Union members protest outside Tampa VA hospital

Workers fighting for hazardous duty pay, adequate protective measures

Outside the James A. Haley VA Hospital Saturday evening, members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 547 chapter could be seen protesting. The union members – which includes EMS workers and doctors – are asking for hazardous duty pay and a sufficient stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers as they begin flu season while the pandemic continues. In a statement, the hospital said the “protest does not reflect” their “safety practices, which have proven effective.”

DEO extends waiver for Florida unemployment benefits

Work search requirements waived until December

Floridians impacted by job loss due to the coronavirus have something to look forward to. The waiver allowing Floridians to receive unemployment benefits without performing work searches and enduring waiting weeks was originally set to expire on May 30, until the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) extended it. The DEO has extended the waiver yet again. Now, the extension is in effect through Dec. 5. DEO has paid over 1.94 million claimants a total of $14.8 billion as of Sept. 3. Click here to read more.

Thousands of mail-in ballots rejected in Aug. primary

Voting rights groups call for extended deadlines

Thousands of mail-in ballots arrived too late to be counted in the Florida Aug. primary, according to law. The ballots were rejected, and now voting rights groups are worried that the Nov. election will not be different unless voting deadlines are extended. Florida’s status as a battleground state means that elections are decided by thin margins. Ballots are usually rejected because they arrived too late or had a signature issue. Currently, mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day in Florida. Voting rights groups are calling for the deadline to be extended to five days after Election Day. This way, ballots received late would still count as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

Timeline for new team for non-violent 911 calls in St. Petersburg deemed “uncertain”

Originally set to launch in beginning of October

In July, the St. Petersburg police made headlines when they set aside $3.8 million to hire social workers and other trained professionals to respond to non-violent 911 calls.  The Community Assistant Liaison (CAL) program was supposed to be running by Oct. 1. As of Sept. 4, the city has made no progress on the creation of the program. The city must put out a request for proposals (RFP) before implementing a program, which a city spokesperson claims might occur in October. The announcement of the program was well-received. Some community activists wished for the program to start sooner. It is uncertain when the program will start.

Hudson branch library closes until further notice

Bed bug infestation behind shut down

The Hudson branch library will be devoid of people for the foreseeable future due to a bed bug infestation. Staff noticed the bed bugs about two weeks ago. A pest control company did “spot treatments,” but after that method failed to work, the county decided to tent the whole building. The library’s press release advises patrons who have visited the library in the past two weeks to check for the bugs in their home and wash their clothes and bedding in hot water. They should dry the items on the hottest dryer setting. The library is expected to be closed for the next week or two.