Tuesday s Afternoon Update | 4/6/2021
Rural leaders worry about ‘devastating prison closures
A plan to shutter up to four state prisons is alarming officials in Florida’s rural regions where correctional institutions have played an outsized role in providing jobs and supporting businesses for decades. Senate President Wilton Simpson’s proposal to consolidate prisons and demolish four facilities drew bipartisan pushback when it was released recently as lawmakers began to piece together next year’s state budget. Simpson, R-Trilby, has defended consolidation and closures, saying the plan is designed to resuscitate a prison system in crisis. More from the News Service of Florida.
Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, who represents the area, said the Piney Point issue has impacted our community for a quarter of a century.
With work continuing to prevent a potentially catastrophic collapse of a reservoir wall, the Florida Senate will consider a budget amendment Wednesday to spend as much as $200 million to clean up the site of a former phosphate plant in Manatee County.
Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, said early Monday evening that the money would be used to clean up and close hazardous phosphogypsum stacks, a byproduct of phosphate production, at the Piney Point site.
TALLAHASSEE – With a plan to cut almost $300 million from affordable housing funds drawing widespread criticism, Republican leaders agreed Tuesday to steer more dollars into the program – but still cut it by more than half.
The move would put another $59 million into housing – bringing funding to $200 million for the coming year. But if lawmakers left the housing trust fund untouched, $423 million would be available next year to build and repair lower-cost housing and help Floridians buy homes.
Rising home prices and demand spurred by low interest rates have left millions of Floridians struggling. Studies show the demand for affordable housing is now four times its supply in the state.
Florida Senate considers spending up to $200M to clean up Piney Point
Jim Saunders, Reporter, News Service of Florida
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A leak at a wastewater pond at old Piney Point phosphate mine off of U.S. 41 in Manatee County prompted a state of emergency. (Photo by Rebecca Petit via WFTS-TV)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With work continuing to prevent a potentially catastrophic collapse of a reservoir wall, the Florida Senate will consider a budget amendment Wednesday to spend as much as $200 million to clean up the site of a former phosphate plant in Manatee County.
Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, said early Monday evening that the money would be used to clean up and close hazardous phosphogypsum stacks, a byproduct of phosphate production, at the Piney Point site.
Senate President Wilton Simpson's proposal to consolidate prisons and demolish four facilities drew opposition from leaders in those rural communities.