Letter From the Chair, April 10, 2023

Good morning Democrats!

Just when you think things can’t get crazier – Tennessee!

Wow, and then someone undercovers Clarence Thomas’ dirty little secrets! Can you say Impeach?

But here’s the one that really frosts my Twinkies!
“ The 46-year-old Trump-appointed Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk banned mifepristone, the FDA-approved abortion pill, under the 1873 Comstock Act. The law prohibits the mailing of contraceptives, “lewd” writing and any “instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing” that could be used in an abortion.
Just like that America’s women had something else taken away from them from a man in a black robe, declaring his right to make law because he has strong convictions about the way things should be. His decision had no basis in law or precedent. It is an unprecedented decision. Like many of his fellow zealots, Judge Kacsmaryk’s world view is ordered around the dogmas that assert the supremacy of men to decide what is best for women and their bodies on the basis of politics, not medicine, science or individual autonomy and freedom. Old habits die hard.” (from Steve Schmidt’s The Warning)

This young punk is not a Doctor! I cannot print what I want to call him! Karma will take care of him and his ilk…I just want to live long enough to see it!

Folks, the only way we create change is by speaking out. It can be overwhelming, I know. But start locally. Attend your local government meetings and speak out. Call and email your local and state elected officials and participate in protests. AND VOTE!

That 11 fuel pump 7-11 Convenience Store is coming back soon, along with the CEMEX property project to a planning meeting next week. Show up in droves if you want to protect your neighborhoods and local businesses from these two monster projects.
Remember – Democracy is not a Spectator Sport!

Start Here:

Local Government meetings this week

Tuesday April 11

• Monroe County Mayor Craig Cates and the Monroe Dept of Health will host a Town Hall at 5:30pm in the Community Room at Bernstein Park, 6751 5^th St. Stock Island. They will discuss the results of a survey taking in 2022 regarding health and community needs for Stock island. For more details: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=9901&month=4&year=2023&day=11&calType=0
• There is a “Special Call” (?) Islamorada Village Councill meeting at 3pm in the Community Center in Founders Park, MM 87, Plantation Key. No details available online (?) You can attend in-person or ZOOM - https://www.islamorada.fl.us/calendar.php?view=day&month=04&day=11&year=2023&calendar=&id=216
• The Monroe County School Board will meet at 5pm in the Key West City Commission Chambers, 1300 White ST. For details/agenda: https://monroe-k12.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
• The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority Board (political Appointees everyone) will meet at 11am in their shiny new building at 1100 Kennedy Dr, in Key West. They have done some interesting things lately (and not in a good way) and deserve our attention! For agenda and details: https://www.fkaa.com/agendacenter

 Wednesday April 12

• The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Leadership Committee Meeting will be held at 11am in Miami and on Zoom. Here’s the zoom link: https://miamidade.zoom.us/j/87526557427
• The Utility Board of key West (Keys Energy) will meet at 5pm in the Board Roon at 1001 James St, Key West. For details/agenda: https://www.keysenergy.com/utility-board/

Thursday April 13

• The Islamorada Village Council will hold their regular meeting at 5:30pm in the Community Center at Founders Park, MM 87, Plantation key. For agenda: https://islamoradafl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/112/files

Activist Group Meetings this week

Monday April 10

• The Lower Keys DEMS will meet at 5:30pm in the back room of the VFW, 2200 N Roosevelt Blvd. in Key West. Our Guest Speaker will be Our Supervisor of Elections, Joyce Griffin. She will talk about new changes being made to election laws. Can you say Voter Suppression? Come early, grab some food and a drink. Bring a friend! 

Thursday April 13

• The Stock island Assoc will hold it’s monthly meeting from 7-9pm in the community Room at Bernstein Park.

The head of our legislative team headed to Tallahassee yesterday to watch up close what the Tallahassee Taliban will jam through in the next week. I can’t wait to hear from her.

What they are doing is a bunch of evil, restricting, Fascist policies. Meatball Ron is a schoolyard bully, trying to prove how tough he is.
In reality, he is a mean spirited (white supremacist, Christian nationalist, neo Nazi) little man. (I think it’s still legal for me to express my opinion about him).

He is such a coward that he signed the permitless carry bill in a locked room with no press and the NRA standing behind him. They own him too and apparently keep him on a short leash!

We have to be just like the 2 Justin’s in Tennessee. The majority of Americans want gun control. But the GOP (AKA – Guns Over people) refuse to do a damn thing. The elected officials are “owned” by the gun lobby. (and the KLAN?)

The Corruption starts at the local level where very recently in Monroe County, Realtors wanted the County to change the building codes regarding downstairs enclosures, because $$$. FEMA requires certain rules to help keep our flood insurance rates down. Will changing the code cause our rates to rise? THEY DON’T CARE! It’s all about the $$$.

In Tallahassee, there is a bill being considered that would take the bite out of another bill that passed after the Surfside Condo collapse last year. This new bill would make it MORE difficult to hold contractors and developers accountable when dealing with heightened safety standards imposed by the community associations. (see Donna DiMaggio Berger’s column in the Miami Herald yesterday for more info on SB 360!) Will the GUV sign? How much money has he taken from this group?

Finally, The Miami Herald published a piece about Voter Suppression a few days ago written by Anna Hochkammer – Vice Mayor of Pinecrest. (smart Lady)Check it out on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/annahochkammer
It is worth the read.

It’s going to be a busy week. We need you to help us work to save Democracy. Visit our web site and sign up to volunteer.
Or check out the join/donate button and do what you can! We need whatever help you can give!

Share this newsletter with like-minded friends and come to our meetings. We have fun – seriously!

Please remember to get your Vote by Mail status updated. It’s easy, just go to this link: https://www.keyselections.org/Voters/Request-an-Absentee

Show up to Hear Joyce Griffin tonight!!!
Watch for new Legislative Action Alerts!

Bert Sise/Chair
KeysDems