Politics

Lawmakers launch bipartisan budget push to protect Jewish college students

Published

9 hours ago

March 17, 2025

A bipartisan dream team of Florida lawmakers is pushing for new state funding aimed at enhancing security and cultural protections for Jewish students at three of the state’s largest universities: the University of Florida (UF), Florida State University (FSU), and the University of South Florida (USF).

The proposal seeks to bolster physical security, counter misinformation, and strengthen community ties in response to increasing concerns about antisemitism on college campuses through supporting campus Hillel organizations at UF, FSU and USF using a model that combines security enhancements with education and relationship-building efforts.

While Florida has invested significantly in security for Jewish K-12 schools and community centers, this initiative marks the first major effort to extend dedicated funding to protect to Jewish college students. And if passed, Florida would become the first state to implement a large-scale, data-driven program specifically aimed at Jewish student safety at the college level.

Sen. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican who is championing the funding request at USF, emphasized the importance of a proactive approach.

“This is about taking action — not just reacting to antisemitism but actively working to prevent it,” Burgess said. “USF, UF and FSU are leading the charge, and we hope these efforts can serve as a successful model elsewhere.”

Across the United States, college campuses have become hotbeds of antisemitic rhetoric and violence. National data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that 83% of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, with more than a quarter (27%) reporting antisemitic activity by faculty.

These trends are seen in Florida, too.

“Florida has done more to protect Jewish residents than any other state, but significant challenges are seen even here,” said Karen Cyphers, partner at Sachs Media and Vice President of the Tallahassee Jewish Federation.

“We’ve been surveying Florida residents on antisemitism regularly since 2018, and the trendline is disturbing. In the past two years alone, the share of Floridians who believe Jews are responsible for what happened to them in the Holocaust has risen four-fold and even more disturbing is the steady share of young people who say Hamas was justified in carrying out the October 7 attack.”

This victim-blaming appears correlated with current events. Multiple Florida voter surveys by Sachs Media over the past year show that 40% of Floridians under age 45 believe Hamas was justified in its attack on Israeli civilians, 58% are unaware of Hamas’ stated goal to eliminate Israel, and 26% say violence against American supporters of Israel is justified.

To counter these trends, this proposed initiative includes increased security personnel, surveillance and training; cultural programs celebrating Jewish heritage and fostering understanding; educational initiatives to combat misinformation and antisemitism; community outreach through dedicated liaisons to improve campus relations; and counseling and training for students affected by antisemitism.

Sen. Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican who is leading the funding request at FSU, stressed the importance of ensuring all students feel safe on campus.

“We cannot allow antisemitism to fester on our campuses,” Simon said. “Every student deserves to feel secure expressing their identity, and this effort ensures that Jewish students at FSU and across Florida have that right.”

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa, who is advocating for USF’s portion of the funding, described the initiative as a necessary measure for student safety and cultural understanding.

“We have an obligation to make sure every student, of every background, feels safe on campus,” Driskell said. “Safety stems from a sense of understanding, and this project is focused on building those kinds of bridges.”

At UF, the proposal is backed by Sen. Stan McClain, an Ocala Republican, and Rep. Chad Johnson, a Chiefland Republican.

“Education should be a space for dialogue and learning, not fear and intimidation,” McClain said. “This funding will help ensure UF remains a safe and welcoming environment for Jewish students.”

“If approved, this funding would make Florida the first state to implement a large-scale, data-driven initiative focused on Jewish student safety at the college level,” Johnson said.

Democratic Rep. Allison Tant of Tallahassee, leading the effort at FSU, emphasized Florida’s leadership role in protecting Jewish communities.

“Florida has led the way in protecting Jewish communities, and Florida State has demonstrated exemplary support for these students,” Tant said. “This is the next step, to amplify these efforts from a grassroots level up. What we do here can serve as a national model.”

Advocates argue that the initiative’s impact will go beyond security, helping to shift campus culture by fostering understanding and dispelling harmful misinformation. Brian Pelc, Executive Director of Hillel at FSU, highlighted the unique support Jewish communities receive in Florida compared to other states.

“Jewish communities in Florida receive a level of support from our public institutions, including state leaders and college administrations, far beyond what peers experience in other parts of the country,” Pelc said. “This project is designed to make sure we’re building on those efforts by honing our communications, deepening understanding, and strengthening relationships to mitigate the spread of antisemitism.”

With strong bipartisan backing, proponents remain optimistic about the initiative’s approval in the upcoming legislative session.

“Jewish students at USF should feel safe and supported, both physically and culturally, on our campus and in our surrounding communities,” said Sylvie Feinsmith, Executive Director of Hillel at USF. “This initiative allows us to not only enhance security but also to invest in education and relationship-building, ensuring that misinformation and antisemitism have no place in our community.”

“This effort is about more than just protection, it’s about reinforcing a campus climate where Jewish students can thrive without fear and contribute to campus culture, life, and academics in the many beautiful ways they do. By strengthening security and fostering greater understanding, we are ensuring that UF remains a place of learning, respect, and inclusivity for all,” said Rabbi Jonah Zinn, Executive Director of Hillel at UF.

“By allocating these funds to protect Jewish students and organizations on university campuses, Florida will continue its commitment to its Jewish community which has faced an alarming rise in antisemitism,” said Daniel Frank, ADL’s Florida Regional Director. “All students should be free to learn in an environment without fear for their safety and engage in campus activities without fear of harassment or intimidation.”

These funding requests (Forms 2206, 2318, and 3321 in the House, and Forms 2938, 1508, and 1681 in the Senate) are currently under review and will be debated in the coming months.

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Politics

Florida unemployment rate in January shows first increase in months

Published

14 minutes ago

March 17, 2025

May Greene

Florida’s jobless rate increased for the first time in about a half year to start 2025.

FloridaCommerce released the January figures showing that the unemployment rate came in at 3.5%. That’s the first increase in about a half year.

The rate held steady at 3.4% for the back half of 2024. Prior to that, the rate remained at 3.3% for most of early last year.

There were 390,000 people out of work in January in Florida out of a total labor force of 11,188,000 people in the state. That total labor force figure is the highest number Florida has ever seen.

“Florida continues to prove that leadership and conservative fiscal policies drive success,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “We will keep the momentum going by insisting on reducing government spending, continuing to eliminate bureaucracy, and finding more tax reductions for Floridians.”

While Florida’s jobless rate increased in January, it still remains lower than the national rate, which is 4%. The Sunshine State has maintained a lower jobless figure than the national number for 51 straight months.

Miami-Dade County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state for January at 2.4%, slightly down from December’s 2.5%. But compared to a year ago, January’s unemployment rate saw a 0.5-percentage-point increase from last year.

Sumter County had the highest unemployment rate in the state in January at 6.9%.

Among major metropolitan areas in Florida, Fort Myers and Pensacola shared the dubious distinction of having 4% unemployment rates in January, the highest among large metro areas. Both were increases month-to-month and compared to January 2024.

Jacksonville and Tampa each had a 3.8% unemployment rate in January. Both were increases from a year ago, and each had an increase from the December unemployment rate.

Palm Beach County registered a 3.7% jobless figure in January. That figure was also up for the month and the year-over-year comparison.

The Orlando area also had an increase in the jobless figure, coming in at 3.6%. As was the same with other major metro areas, that figure was an increase for the month and the year.

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Blaise Ingoglia proposals giving voters new term-limit powers clear first Senate hurdle

Published

46 minutes ago

March 17, 2025

May Greene

Two proposals from Sen. Blaise Ingoglia that could cap the tenures of long-standing legislators in Tallahassee and throughout the state have cleared the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee.

First, the committee approved SJR 536, which proposes a constitutional amendment on the 2026 General Election ballot.

It would potentially block legislators who served two full terms in the Senate and four years in the House (16 years total) from returning for more time in the legislative branch.

An amendment from the temporarily absent Sen. Erin Grall that was presented by Jenn Bradley would have relaxed the cap to 24 years total. But it was deemed unfriendly by the sponsor and failed by a 3-3 vote.

Bradley is concerned by the “lifetime ban” that could result from Ingoglia’s measure, though she acknowledged the “ping pong” of legislators between one office and the other.

“If you serve and years later you want to come back and serve your community, I think that’s the most American thing you can do,” the Clay County Republican said.

Ingoglia is open to a “time certain” element to the language that could open up potential returns after a certain point for legislators, and that theoretically is something that could be seen at a future committee stop.

Monday’s committee also approved SJR 802, which seeks a separate amendment setting eight-year term limits for County Commissions and School Boards, though terms of office that started before the 2022 General Election would be off the clock under this proposal.

Bradley proposed a change to this bill as well, starting the clock with the 2026 election and extending the term limit to 12 years. That amendment, also filed by an absent Grall, failed as well.

Stakeholders from around the state slammed Ingoglia’s measure in comment ahead of debate and the vote.

Jeff Scala of the Florida Association of Counties protested the proposal’s “one-size-fits-all approach,” saying the amendment would block the popular will in individual counties.

Wakulla County Commissioner Ralph Thomas said the “distant, uniform mandate … flies in the face of principles upon which our country and state were founded” and that the bill is an “affront to the spirit of liberty.”

Debate transcended party lines.

Vice Chair Mack Bernard, a Democrat, said he supported the bill but worried it would hurt the interest of small counties and saw “work that could be done.”

Grall, who arrived too late to get her amendments onto the bills, spoke of the need for “institutional knowledge” and said she was a “no” on the bill because the “number is wrong.”

“Eight’s the wrong number,” Grall said.

Ingoglia said polling showed voters wanted eight-year term limits.

“All we’re saying is put it on the ballot,” the Spring Hill Republican said.

Both Senate measures have two committee stops ahead. The House companions for each have not been heard, but both have only been referred to two committees total.

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Florida’s heartland needs EV infrastructure, not more barriers

Published

1 hour ago

March 17, 2025

May Greene

Florida is at a pivotal moment.

Our state now has over 400,000 registered electric vehicles (EVs), the second-highest in the country and consumer demand for clean transportation continues to grow, driving a critical need for charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas and evacuation zones. Unfortunately, proposed efficiency audits threaten to stall progress, discarding millions in federal grant funds while pushing rural communities further behind and exposing them to continued soaring gasoline prices.

Over the last six years, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Legislature have focused on striking a balance to make sure Florida is ready to embrace the future while ensuring fiscal conservancy. The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) recent study cited that for every dollar invested in transportation the state generates a return of $4.40.

Recognizing that EV adoption continues to accelerate with 1 in 10 new vehicles sold in Florida in Q4 2024 being electric, FDOT created the state’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan in 2021. However, despite ranking second in the nation for registered EVs, Florida’s charging infrastructure isn’t keeping pace, with rural regions lagging the most and critical gaps in coverage still remaining.

Last year, Florida spent time and money deploying temporary mobile EV charging stations along Interstate 75 and Interstate 4 during Hurricane Milton to meet the demands of residents along evacuation corridors and in rural areas. After both Hurricane Milton and Helene, Florida’s EV stationary charging stations were up and running swiftly, while gas stations struggled for weeks with long lines and inadequate fuel supplies.

Investing in permanent EV charging infrastructure along evacuation routes and in rural areas would cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase resilience — helping Floridians before, during and after disasters.

Rural communities from Immokalee to the Panhandle continue to wait as new and unnecessary bureaucratic barriers slow funding distribution and create uncertainty. With rural drivers spending 30% more on transportation annually than urban drivers and with limited public transit options, reliable EV infrastructure will be crucial to reducing costs and meeting their community’s needs.

Creating new barriers and task forces isn’t just red tape — it prevents rural Floridians from saving over $10,500 on the lifetime of their EV purchase, savings they’ll miss without access to charging stations.

Investing now in future-ready infrastructure is not only efficient, it’s essential to keep Florida ahead of the curve. Our state’s leaders have long championed cost-effective, market-driven solutions that reduce government waste while delivering real savings to everyday Floridians.

The transition to electric vehicles presents an opportunity to uphold those values — reducing transportation costs, increasing fuel independence and making rural communities more resilient — regardless of your ZIP code. By funding mobility solutions today, we ensure Florida is prepared for tomorrow’s transportation needs, reducing long-term costs and positioning the state as a leader in sustainable innovation.