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Special session set for Nov. 15
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Florida Legislature will meet in special session beginning on Nov. 15 and will conclude its session by no later than Nov. 19, under a proclamation issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. The session is intended to “provide protections for Floridians who have lost their jobs or are having their employment threat-
ened due to vaccine mandates,” according to a posting on the governor’s web page. DeSantis announced, in a news conference on Oct. 28, that the state had filed a lawsuit against the federal government — challenging the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine requirement on federally contracted workers. “We are not going to deny people the ability to earn a living, based on their decisions about an injection,” DeSantis said,
during that news conference. During the special session, DeSantis expects legislators to pass laws to protect Florida jobs and protect parents’ rights when it comes to masking and quarantines, the website posting says. The governor is calling on state legislators to address vaccination issues on a number of fronts. See SESSION, page 11A
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In this monthly video series, Trevor and Nicole of our marketing team recap some of our top stories from each month. These videos are published on our Facebook page AND website at the end of every month, so be sure to check it out!
Having fun at the fall festival
Three year-old Noah Sykes, of Wesley Chapel, dressed in a Chase Paw Patrol costume, admires the one (out of five) foam and Velcro hatchets that stuck to the target. He was at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival with his 4-year-old brother, Jayden Sykes, and their dad, Jason Sykes. See more photos, page 1B.
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Roadway connectivity is key to Zephyrhills’ economic vitality By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The Zephyrhills area has experienced burgeoning activity in the way of residential growth and commercial development. Pasco County Commission chairman Ron Oakley has witnessed it firsthand, since being elected in 2016. “Zephyrhills has been a very good, working city,” said Oakley, who represents District 1, which covers areas in East and Central Pasco. “Economically, they’ve done very well over the years, and I mean, it just didn’t start here lately, it’s been that way. “They have a good council here, and they have good planners and others,” the county board leader said. But Oakley is especially enthused about the forthcoming roadway connectivity in and out of the city limits — which he detailed as one of the featured speakers at the fifth annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit held last month, at Zephyrhills City Hall. The Oct. 13 event was organized by the City of Zephyrhills, Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition, Main Street Zephyrhills, Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC), and AdventHealth Zephyrhills/Dade City. These were among the finished or active projects that Oakley highlighted: • State Road 56 extension, from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills • Wire Road pavement rehabilitation See ROADWAY, page 11A
Barbara Stetson, of Zephyrhills, sets out a basket of Halloween candy under the tent of Marcie L. Baker, a Zephyrhills attorney — who also happens to be her daughter.
Having their snapshot taken by Samantha Harmeson at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival are Rosa, right, and Luz Trevino, of Zephyrhills. People who had their picture taken will find the photo in the email addresses they provided.
Pasco County pursuing new effort to curb panhandling By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County Commission wants to follow Lee County’s lead, in enacting an ordinance that aims to reduce panhandling — while avoiding potential concerns about free speech violations. Patrick Moore, a senior assistant county attorney, explained the approach during the county board’s Oct. 26 meeting. In essence, the new approach makes it illegal for people to stand in a roadway area that’s less than 6 feet wide and prohibits physical interactions between motorists and pedestrians. “The county’s current ordinance was created for the purpose of protecting vehicular and pedestrian safety, and the free flow of traffic. This purpose hasn’t changed,” Moore said. However, he added, the county’s current ordinance “makes it unlawful to solicit or attempt to solicit with the intent to receive a charitable donation.”
Because of that, the ordinance is often referred to as the county’s panhandling ordinance, he said. “As far as enforcement goes, historically, direct citations haven’t always been effective, which causes the sheriff’s office, in an attempt to enforce the ordinance, to utilize the county’s public roadway, public right of way, trespassing ordinance,” he said. “However, due to recent case law, the sheriff’s office has decided not to enforce or utilize the ordinance, in order to trespass someone, moving forward. “In fact, that’s kind of across-the-board in the state of Florida. Law enforcement agencies across the state are deciding not to enforce many panhandling ordinances in different counties,” Moore explained. So, he said,“this discussion is something that many other jurisdictions are also struggling with. “The reason why this new case has caused this result is because it points out the infringement on First Amendment rights, specifically related to free speech, as
to requesting charitable donations and so on, in public roadways.” The ordinance recently adopted in Lee County essentially eliminated the solicitation aspect, Moore said. “It has the same exact purpose of our current ordinance,” Moore said. But, it eliminates the concerns over the First Amendment because it “eliminates any mention of solicitation or panhandling, as a basis of the violation. “It creates a violation for remaining in a median or other areas of the roadway,” Moore said. “It is unlawful” to remain in a median, whether the area is paved or not paved, if it less than 6 feet, unless you are actively crossing in a crosswalk. It also is unlawful in Lee County “to have a physical exchange, or physical interaction, amongst a pedestrian and a vehicle. “It specifically notes a vehicle that’s not lawfully parked. In other words, in a roadSee PANHANDLING, page 11A