Surviving 2020 Vital Elections in the Year of Covid 19
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Aug 2020 Tampa Palms - Surviving 2020 Vital Elections In The Year of Covid 19 Your Voice In Government Tampa Palms CDD Supervisor Runs For Local And National Hills County School Board District 3 Voting was probably never more important than today: Neither of the community organizations in Tampa Palms, - We can't count on future elections to cor- not the CDD nor the TPOA, takes a position endorsing rect the bad things that may result from the candidates for office. current elections Voters can well make their own decisions. - We can't count on other people voting the way we expect or want them to. That said there is no candidate more available for residents to get to know than one who is a neighbor, so beginning There Are Three Ways to Vote many years ago with Joe Caetano and including such folks as Shawn Harrison and Curtis Stokes, the newsletter Tampa Palms residents have voting options and can makes everyone aware of the candidacy of owners in our choose the one that best fits their needs : Tampa Palms - TPOA portion - who run for public office. 1. Vote By Mail 2. Vote Early In 2020 Jessica Vaughn of Cambridge II is a 3. Election Day In Tampa Palms candidate for the Hillsborough County School District Board, Seat 3 . For options and help contact the Supervisor of Elections staff at https://www.votehillsborough.org/ Jessica was elected to the Tampa Palms CDD Board in 2016. To get to know Jessica, you can “Contact Jessica” as Don’t Forget the Primary seen below from her web page or go to her web page on August 18, 2020 line at: Often relegated in the popular mind to “just where the parties choose their candidates”, todays’ primaries are www.jessicavaughn.us far more important. √ Every race where there are more than two candidates is voted on in the primary. √ If a candidate receives 50% of the vote plus 1 vote, they are elected, otherwise √ The top two vote getters go to the General Election See Related Article on Page 4 Full election date and precinct location information is provided for Tampa Palms residents. PAGE 2 Its Time For Those Looking For Ways To Make Political Signs …. Again Annual Meeting Safer With both the primaries only days away and the big day The TPOA Board and General Counsel continue to looming ahead in November, Tampa Palms, and the whole work on ways to conduct the business of Tampa Palms nation, is set to experience another wild and crazy season in a safe and legal manner that conforms to the Emer- with both local races and the general election. gency Orders of the State of Florida and the Governing Documents of the TPOA. Enthusiastic candidates and their supporters are more than The current thinking is that there will be a combination eager to place signs at every of the relevant documents (budget and any required single location where signs CCR changes) sent to each voter rep and owner as well can possibly be stuck. as placed on the web site for review. CAUTION: There are limi- More information will be provided in the coming tations on political signs weeks. placed in yards in resident Recycling Problems Hit Tampa Palms properties in Tampa Palms. Due to a severe shortage of drivers brought about by Many similar upscale communities do not allow residents Covid infections, the garbage and recycle collections to place any political signs in their yards. for Tampa Palms have been reduced. The TPOA leadership is sensitive to the desires of some of its The County took control of the situation and worked members to express political opinions. with the hauler to properly allocate the available re- For that reason the TPOA Board has granted a limited and sources. uniform variance for political signs to be placed in yards. A political sign is allowed (no RMC application required) under • Garbage collection, which is a health and safety the following conditions: issue, will continue as normal on Monday and Thursdays. • Only 1 sign per yard • Recycle collection will be on alternating Mondays, • Signs should be tactful, supporting a candidate or commencing on 7/20, following on 8/3 and 8/17. issue – not attack signs Blue bins will not be collected but if left out, gar- bage drivers will place an orange sticker on them • Placed no more than 6 weeks before the election explaining the dates for collection. • Promptly removed the day after the election The actual variance granted by the TPOA Board reads: One sign supporting a political candidate or position may be erected in the front yard no more than 6 weeks before that election and must be removed the day after the election. The sign must be no larger than 2 ft high and 2 ft 6 in feet wide. The Tampa Palms Professional Staff PAGE 3 Enjoying The Summer …..With Swimming Pool Safety Watch That Pool! The Experts Maintain Fun Turns To Tragedy In Seconds Layers of Protection Are Best This is a most unusual summer season with limits on almost Pool safety experts say that there is no one fail-safe pro- all activities making it vital that parents and others with tection against accidental drowning. They recommend children in the home take stock of their pool safety and the multiple layers of care, ranging from education to devices importance of teaching children about water safety. that secure the pool. More than 90% of the homes in Tampa Palms have a pool The chart below details five layers of protection. It was or spa. Swimming pools are a great way to have fun, “beat devised to remind parents that no one strategy can be the heat” and at the same time bring families together but solely relied upon for safety. owning a pool is a major responsibility. Said a different way, the most critical elements can be Florida loses more children to drowning than any other boiled down to these three: state, pretty grim statistic to be sure. • There has been a 70% increase in child drownings in • Supervise children at all times when near the pool 2020 over 2019. • Make certain proper barriers, alarms and latches are • The major cause of death for children between 1 - 4 in place. years old is drowning and 60% of the drownings occur • Know what to do in an emergency (CPR) and have in or near the home. phones nearby to call for help. * Data courtesy of Fla Dept of Health Elections 2020 Are Here Voting In The Time of Covid– Made Easier Voting In Hillsborough County– Your Choice Upcoming Elections, Dates and Times Register to Vote To vote in any election you must register at 2020 Primary Election* least 29 days before the election. Deadline to register or change party: July 20 Registration is easy and can be done online. Just go on line to https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home Early Voting: August 3 - 16, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. for the complete instructions. Election Day: August 18, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Three Ways To Vote Supv. of Elections began mailing out the Vote By Mail There are three ways to vote, allowing every citizen to choose the one that best fits their needs. ballots on July 9, and voted ballots must be in the Super- visor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on August 18. Vote By Mail is probably the easiest way. You simply request a ballot; it is mailed 2020 General Election* to you with easy - to- follow instructions as to how to fill it out and return it. Deadline to register: October 5 The ballot can be returned by US Mail (safest to return the ballot by mail a week Early Voting: October 19 - November 1, Time before the election), 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. The ballot can be dropped off from your car in secure boxes available at the Early Voting sites during vot- Election Day: November 3, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. ing hours. Supv. of Elections begins mailing out Vote By Mail bal- For more information about “vote by mail” go online to lots on September 24, and voted ballots must be in the https://www.votehillsborough.org/VOTERS/Vote-By- Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on November 3. Mail * In the case of an emergency, all dates are subject to Early Voting change, which will be announced. If you're registered to vote in Hillsborough County, you can vote at any Early Voting site, one close to home or close to work or close to a favorite restaurant. (This is dif- ferent from Election Day voting when you must vote in your precinct.) There are Early Voting Locations across the County, the closest to Tampa Palms is the New Tampa Library on Cross Creek. Precinct 358 Precinct 357 Compton Park Com Ctr For more information go online to Grace Episcopal Church 15102 Amberly Drive 16101 Compton Drive https://www.votehillsborough.org/VOTERS/Early-Voting Election Day Voting On Election Day you must vote in your precinct. There have been some changes to Tampa Palms precincts this year. Maps for the Tampa Palms precincts are to the right . For more information about Election Day Voting go online to https://www.votehillsborough.org/VOTERS/ Election-Day-Voting PAGE 5 Damaged Tampa Palms CDD Gets Ready Blvd Repaired For 2021 Subcontractors Working Along Boulevards Proposed FY2020-21 Budget Not Kind To Tampa Palms Follows Model Introduced In 2016 The heavy equipment used to The FY 2020-21 General Fund Budget is based on the lay cable along the north side CDD’s Five-Year Financial Model.