of investors who have made a business decision to add these companies to their portfolios because they are interested in making money.
“I would remind those who stand to profit personally from this legislation, some of whom hold high office, that an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Sen. Linda Stewart to highlight Black Bear Act filed for 2017 legislative session

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State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) and Rep. Amy Mercado (D-Orlando) will hold a press event on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to discuss comprehensive legislation they’ve filed to protect Florida black bears and preserve their habitat. Senate Bill 1304 and HB 491, the “Florida Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act,” also establishes a fund for local governments for the purchase of bear resistant garbage containers.
“At a time when Florida’s native black bears are facing several threats to their habitat, it is our obligation to ensure the preservation of the iconic species as well as the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Stewart. “Today, we are setting out to do just that.”
“By protecting Florida black bear habitats and their food sources, we in turn limit bear-human conflicts and ultimately are closer to ensuring the public’s safety,” said Mercado.
The Orlando lawmakers will be joined by the President of Speak Up Wekiva, Chuck O’Neal, who is supporting the legislation.
The press conference will take place at 1:00 PM at Lake Eola Park in Orlando by the red pagoda by North Eola Drive.
“This bill addresses many of the problems that are driving Florida black bears from public forests and into neighboring subdivisions,” said O’Neal. “In order to reverse that exodus, we must stop destroying their habitat.”

Senator Linda Stewart files bill to protect homeowners

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State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) on Wednesday filed legislation shielding families from abusive fees and fines levied immediately following a homeowner’s or managed community resident’s death.
“Residents deserve to be treated fairly,” said Stewart. “Homeowners associations are typically important pillars in the communities they manage and they improve the quality of life for those who choose to live in them. But not always. There is nothing sensible about assessing fines on the estate of an elderly resident on a fixed income. There is nothing reasonable about subjecting grieving families to these unnecessary hardships. I look forward to working with my colleagues on resolving an issue that affects every corner of our state.”
Senate Bill 950 places families dealing with death first, and the management of their estate and any violations after.
Presently, Florida law allows a homeowners association to go so far as placing liens on a property immediately following the owner’s death. Senate Bill 950 would change that by placing a hold on how quickly they can begin levying fines and special assessments that would lead to such an action being taken. While the bill does not abrogate those processes, the measure would prohibit for 6-months after death any fines or special assessments, and late charges may not be imposed for one full year after the death of the parcel owner.
Senate Bill 950 is being introduced in the House by Representative Emily Slosberg as House Bill 713. “As a member of the State Legislature, my responsibility is to protect my constituents,” she said. “This bill is to protect homeowners and their families during a time of loss. Our goal is to prevent the unnecessary burdens of excessive fines incurred during the transition of property ownership due to a loss of a loved one. It is not rational for family members to inherit a lien when they do not even know that a home owner association assessment is due.”

Lawmakers Unveil Gun-Safety Legislation That Targets Assault-Style Weapons

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fl-coalition-to-prevent-gun-violence-fcpgvProposed legislation to ban assault-style weapons in Florida will be unveiled this afternoon at a news conference held by the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
Sen. Linda Stewart and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith are introducing the bills, which also include banning large ammunition feeding devices.
“Assault weapons are the gold standard for mass murder. They are weapons of war, designed for war and have no place on our streets or in civilian hands,” said Smith. “We all have the right to defend ourselves and our families with a firearm, but nobody needs military-style assault weapons to do it.”
Pointing a finger at the gun lobby and what he called its “stranglehold on Tallahassee and their extreme agenda,” he added, “It’s time we take back the conversation with a bold, comprehensive and common-sense approach to gun safety. This legislation is just the beginning.”
“If not now, when?” asks Stewart. “We don’t need any more tragedies like Pulse.”
The bills target the type of weapon used in June’s Pulse Nightclub shooting, which killed 49 people in the deadliest U.S. shooting in modern history.
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, initiated by the League of Women Voters of Florida, was created after the Pulse massacre to promote smart, common-sense gun legislation and helped set the course for the legislation being unveiled today.
The Coalition quickly gained momentum and has grown to include more than 100 local, state and national organizations. It includes such diverse groups as the Hispanic Federation, Interfaith Council of Central Florida, Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, Florida PTA, and Doctors for America.
In addition to pushing for a ban on assault-style weapons, the Coalition also calls for comprehensive universal background checks.
“We are no longer going to allow the NRA to dictate gun laws in Florida,” said Patti Brigham, Co-chair of the Coalition and 1st Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Florida.
“Florida cannot wait nor do we have to wait for our federal government to take action. We can and should follow the lead of seven other states that already have in effect what we are proposing today,” Brigham said, adding that ordinary citizens do not need weapons such as the Sig Sauer MCX, brandished by the shooter at Pulse, to hunt, defend ourselves, or to show them off because we can.
Strong, outspoken support for the Coalition and the proposed legislation comes from a number of diverse groups, demonstrating the far-reaching passion for the assault-weapons ban and the safety of our community.
Not mincing words, Andy Pelosi, executive director of Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus, said, “Assault rifles, like the one used in the Pulse shooting, where 49 people were killed and another 53 injured, are weapons of war, designed to kill and injure large numbers of people in a short period of time.” He added that the state legislature should immediately act on the proposals unveiled today.
Also strongly supporting the proposed legislation is Equality Florida, an organization dedicated to securing equality and justice for the LGBTQ community. It was an early member of the Coalition.
“The Pulse massacre compelled us to confront two realities: the systematic dehumanization of LGBTQ people and the far too-easy access to weapons of mass slaughter,” said Hannah Willard, Public Policy Director for Equality Florida.
The Rev. Bryan G. Fulwider, CEO of Building US and a member of Friends Talking Faith With The Three Wise Guys on WMFE, says faith “leads us in the way of peace.”
“We recognize that people of faith may differ on the way we feel about guns, individually. Nevertheless, honest faith leads us to foster and build a more peaceful community and society,” he continued. “Military-style assault weapons are not part of creating a more peaceful and safe community. They have only one purpose, mass casualty shooting. These weapons may be a tool of war, sadly, but they have no place in a society and community committed to creating peace and safety for all people,” he said.
The Florida PTA, also a Coalition member, likewise applauds the efforts of Stewart and Smith.
“Given the history and tradition of strong support for the safety and protection of our children and youth, and with the desire to encourage common-sense legislation that can potentially prevent future tragic scenarios involving our most precious resource, Florida PTA offers unwavering support banning the sale and possession of military-style semi-automatic assault weapons,” said Angie Gallo.