Miami-Dade County Gun Buy Back on July 27

Miami-Dade commissioners Sally A. Heyman and Dennis C. Moss are hosting gun buy back events on July 27. People that drop off guns will not be asked questions about where they got their weapons. Citizens that drop off guns will be given $200.00 gift cards good at their local retailers.

Heyman gun buy back event.

The North Miami will be hosted by Commissioner Sally Heyman at Biscayne Landings sales office at 15045 Biscayne Blvd., in partnership with Miami-Dade, North Miami and Biscayne Park police.

Moss gun buy back event.

The South Dade regional Gun Buy Back is at 11350 SW 216 St. and will be hosted by Commissioner Dennis C. Moss.

Both events will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Florida Did Not Ban Computers & Mobile Phones

Progressive are having fun linking to a Huffington Post article about Florida accidentally banning all computers and mobile phone devices. The truth is the HB 155 was written for internet cafe computers "adapted" to be gambling games.

(1) As used in this chapter, the term "slot machine or device" means any machine or device or system or network of devices that is adapted for use in such a way that, upon activation, which may be achieved by, but is not limited to, the insertion of any piece of money, coin, account number, code, or other object or information, such device or system is directly or indirectly caused to operate or may be operated and if the user, whether by application of skill or by reason of any element of chance or any other outcome unpredictable by the user, may:

(a) Receive or become entitled to receive any piece of money, credit, allowance, or thing of value, or any check, slug, token, or memorandum, whether of value or otherwise, which may be exchanged for any money, credit, allowance, or thing of value or which may be given in trade; or

(b) Secure additional chances or rights to use such machine, apparatus, or device, even though the device or system may be available for free play or, in addition to any element of chance or unpredictable outcome of such operation, may also sell, deliver, or present some merchandise, indication of weight, entertainment, or other thing of value. The term "slot machine or device" includes, but is not limited to, devices regulated as slot machines pursuant to chapter 551.

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature didn't ban computers and mobile phones. If you plan on rigging your phone or computer into a gambling machine then you would be breaking the law. I don't imahine anyone plans to turn their iPhone into a slot machine.

Consuelo Zapata, owner of Incredible Investments, LLC, claimed in a lawsuit against the State Attorney's office of Miami-Dade County that HB 155 has banned all computers and mobile phones. Zapata claims that his internet cafe is just providing a public service of help people get on the web. Zapata's attorney stated in the complaint that the plaintiff's internet cafe runs game promotions. The game promotions is what cafe owners that have conducted gambling used to legally allow them to have online gambling. That changed after HB 155 became law. If people are paying to gamble on Zapata's computers then it is illegal under Florida law.

Shocker: Rick Scott Warming Up to Miami Dolphins Stadium Deal

It should come as no surprise that Gov. Rick Scott is leaning towards supporting the Miami Dolphins stadium deal.

I like the fact that the Dolphins are putting up a lot of [the club's] money up," he said Tuesday, the day after the football team inked an agreement with Miami-Dade County. "I like the fact they're committing to stay. I like the fact that there's a referendum. They're fulfilling those obligations. But I haven't seen the return-on-investment numbers, which of course is the biggest thing."

Study after study have found that sports stadiums do not have a major positive economic impact for local communities. A study by economists Brad Humphreys and Dennis Coates for the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute found the financial benefits of sports stadiums overrated.

Our conclusion, and that of nearly all academic economists studying the issue, is that professional sports generally have little, if any, positive effect on a city's economy," Humphreys and Coates wrote in a report issued last month by the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; The institute commissioned the professors to study the economic impact of a deal proposed by Anthony Williams, the mayor of Washington, D.C.; under terms of the agreement, Major League Baseball would move the Montreal Expos to the nation's capital in exchange for a new, city-built ballpark.

Economist Dean Baim found that taxpayers loss money on sports stadiums. The reason is simple. Taxpayers pay for the construction and upkeep of the sports venues. The owners of the sports franchises keep the profits. Cities do not get a return on their investment. Would you give money to let someone start a business and then let that business owner keep the profits? That is exactly the kind of deals elected officials negotiates with sports franchises.

Scott made the statement that the Miami Dolphins will put up money to pay for the stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer promised to pay have the cost of the construction of Raymond James Stadium. Glazer later reneged on that promise. Don't count on Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to put up a penny for a new stadium.

Miami-Dade Closes Early Voting Office

Moveon.org posted this on Facebook.

BREAKING: Early voting in Miami-Dade closed earlier than promised with 180 people still in line.

Call the Miami-Dade Board of Elections at 305-499-VOTE and demand they let everyone vote!

SHARE this with everyone you know!

People are calling the Miami-Dade office and getting a voice message.

Rick Scott Making Voting Like the DMV

Patricia Mazzei and Steve Bousquet report 3 hour long lines for people waiting to vote in Miami-Dade county. The League of Women Voters of Florida have asked for more early voting hours. Unsurprisingly, Republican officials have scoffed at the idea.

Adam Putnam

“There’s no unusual circumstances,” Putnam said. “There’s no weather-related events. There’s nothing out there in the state of Florida right now that would create the basis for an emergency order for the governor to produce.”

Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll

“We still have days to vote. It’s not the end yet, and we certainly have election day as well, that people can turn out and vote,” she said.

State Senator Don Gaetz

“Aren’t these the same people who were running around the state saying the changes to early voting amounted to voter suppression?” Gaetz said. “So now we’re seeing a historically high level of turnout, and they’re complaining.”

The turnout has nothing to do with the new voting laws approved by Republicans and everything to do with people interesting in the presidential race. Gaetz logics is like why do people that complain about the food in a Turkish prison keep eating. It might be because these people don't feel like starving to death. People don't like standing in long lines, but feel that it is their civic duty to vote.

Republicans love to cite the long lines at the DMV as proof that government doesn't work. The Florida Republican establishment is doing everything in there power to make voting as pleasurable as a DMV visit.

Another tidbit of information: Florida Republicans know they are trying to restrict voting. Why else would they say that 2012 has the same amount of early voting hours as 2008. There were actually 120 early voting hours in 2008. Gov. Rick Scott will only allow the legal limit of 96 hours. Former Gov. Charlie Crist was still a Republican when he extended voting hours in 2008. Crist deserves majors kudos for allowing Floridians the opportunity to vote.

Obama Combatting Homelessness

President Barack Obama will use $10 billion of HUD money "to create green jobs, to revive housing markets with high rates of foreclosure, and curb homelessness." The money will come from the Promoting Stable Communities and Helping Families Hardest Hit by the Economic Crisis.

These investments will help communities and families that have experienced the brunt of the economic downturn. Resources will be used to stabilize and revive local neighborhoods and housing markets with heavy concentrations of foreclosed properties. Funds will also assist the vulnerable families and individuals who are on the brink of homelessness or have recently become homeless.

HUD has also set up the Homelessness Prevention Fund.

HUD is allocating nearly $1.5 billion to state and local governments to help rapidly re-house homeless persons and families who enter shelters. In addition, HUD's Homelessness Prevention Fund will significantly expand efforts to prevent homelessness among those facing a sudden economic crisis.

Florida will get $74 million for homeless-assistance programs.

Orlando has been granted $6 million to stop the growing homeless population.

"Millions for the homeless? Let me see it. I pray to God that there's an honest bookkeeper," homeless man Charles Theus said.

The Coalition for the Homeless will use the money to place homeless people in apartments. I'm interested in what Jackie Dowd has to say about this. Dowd is an Orlando homeless advocate attorney.

In Tampa, the United Way is asking for $1.3 million. The Tampa United Way's fundraiing fell by $2 million in 2008. Marc Sutherland of America's Second Harvest of Tampa said, "The need is going up and it's getting harder and harder to get food for these programs." America's Second Harvest of Tampa provides food to 350 agencies that feed the homeless.

Miami-Dade county will receive $25.6 million. Mayor Carlos Alvarez gave the right message about the grant money.

Member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Board, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez declared, "This record level of funding represents a continued commitment on behalf of U.S. HUD to help communities that have helped themselves. We are fortunate to have these additional funds to help these needy families and individuals; and grateful to HUD for their collaboration in addressing those most in need."

Jacksonville received a meager $2 million.