Notes From The Capitol

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn Here,

Below is more information from the Governor Crist on ’Sunshine Week", which is really a yearly week-long commemoration of open government. In his latest “Notes from the Capitol”,  the Governor commends the signing into law the  Anti-Murder Act, which allows for the enforcement of stiffer laws for parolees who violate their parole after committing a murder. The Governor also speaks of being joined by John Walsh, who lost his young son, Adam Walsh, in a senseless and brutal staining. Governor Crist describes Mr. Walsh as being "a tremendous advocate of public safety and host of America's Most Wanted. John Walsh was instrumental in the federal passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in July of 2006

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Notes from the Capitol
March 16 , 2007

Dear Friends,

This week has truly been a week of firsts. Florida joined the rest of the
nation to participate in 'Sunshine Week', a yearly week-long commemoration
of open government. Florida, the first state to begin this observance with
Sunshine Sunday in 2002, has long been a leader in ensuring the public's
access to information.

As Floridians, we are fortunate that the sun shines not only on our faces
but also sheds light into our government. The Sunshine Law creates a window
for Floridians to look through to observe and participate in the democratic
process.

Monday, I had the privilege of signing into law the first bill of the 2007
Legislative Session, the Anti-Murder Act. Throughout the day, I was joined
in Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Deltona and Tallahassee by local elected officials
and members of the law enforcement community, as well as families of child
murder victims. I am so grateful for their support of this important
legislation. The children of Florida are our first priority, and the
Anti-Murder Act makes them safer by keeping individuals who violate the
privilege of probation off of our streets.

At the ceremonial bill signing in Ft. Lauderdale, I was joined by John
Walsh, father of slain child Adam Walsh, a tremendous advocate of public
safety and host of America's Most Wanted. John Walsh was instrumental in the
federal passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in July of
2006. The act enables child protection investigators to have direct online
access to criminal history records and warrants. The Florida Department of
Children and Families is the first state agency in the country to implement
the program.

The technology is already enhancing the state's ability to protect child
victims of abuse and neglect. Florida once again leads the way for the rest
of the nation by providing unprecedented access to technology that will help
protect both the victims of child abuse and neglect and the public servants
charged with protecting them.

On Wednesday, I had the honor of participating in the ceremony where the
first African American female justice of the Florida Supreme Court and the
first female president of a Florida community college were inducted into the
Florida Women's Hall of Fame.

Later in the week, I had the opportunity to ride on the nation's first
hybrid school bus. The Manatee County School District purchased two buses,
which are projected to reduce by 50 to 90 percent carbon emissions that
contribute to global climate change.

We are able to celebrate all of these Florida firsts because of the rich
culture and tradition that has made our state so strong. This week we marked
the beginning of the fourth annual Florida Heritage Month, celebrated from
March 15 through April 15. During the upcoming weeks, Floridians will have
the opportunity to appreciate Florida's rich cultural heritage. To mark the
occasion, Lt. Governor Kottkamp and I joined Secretary of State Kurt S.
Browning to dedicate the latest installation of the Indian Heritage Tableau
sculptures downtown in Tallahassee.  The American Royalty sculpture
represents the residents who lived in Florida during the time of the first
European contact.

So many people contribute to the complex history of our great state and to
the rich diversity of cultures we see today. I look forward to participating
in other events throughout Florida Heritage Month and celebrating many more
firsts for our state in the weeks and months ahead.

May God continue to bless the great state of Florida,

Charlie

____________________________________________________________________
Volume 1, Issue 9
Copyright(c) 2007 State of Florida

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Evelyn out.

 

 

Sunshine Week and Raising Public Awareness of Open Government and Full Access to Public Records

Hello Everyone,

 

Evelyn here

 

with news “From the Loft to the Streets". This latest news letter is a direct reflection of why I feel it is so important to know and understand of one’s constitutional rights In this issue of General McCollum newsletter, he addresses the our right to know what is in happening in our government and how it is best working to serve and to protect the of people.

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Attorney General Bill McCollum’s  “News Briefs”
Date: March 16, 2007

Volume 5, Issue 11:

Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum

This week Florida recognized Sunshine Week, a time dedicated to raising
awareness about open government and full access to public records.
Historically, our state is a national leader in providing public access
to government meetings and records. I am proud of our state’s
reputation, but I believe we can do more.

Having uncomplicated and expedient access to public records is your
constitutional right. Florida’s Constitution provides that you have the
right to know how government officials, on all levels, spend taxpayer
dollars and make the decisions affecting your lives. And, in light of
the many technological advances available to us today, I believe there
is more that the Attorney General’s Office can do to make it infinitely
more efficient for the citizens of our state to access this information.

On Tuesday my office launched the Government Accountability Project, in
partnership with the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, to
encourage state and local government entities to be more proactive in
providing Florida’s citizens the information and records they need in
order to hold their government accountable. Here, the Attorney General’s
Office will strive to bridge the gap between records already available
and the information citizens want but may have difficulty obtaining. It
is my hope that this office will serve as an example for other government
entities across the nation.

Our project will unfold in two phases. Again, we will first work to
determine what discrepancies exist between the information already
available and that which is difficult to obtain. Then, once we have
identified any such discrepancies, we will collaborate with state and
local government entities to eliminate these and help ensure Florida’s
citizens have ready access to the information they need to hold their
leaders accountable. The new Government Accountability Project will be
coordinated by Associate Deputy Attorney General Simone Marstiller who
brings extensive experience in public service to the project. The project
is now showcased on a new website designed to give Floridians expedient
access to public records and is available through the Attorney General's
website. To access the website, please visit:

http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/20AB6480E324FC5885257297006997E7.

As a first step towards government transparency, I have put the outside
legal counsel contracts with my office on the website for the public
to review.

Taking an active role in state and local government is not only a right,
but an important responsibility. I urge all Floridians to take advantage
of the laws that grant access to government records and documents. As an
elected official, I appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate my strong
commitment to an open, efficient and responsible government and am
dedicated to keeping Florida on the national forefront of this important
issue.

Thank you.

____

 

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Evelyn out.

Hello Everyone,

 

Evelyn here

 

With even more news “From the Loft to the Streets”. The following message come the Governor Charlie Crist.  In his latest newsletter, Charlie will deliver the State of the State Address at 11 A. M. on Tuesday, March 6, 2007.  For more details on what will be addressed and where you can view it read the release below.

 

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Notes from the Capitol
March 2, 2007

Dear Friends,

Two months ago today, I had the great privilege of taking the oath of office
to protect and defend Florida.  The last 60 days have been both challenging
and rewarding. Looking forward, I am optimistic about the great things we
can achieve for the people of Florida in the 2007 Legislative Session.
     
Tuesday, March 6, 2007, I will deliver the State of the State Address at 11
a.m. in the chamber of the Florida House of Representatives. Floridians can
view the address live on the Florida Channel or by Web cast at
www.myflorida.com or www.flgov.com. I encourage you to listen and learn more
about my vision for Florida's future and making the Sunshine State a better
place to live, work and raise a family.
     
We live in a great and diverse state. Just this week, we marked the
conclusion of Black History Month.  From the commemorative event in
Pensacola honoring Reverend H.K. Matthews and others who worked to
desegregate Northwest Florida, to the beautiful artwork by Eluster
Richardson displayed in my office, I gained an even greater appreciation for
the struggles as well as the contributions of African-Americans. These great
Americans helped build our state and our country.  

As we honor the determination of those who stood against injustice, we
should recognize their contributions not only during Black History Month,
but also throughout the entire year. We draw strength from the brave men and
women who inspire and motivate us to do better.
     
I am hopeful that during the upcoming legislative session we will increase
the safety of Floridians, provide tax cuts for businesses and families and
increase teacher pay. We will work to decrease the burden of property taxes
and strengthen Florida's vibrant economy, natural resources, schools and
universities.
     
I am grateful for the leadership of House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate
President Ken Pruitt. Together with we will work to improve the quality of
life for the people of our state.  I am looking forward to the exchange of
ideas. This is the time to plot new courses, embrace new possibilities and
implement new solutions. We are poised to do great things for the state of
Florida and her citizens.

May God continue to bless the great state of Florida,
     
Charlie

____________________________________________________________________
Volume 1, Issue 7
Copyright(c) 2007 State of Florida

 

 

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Evelyn out.

McCollum Presides Over First Council Meeting on Status of Black Men and Boys

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here

with more "From the Loft to the Streets". Below is a news release from our Attorney General, Bill McCollum. On February 27, 2007, the General hosted the first meeting of the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys. At that meeting, the General praised the Council for their positive dialogue and discussion. The focus of the meeting was to bring into the light many of the problems that blacks men and black youth face in education, employment and the of black crime as well as the high rate the males is Florida prison system. The meeting also focused on opening the doors to possible solution to preventing and saving black male by means that would turn their lives around for the better. For more details see the article below.

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Bill McCollum

Attorney General

News Release

February 27, 2007

 

McCollum Presides Over First Council Meeting on Status of Black Men and Boys

 

 

 Attorney General, Bill McCollum, applauds Council for proactive dialogue

 

            TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today hosted the first meeting of the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys. At the meeting’s conclusion, McCollum praised the Council for their positive dialogue and discussion.

 

            “I am honored to have the opportunity to work with this distinguished group of individuals and will continue to provide them the support needed to continue their quest,” said Attorney General McCollum. “One of my top priorities is to bring together both the people and the resources needed to help today's youth make the choices that will send their lives in a positive direction. I am confident this dedicated group will recommend sound strategies to achieve that goal and others.”

 

            The Attorney General presided over the meeting, during which members selected a chairman and a vice chairman. Levi Williams was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Council. Williams is currently a partner in the law firm Fertig & Gramling and has extensive professional experience in the areas of civil rights litigation, organizational management and promoting community change and outreach. He serves on the Broward Community College Board of Trustees and is a former member of the Urban League of Broward County and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Broward County. Christopher Norwood, a public affairs consultant from South Florida, was elected Vice Chairman. He works in the areas of Public Policy, Community Relations & Youth Development. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Charlee Homes For Children, the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Miami-Dade Public Schools Student Services Advisory Committee (Chair).

 

            Created by the Legislature during the 2006 Legislative Session, the Council is charged with making a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys including homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rate, poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual income levels, health issues and school performance.

 

            The goal of the Council is to propose measures to alleviate and correct the underlying causes of the conditions described above. These measures may consist of changes to the law or systematic changes that can be implemented without legislative action. The Attorney General’s Office called the first meeting and will provide administrative support to the Council.

 

            A complete list of the members of the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys is available here.

 

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Evelyn out!

 

 

Four Arrested By Patient Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (PANE) Teams.

Hello Everyone,

 

Evelyn here,

 

with news from loft to the streets. I have been ill this past week. I have stayed home loading up on antibiotics, sinus and throat medications, and it is now time for me to pick myself up and rejoin life as we know it. I am just a little quirky tonight, but I have an important message to pass along. It is the latest news release from our Attorney General, Bill McCollum.

 

I am a former health care worker in long-term nursing care facilities, and I know something about the subject of patient abuse. Having worked with the mentally ill and the elderly, I see the abuse and the neglect that these patients suffer as a disturbing and a rising problem. However, one must not think that this is a problem limited to health care facilities.

 

The abuse committed against the elderly varies in its form as it varies in its perpetrators, who can be the elderly person’s aging spouse, adult children of the elderly person, uncaring neighbors, as well as neighborhood children. General McCollum task force, Patient Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (PANE) is looking to protect the elderly both in and out of the health care community.

  

General McCollum has written about several important actions that his office has taken to protect our seniors. His newsletter speaks encouraging of the dedicated members of our Patient Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (PANE) teams who made four arrests in which all four arrests involved individuals who abused and/or neglected elderly victims under their care.
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From the Office of Attorney General McCollum

Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 8

February 23, 2007

 

A Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum

As your Attorney General, making Florida a safer place to live, work
and raise a family is my top priority. An important part of realizing
that goal lies in the protection of our senior population. Nearly one
out of every four Floridians is a senior citizen and that segment of
our population is the most rapidly growing in our state. Our seniors
are a true asset to our culture and our diversity and we in turn must
ensure that they are treated with the utmost care and respect.

This week, our office took several important actions in our fight to
protect our seniors. Dedicated members of our Patient Abuse, Neglect
and Exploitation (PANE) teams made four arrests, each involving
individuals who abused or neglected elderly victims under their care.
In one case, the defendant allegedly attacked an elderly resident of a
nursing home, beatinghim with a metal-handled mop. Another defendant
was arrested after her prolonged neglect of an elderly nursing home
facility also resulted in the patient’s death. A third individual was
arrested after it was determined that he was stealing veterans’
disability funds from an elderly resident at his assisted living facility.

Each of these cases is a sad reminder that not everyone shares our respect
for the elderly residents of our state. Our fight against elder abuse and
neglect is carried out primarily through the Attorney General’s Medicaid
Fraud Control Unit and the PANE Project, which plays a key role in
detecting abuse and neglect of elderly and disabled patients. The teams
help ensure that efficient and effective health care is being provided
throughout the state. They also work to protect the rights and dignity of
Florida's elderly and disabled adults.

Since its inception in 2004, the project has fielded more than 20,000
contacts including complaints about patient care at nursing homes, assisted
living facilities, state facilities and hospitals. The Attorney General's
Office has established dedicated PANE teams in Miami, Tallahassee, Tampa
and West Palm Beach and provides investigative services in conjunction
with other state and local authorities.

It is tragic and heartbreaking that anyone would try to take advantage of
our elderly citizens, especially when the abuse results death.

It is our responsibility to care for our elderly population, protecting them from
those who show such callous indifference. This is a responsibility we do
not take lightly, and Floridians can rest assured that the Attorney
General’s Office will not give up this fight.

Thank you

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The link below is The Florida Department of Elder Affairs' website. This site is filled with additional information about health and wellness, long-term care, community-based care, projects and publications for the elderly that you can access.

 

http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/    

 

Evelyn Out

 

 

An Attorney General Consumer Alert!

 

 

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

Below is the latest Consumer's alert from Attorney General Bill Mc Collum, which is directed toward modeling scams that lured young adults and teens with false claims of training and modeling positions after completions. Many people who are scammed have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars by investing into these scams with little of no results and in some cases having the businesses in charge disappearing with their money.

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McCollum Cautions Parents of Modeling Scams

           Attorney General Bill McCollum today cautioned parents about
model and talent search agencies which promise children fame and
fortune but may disguise significant fees often associated with the
offers. The Attorney General’s consumer advisory was issued in
anticipation of an upcoming event advertised in the Tallahassee Area.

            "Offers like these are a classic example of something that
is too good to be true," Attorney General McCollum said. "I urge
parents to thoroughly research the prospective talent agencies before
signing any contracts. A bit of effort ahead of time can often safeguard
against disappointment and loss of resources in the long run."

    Talent agencies often tempt individuals with the promise of meeting
film directors, producers, model agents, and ad agencies at various "free"
events. Unfortunately, many parents find that nothing happens at the"free
evaluation" because the actual evaluation, which is attended by casting
agents and other talent scouts, takes place in a different location,
frequently out of state. Those events come with a heavy access fees in
addition to lodging, transportation, and other additional costs.

    Attorney General McCollum offered the following tips to consider
before signing up with a talent agent or agency:

-    Research a company's background and compare it with other talent
scouting agencies before signing contracts or paying required fees.

-    Never pay large fees required up-front.  Fraudulent companies will
often charge a significant fee to place photographs on a website.

-    Be aware that most legitimate agencies do not advertise in
newspapers, solicit through the mail, or "scout" for talent in malls
and other public places.

-    Make sure to get any agreement in writing.

    Consumers who believe they may be victims of fraud may contact the
Attorney General’s fraud hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or
file a complaint online at http://myfloridalegal.com.

Thank you.

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Evelyn Out.

An Attorney General Consumer Alert!

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn Here,

Beliow is a Comsumer Alerts from Attorney General, Bill MCollum.

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Date: February 08, 2007

An Attorney General Consumer Alert!

McCollum Urges Caution When Ordering “Free” Credit Reports

Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer alert warning
Floridians that many of the "free" credit report offers available
online are often far from being free of charge. Because identity theft
is a significant problem threatening Florida, many citizens seek credit
reports to monitor their personal information. According to the Federal
Trade Commission, Florida ranked fifth in the nation in 2006 for
identity theft, with more than 17,000 victims.

"The majority of the time, identity theft occurs long before victims
are aware of the crime and often by then their finances, their credit
scores and their reputations are seriously impacted," said McCollum.
"With reports of data thefts on the rise, I encourage all Floridians
to regularly review their credit reports and bank and credit card
statements carefully to detect fraudulent charges or accounts."

Numerous websites offer "free" reports or credit scores that are tied
to offers of credit monitoring and/or other services. These offers often
require payment and the consumer is usually unaware that he or she is
paying for a service. Additionally, many websites offer trial memberships
that require consumers to cancel within 30 days or they will be charged a
monthly fee. Should consumers choose to enroll in a credit monitoring
service, the Attorney General recommends documenting telephone calls when
canceling subscriptions  and follow up in writing when they choose to
cancel.

Consumers are able to request a free credit report once a year at
http://www.annualcreditreport.com. This site works in conjunction with
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three national credit reporting
companies, and is only official source for free annual reports. Reports
are also available by phone at 1-877-322-8228. Consumers have the option
of ordering just one report or one report from each company, although
authorities recommend spacing the reports out every four months.

Consumers with complaints about a credit reporting service may
call the Attorney General's Fraud Hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM
(1-866-966-7226). They may also visit the Attorney General's website at http://myfloridalegal.com, where information is available on obtaining
free credit reports and combating identity theft.

Thank you.
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Evelyn Out.