Residents voice concerns at redistricting hearing in Panama City
Panama City-- Every 10 years, the legislature is required to redraw boundaries for state legislative and congressional districts. Lawmakers are spending the next three months, traveling the state, on what they've dubbed the "listening tour". And Wednesday morning, they got an earful.
When voters arrived at Gulf Coast State College's Sarzin Hall Wednesday, they were greeted by maps of the current legislative and congressional districts. But nothing showing the proposed districts for the next decade.
"We want to hear from the citizens of Bay County. We want to hear from the citizens of the panhandle and the state of Florida to hear what they think before we start drawing maps," said Rep. Will Weatherford who is the Florida House Redistricting Chairman.
But that didn't satisfy some audience members.
"If anybody can use the internet to draw a map, why can't you use the internet to draw a map so we can see what your intentions are?," said Bay County ACLU President, Bill Pritchard.
"This is kind of what we're paying you for and so as our governor so succinctly said, let's get to work on it," said Jamie Shepard with the League of Women Voter’s.
The Florida League of Women's Voters has been extremely critical of this process.
"It's time for the legislature to get their staff together, draw the maps, and put these maps in front of the people of Florida so they can comment on these maps and not have an empty listening tour," said President of the Florida League of Women’s Voters.
But Senator Don Gaetz insists the public's input must come first.
"That would be far better it would seem to me then coming in as a group of office holders and saying alright, we've already drawn the maps. Here they are. Take them or leave them," said Florida Senate Redistricting Chairman, Senator Don Gaetz.
As for that public input, speaker after speaker had the same complaint. Bay County is too fragmented.
"It's been very confusing for the people of Bay County to have been split up into various districts. Unless there's a really good reason for it, a county should be kept intact."
"I do wish that we would keep all of Bay County together," said President of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce, Beth Oltman.
Right now, Bay County is represented by 2 different state senators and 3 different members of the Florida House.
The legislature will review the public comments this fall, then vote on the new districts during the spring legislative session. But the process will almost certainly wind-up in court.
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Continued rains along the Gulf Coast and into Florida could help to ease drought tensions in those areas. The CPC 6-10 day forecast (June 27-July 1) shows most of the United States having a good chance at above normal temperatures with the best chances
Schrotenboer of Alico Land Development said their growth is in conjunction with Florida Gulf Coast University's growth in Estero. The region near Southwest Florida International Airport and university is showing some growth, he said.
When voters arrived at Gulf Coast State College's Sarzin Hall Wednesday, they were greeted by maps of the current legislative and congressional districts. But nothing showing the proposed districts for the next decade.
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Rooms To Go opens | store, opens, rooms - TheDestinLog.com
On Saturday June 25, Rooms To Go will hold a grand opening for its new 30,000-square-foot store at Destin Commons.
The store opens at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We’re just so bullish on the area,” said Jeff Seaman, CEO and founder of Rooms To Go. “We’re bullish on the Florida Gulf Coast in general and Destin in particular.”
Rooms To Go will have more than 100 showroom displays so shoppers can see how pieces look together without having to hire a decorator. Rooms To Go started in Florida in 1991. It has stores in Pensacola and Panama City.
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