Food Banks Brace For SNAP Cuts While Watching Federal Farm Bill
October 29, 2013
Florida’s food programs are bracing for cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that kick in November 1 — while watching warily as U.S. House and Senate conferees prepare to negotiate a federal farm bill, which could have much more far-reaching consequences for hungry Floridians.
Food banks and other programs that help Florida’s 3.6 million food-insecure residents have known for years about the cuts coming next week. The cuts were built into the 2008 federal-stimulus package that temporarily added money to SNAP, also known as food stamps, during the depths of the economic recession.
But that won’t make the cuts any easier, say advocates for the food banks and other supplemental programs. The cuts amount to $36 monthly for a family of four getting the maximum benefit of roughly $668.
“That’s going to be a significant hit for families,” said Rebecca Brislain, executive director of the Florida Association of Food Banks. “We already know SNAP doesn’t last the whole month.”
“I don’t think a lot of people realize just how low the SNAP benefit is,” said Debra Susie, executive director of the anti-poverty group Florida Impact. “In the state of Florida, the SNAP benefit per person per day is about $4.60.” And that’s before the monthly reductions that kick in Nov. 1.
The good news, said Brislain, is short-term: The state’s food banks have built their donor base and increased distribution since the recession began. Four years ago, they were collecting and distributing 72 million pounds of food a year; now, that’s up to 173 million pounds a year.
But Brislain said the long-term problem is that Florida isn’t recovering from the recession fast enough, and the state’s many low-paying jobs don’t provide enough income to make ends meet.
“All it takes is what some people consider a small family crisis — a flat tire, someone in the family getting sick — anything can stretch the circumstances to the point they need extra help,” she said. “There’s no discretion on your rent. Food is the one area, unfortunately, that people can cut back on.”
Florida’s food hardship rate is more than 21 percent, meaning that one in five Florida households reported that in the past year they struggled to buy enough food for the family.
The state is one of the hardest-hit for food security, with six urban areas in the nation’s top 25 for food hardship in 2011-2012. From June 2011 to June 2012, Florida saw the nation’s second-highest increase in SNAP use — a rise of 9.7 percent.
That fragility is why advocates for the food programs are watching nervously as the U.S. House and Senate prepare to negotiate further cuts to SNAP.
Republicans contend the food stamp budget should be cut by as much as $39 billion, the amount the GOP-led House included in its version of the federal farm bill in September. The Democratic-led Senate passed cuts of about $4 billion. Now the two chambers will go into conference on the bill Wednesday, while President Obama has vowed to veto cuts to SNAP that are too drastic.
The House also passed the so-called Southerland amendment, by U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., which includes work requirements. The House bill denies SNAP benefits to adults aged 18 to 50 who are not disabled, raising children, enrolled in training or working at least 20 hours per week.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Policies, the House bill would mean more than 400,000 Floridians could lose food assistance.
“What we have done in this country is wrong,” Southerland said on the House floor last month. “We have failed in introducing the blessing of work to able-bodied people who have the ability, who are mentally, physically, psychologically able to work, and we have robbed them of knowing a better life that they helped create for themselves and their families.”
The state has picked up some of the slack. The 2013 Legislature allocated $700,000 for supplemental nutrition programs — a 75 percent increase, said state Rep. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula and chairman of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.
“I don’t pretend to understand a lot of the politics played in Washington,” Albritton said. “But in the Florida Legislature, we’re going to be working to help people in need, including programs like this.”
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Gaetz: Don’t Cut Florida Taxes In A ‘Drib And A Drab’
October 29, 2013
With Gov. Rick Scott seeking to cut $500 million in taxes and fees next year, Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said he thinks the reductions should be focused in a couple of major areas.
During an interview on The Florida Channel’s “Florida Face to Face” show, Gaetz touted a Senate plan to roll back vehicle-registration fees that were increased in 2009 and also floated the possibility of reducing the state’s communications-services tax, which is charged on such things as cell phone bills.
He also emphasized that he thinks reductions should be targeted to help consumers.
“I think if we do a dollar here and 40 cents there, you don’t really have much of an impact on people’s sense of how much money they have in their pockets,” Gaetz said. “I’d rather do two or three things right, and do them with impact, than do a lot of things in a drib and a drab.”
While Scott has touted the $500 million proposal, he has not provided a detailed list of cuts he wants to make.
Century Joins Other Local Governments In Natural Gas Vehicle Push
October 28, 2013
The Town of Century has purchased their first natural gas powered truck, and the town’s first filling station will be installed soon. Meanwhile, other local governments are jumping on the natural gas powered vehicle bandwagon in a big way.
“Natural gas is going to be the future,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “We are trying to get in on the ground floor of it.”
The duel-fuel GMC pickup switches seamlessly between compressed natural gas and unleaded gasoline. The only big difference is the price…a gallon of regular unleaded gas is about $3.25, while the town’s cost as a supplier for an equivalent gallon of natural gas is $1 or less.
“The savings will really add up over time,” McCall said, “with natural gas prices down like they are.”
The City of Pensacola, Escambia County and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority are also jumping onto the natural gas bandwagon in a partnership. According to Mayor Ashton Hayward, Pensacola has been able “to transfer over 100 vehicles from diesel to compressed natural gas, a fuel that is cheaper, cleaner, and most importantly, produced right here in America”.
As ECUA transitioned vehicles to natural gas, they projected an annual maintenance cost savings in excess of $350,000 and an annual fuel cost savings about $900,000.
Pensacola has already constructed two CNG fueling stations with a third slated for completion in December.
“We’ll eventually open up to corporate fleets and private vehicles. This gives us a competitive edge in recruiting business and bringing more jobs,” Hayward said.
McCall sees the same opportunities for Century. The first filling station won’t be open to the public, but Century’s mayor hopes to construct a public CNG filling station soon. He’s already spreading the good news of low priced CNG to area trucking companies and other industries. And the town is looking forward to purchasing additional CNG vehicles in the future.
Century’s first CNG truck serves as a rolling billboard as well as work vehicle. The truck, on a state contract price purchase, was $34,999 from Pete Moore Chevrolet in Pensacola. The cost included $9,300 to convert the vehicle to natural gas. A Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is valued at half of the cost of the conversion ($4,650). The cost of the ad wrap from Pensacola Sign and Graphics was $1,728.
The gas department will “sell” one of their existing trucks to the Century Water Department for $12,900, which was already in the water department’s budget for a truck.
In addition, Century’s first filling station equipment and a shed will cost about $30,000 to be funded with LOST – local option sales tax – monies. The equipment will be installed in about six weeks.
Pictured top and bottom: Century’s new pickup powered by compressed natural gas. Pictured bottom inset: Pensacola Energy’s CNG filling station on Pine Forest Road just south of Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names October Students Of The Month
October 28, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their October Students of the Month. They (picture L-R) Kayla Galvan, eighth grade; Aurora McCann, seventh grade; and Keaton Solmonson, sixth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Tighten Florida Texting While Driving Ban
October 28, 2013
Just months after state lawmakers approved a ban on texting while driving, a South Florida senator filed a bill Friday to try to strengthen enforcement. The measure, filed by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, would allow police to stop motorists for texting while driving and give them citations.
The law passed earlier this year only allows enforcement as what is known as a “secondary offense.” That means motorists can only be cited for texting while driving if they are pulled over for other reasons.
The new law took effect October 1, and Sachs indicated at the time she would file a bill for the 2014 session to try to strengthen enforcement.
High School Football District Standings, Schedules
October 28, 2013
Here is a look at local high school football district standings, scores from last week, and Friday night’s schedule for Florida schools:
Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Hitting Deer Near Molino
October 27, 2013
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a deer early Sunday morning near Molino.
The accident was reported by a passerby just before 2 a.m. on Sunshine Hill Road just north of Crabtree Church Road. The 58-year old male victim was thrown from his motorcycle after a direct collision with the deer. He told first responders that he had been down in the roadway about an hour before he was found.
He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance as a “trauma alert” with back and leg injuries. The deer did not survive the crash.
The victim’s name has not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also reponded to the crash.
The Power Of Pink: Thousands Take Part In Breast Cancer Walk
October 27, 2013
About 15,000 people took part in the 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday morning in Pensacola.
“My sister and I walked with our mom who is a breast cancer survivor,” Tiffany White of Flomaton said after the walk along with her mother Brenda Peterson of Century.
Like Tiffany, most walked for a reason. For a mom, a grandmother, a friend or their own personal battle against breast cancer. For many, it’s a party-style event, with a variety of festive outfits. The walk begins at the former University Mall and ends at Cordova Mall.
“I try and walk every year in the Breast Cancer Walk, my grandma had it 15 years ago,” said Ashley Suggs of Cantonment. “She’s a survivor!”
There were hundreds of survivors honored during the walk that raises nearly a half million dollars each year for breast cancer research and the American Cancer Society.
Pictured top: Valerie Craft of Century, survivor Brenda Peterson of Century and Tiffany White of Flomaton. Pictured below: The view from Chris Jordan of Cantonment as an estimated 15,000 took part in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday morning in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Ashley Suggs of Cantonment and family walk for her grandmother. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Williams Station Day
October 27, 2013
Hundreds attended the 22nd annual Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday.
Williams Station Day takes its name from Atmore’s early history when in 1866 the community was a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern railroad.
Festival-goers were entertained by a wide variety of musical acts, and a wide variety of arts and crafts were also available. The Alabama Blues Brothers provided the feature entertainment as part of their farewell tour.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: The Alabama Blues Brothers perform during Saturday’s Williams Station Day in Atmore. Pictured inset and bottom: Scenes from Williams Station Day. NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
Master Deputy Gulsby, K-9 Caleb Place In National Competition
October 27, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Wayne Gulsby of Molino and his K-9 partner Caleb recently won third place in the Police K9 Agility Competition during the United States Police Canine Association National Certification Course in Washington, D.C.
Gulsby has been employed by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for about 27 years, and K-9 Caleb has served since February of 2013. Caleb is a German bred and imported German Shepherd and is a certified patrol/bomb dog.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.