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JUNE 9, 2021
DeSantis pens $101.5 billion budget
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
It’s not very often the governor makes a public appearance in Zephyrhills, let alone to make a major statewide announcement. But that’s what happened on June 2, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared at Zephyrhills City Hall for a state budget-signing ceremony — penning into law a record-setting $101.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2021-2022.
The invite-only press conference drew several dozens of area residents, business owners and government officials, in a standing-room only affair. “It’s great to be in Pasco County,” DeSantis said, opening his speech.“It’s great to be here.” The Republican governor was accompanied by several members of the Republican-led state legislature, including Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson (RTrilby), Florida House Speaker Chris
Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor), state Rep. Randy Maggard (R-Dade City), state Rep. Ardian Zika (R-Land O’ Lakes), state Sen. Danny Burgess, (R-Zephyrhills), state Rep. Amber Mariano (R-Hudson), and state Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), among others. As for dropping by the City of Pure Water, DeSantis acknowledged plans to stop somewhere in the Tampa Bay region for one of his multiple budget-signing ceremonies. See DESANTIS, page 9A
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City of Zephyrhills administrators and officials pose for a picture with Gov. Ron DeSantis outside of Zephyrhills City Hall. From left: Council President Alan Knight, City Attorney Matt Maggard, Councilman Ken Burgess, Mayor Gene Whitfield, DeSantis, Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson and City Manager Billy Poe.
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By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com 20122020
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As efforts continue to lessen stigma and discrimination regarding mental illness — the challenges have become even greater during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, there are ways to strengthen awareness and improve access to treatment and counseling for troubled youth and adults, according to Sativa Fisher, a social worker for the Hernando County School District. Fisher was a featured guest speaker during an April 27 virtual social services event hosted by Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center. Her talk was part of a speaker series for students and prospective students interested in “helping careers.” Topics for the free online series were selected with the goal of having broad appeal to those interested in social work, education, criminal justice, psychology, and human services. Fisher’s presentation focused on her work, the prevalence of youth mental health issues and the function of social workers in the public school setting. The social worker emphasized just how “widely underestimated” mental illness is in the United States, particularly among teens and high school students. She cited these statistics and figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: • 19% of students nationwide considered suicide • 16% of students nationwide made a suicide plan • 9% of students nationwide attempted suicide • Notable risk factors for suicide ideation include being a non-Hispanic, Black female who identifies as lesbian, gay or bisexual. Fisher also shared various findings from Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit to address the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting overall mental health of all: • 9.2% of United States youth ages 12 to 17 cope with severe major depression • The state prevalence of youth with severe major depressive episodes ranges from 6% in Mississippi to 13.2% in Nevada (Florida stands at 10%). • The number of youth experiencing major depressive episodes increased by
B.C. MANION
Those interested in a rezoning for a proposed gas station next to the Walgreens, north of the intersection at U.S. 41 and Sunset Lane, can weigh in at a public hearing on the request set for June 14. COURTESY OF MARY MCCOY, SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
Hernando County School District social worker Sativa Fisher
121,000 from 2018 to 2019. The social worker pointed to an “alarming” finding in her research cited from Mental Health America — youth experiencing major depressive episodes continue to go untreated. Even among states with greatest access for youth, almost 50% of youth still do not receive the mental health services they need, according to the organization’s reports, Fisher said. “It’s interesting how much of an issue mental health is, and how undertreated it is, even within our society today,” said Fisher, who obtained her bachelor of social work from Saint Leo University and her master of social work from University of South Florida. Fisher also shared her thoughts about potential contributing factors regarding why suicide ideations and major depression have become so prevalent among American youth in recent years. “We have many kids who have access to social media and are learning a lot more than they used to, and that’s become evident between both in elementary and middle school, and the things that they’re exposed to, they don’t know, developmenSee YOUTH, page 9A
Opponents are lining up to fight Lutz rezoning By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
A proposed rezoning that would allow a gas station and car wash on the east side of U.S. 41, about 900 feet north of Sunset Lane, is drawing stiff opposition from Lutz residents. The hearing, initially set in December subsequently was rescheduled. Now, a hearing date is planned for June 14 at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Robert W. Saunders Sr. Public Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Ave., in Tampa. The applicant is seeking to rezone the 2.6-acre parcel at 18601 U.S. 41, to allow a 4,650-square-foot convenience store and 16 gas pumps, as well as a car wash. The parcel is adjacent to an existing Walgreens store. The land, owned by Lutz Realty and Investment LLC, currently is zoned for agricultural and single-family conventional use. The request calls for rezoning the site to become a planned development zoning. See REZONING, page 9A