Mike Bloomberg, billionaire and former Democratic presidential candidate, announced he raised $20 million to pay off the fines of thousands of Florida ex-felons so that they can vote in the upcoming election.
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and no American should be denied that right,” Bloomberg said in a written statement, according to AP News. “Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it.”
In 2018, voters in Florida passed Amendment 4, which allows felons to regain their voting rights after completing their sentences. A federal appellate court ruled on Sept. 11 that in order to vote, they would also have to pay off their debts and legal fees.
Bloomberg’s contribution to the former felons could be crucial in the presidential election in Florida, known for being a swing state. The billionaire also pledged he would spend $100 million to help Joe Biden to win the state.
The AP reported that Bloomberg’s staffer said the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had raised about $5 million before he raised the other $17 million.
Governor proposes get-tough measures on protests, defunding the police movement
Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a new bill that increases penalties for those who participate in violent gatherings and announced he would cut the funding of local governments that defund law enforcement services.
The new legislation, named “Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act,” was announced Monday during a news event by the governor in Polk County. It seeks to create new criminal offenses to combat riots, looting and violent gatherings. People who commit the new offenses could receive up to 3rd degree felony charges.
“Our right to peacefully assemble is one of our most cherished as Americans, but throughout the country we’ve seen that right being taken advantage of by professional agitators, bent on sowing disorder and causing mayhem in our cities,” said DeSantis. “I will not allow this kind of violence to occur here in Florida.”
The legislation also increases the mandatory-minimum jail sentence to six months for those who strike a law enforcement officer during a violent assembly.
DeSantis also proposed to prohibit state grants to local governments that defund law enforcement services in the bill.
“We are not going to permit municipalities to defund the police,” said DeSantis. “If you defund the police, then the state is going to defund any grant or aids coming to you, and that applies to any municipality or local government throughout the state of Florida.”
The Florida Legislature meets in March to debate the new bill.
Higher minimum wage goes before voters in November
Six amendment proposals that could change the Florida Constitution will be included in November’s ballot, and one of them would increase the minimum wage.
The second amendment, sponsored by Florida For A Fare Wage, proposes to increase the minimum wage in Florida from $8.56 to $10 per hour starting Sept. 30, 2021, and to start raising it by $1.00 each year until 2026 when it reaches $15.00 per hour. According to the ballot, after it reaches this number, future minimum wage increases would be determined by inflation.
This would impact the 2.5 million working Floridians who require public assistance for a livelihood. According to a Florida Policy Institute report, the amendment would increase the wages of over 26 percent of the workforce in the state, it would reduce the gender pay gap and the racial pay gap, it would help households out of poverty, and it would benefit mostly workers from the service sector in Florida.
Foot Locker opens registration sites in its stores to encourage youth voting
Starting Tuesday, Foot Locker visitors will be able to check their voter status, register for voting and sign up for election reminders in their stores, according to a recent announcement from the company.
More than 2,000 U.S. Foot Locker Inc. retail locations will enable in-store registration kiosks in a partnership with the non-profit organization Rock The Vote that seeks to encourage youth voters to exercise their right during the election.
“In a year marked with such uncertainty, amid a pandemic and social unrest, our country’s future — and our collective role in shaping it — has never been more important,” said Richard Johnson, Foot Locker’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “At Foot Locker, our mission is to inspire and empower youth culture, so partnering with Rock The Vote was a natural fit to help educate and amplify the voices of today’s youth.”
There will be 4 million new eligible voters this year, according to Rock The Vote.
“To further empower team members and support their civic duty, the company will provide access to a platform of extensive resources. Providing tools and information to ensure they can cast their ballot with confidence,” said the release.
To learn more about the initiative, you can visit https://www.footlocker.com/vote.
CREDITS
Anchors: Payton Kirol, Caylee Cottrell
Reporters: Nicholas Cousineau, Alexandra Rodriguez
Producer: Brad Haft
Writers: Carla Pamela Ibanez Otiniano, Mason Feldman, Zachary Brown
Graphics editors:Bryony Deighton
Video Editors: Nicholas Cousineau, Carla Pamela Ibanez Otiniano, Gabriel Castro
Show Editors: David Jones
Web Editor/Social Media Producer: Angela Cordoba Perez
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
Faculty Adviser: Jeanette Abrahamsen
