I've written VICTOR RAYMOS, St. Johns County Board of Realtors Association Executive and CEO, and St. Augustine Record Editor Craig Richardson, re: RAYMOS' apparent overt weekly acts of plagiarism in the St. Augustine Record.
No response yet.
Here is my e-mail:
Dear Messrs. Raymos and Richardson:
1. Every Saturday, the St. Augustine Record runs a column with the byline of St. Johns County Board of Realtors AE/CEO VICTOR J. RAMOS.
2. Are those columns his original work, or are they plagiarized?
3. The column that ran on Saturday, April 20, 2019 appears to have been plagiarized from a document written by Florida Board of Realtors Interim Vice President Ms. Danielle Scogins.
4. Is it, at best, unethical, sexist and misognyist for Mr. Raymos to misappropriate and take credit for work done by Ms. Scoggins?
5. Will you kindly agree to cease and desist publishing plagiarized copy, effective April 27, 2019?
6. Will you Kindly identify which columns were plagiarized?
7. Will you apologize to your readers?
8. Was this plagiarism intended to influence Mr. Raymos candidacy for Airport Authority Commissioner?
9. What does the St. Augustine Record and GateHouse intend to do about this plagiarism?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Florida Legislature: Update for the week ending April 12
By Danielle Scoggins
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 16, 2019 – We have passed through week six of session and achieved some very positive milestones. First off, the House AOB bill, HB 7065, passed off the floor on a 96-20 vote! That's awesome news, especially when you consider that its Senate companion, SB 122, only has one more committee stop to go.
There was also very good news for our open/expired permits and remote notary bills. On the open/expired permits side of things, we saw HB 447 pass the Commerce Committee on a 22-0 vote. It will now head to the House floor with its Senate companion, SB 902, having only one more committee stop. For remote notaries, SB 548 passed its second committee on a 5-0 vote. It now heads to its last committee with its House companion, HB 409, in a similar position.
For our vacation rental bills, we had a mixed outcome. On the positive side, HB 987 passed its last committee, the Commerce Committee, on a 13-11 vote. The advocacy efforts of our members and strong support from the committee's chair, Representative Mike La Rosa, are what made this possible. Unfortunately, the Senate Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee temporarily postponed SB 824. This makes the passage of SB 824 unlikely as this committee is not set to meet again this session.
Moving into week seven, mark your calendars for April 17 at 2:00 p.m. This is when the Senate Rules committee plans to take up three of our priority bills. That's right, open/expired permits, AOB and remote notaries are all on the agenda, and it's the last committee stop for each of these bills. Suffice it to say, this is a very important committee meeting. Additionally, our House remote notaries bill will be heard on April 16 at 1:30 p.m. This is also the last stop for this bill in the House.
Priority budget issues
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley has indicated that budget conferences with the House could begin by April 22. The below information is where our budget priorities currently stand.
Water quality and environmental funding
The House budget includes $607 million that will be spent on water quality, Everglades Restoration and other environmental projects. The Senate budget includes $660 million for these same environmental priorities. All signs point to the final environmental spending plan landing somewhere close to the governor's proposal of $625 million.
The House budget includes $607 million that will be spent on water quality, Everglades Restoration and other environmental projects. The Senate budget includes $660 million for these same environmental priorities. All signs point to the final environmental spending plan landing somewhere close to the governor's proposal of $625 million.
The overall appropriation for Everglades related projects is $360 million. A third of this money will be used to begin moving dirt on the EAA reservoir, which will be used to store and clean water that is released from Lake Okeechobee and will eventually be moved south to the Everglades and on to Florida Bay. There is also a line item in the Department of Transportation budget that uses money from the DOT trust fund that will fund the remaining money needed to complete the raising of Tamiami Trail. This will be a huge step to send more water south through the Everglades and on to Florida Bay. These, and other projects, will all have positive impacts on limiting algae once they are completed.
Two other important environmental issues that deserve mentioning are red tide and septic tanks. The Senate has included $27 million for water quality improvements related to a red tide/blue green algae task force with the House including $19 million for the same project. There is also a bill that will direct funding to the Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota to study red tide. On septic, the Senate has included a straight $25 million for septic-to-sewer projects, while the House has included a dollar-for-dollar match program for these projects up to $50 million.
Housing Trust Funds
For the first time in more than 10 years, the Senate proposes to fully fund the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds at $331.9 million. The House proposes to sweep $200 million from the housing funds into general revenue, spending only $123.6 million on housing. Florida TaxWatch released a report this week that analyzes the Legislature's history of not using housing funds for their dedicated, intended purpose. Florida Realtors® is urging the House to accept the Senate's position on the housing trust funds.
For the first time in more than 10 years, the Senate proposes to fully fund the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds at $331.9 million. The House proposes to sweep $200 million from the housing funds into general revenue, spending only $123.6 million on housing. Florida TaxWatch released a report this week that analyzes the Legislature's history of not using housing funds for their dedicated, intended purpose. Florida Realtors® is urging the House to accept the Senate's position on the housing trust funds.
Tax cutsThe House Ways & Means Committee approved a $161 million tax cut package this past week. The bill, HB 7123, contains a Business Rent Tax reduction (.35 percent rate cut). It also proposes hurricane and back to school sales tax holidays, and a few other non-tax cut provisions.
Division of Real Estate
The House and Senate budgets include $500,000 for the Division of Real Estate to combat unlicensed real estate activity.
The House and Senate budgets include $500,000 for the Division of Real Estate to combat unlicensed real estate activity.
LIDAR
The House and Senate budgets include language that allows the Division of Emergency Management to continue spending the $15 million currently being used for LIDAR mapping.
The House and Senate budgets include language that allows the Division of Emergency Management to continue spending the $15 million currently being used for LIDAR mapping.
Priority bills we're watching
Private property rights/vacation rentals
SB 824 – Preempting the regulation of vacation rentals to the state. Current status: Temporarily postponed by the Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee. This committee is not scheduled to meet again. HB 987 – Companion bill to SB 824. Current status: Passed by the Commerce Committee. Senate companion bill temporarily postponed, so bill will move no further.
SB 824 – Preempting the regulation of vacation rentals to the state. Current status: Temporarily postponed by the Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee. This committee is not scheduled to meet again. HB 987 – Companion bill to SB 824. Current status: Passed by the Commerce Committee. Senate companion bill temporarily postponed, so bill will move no further.
Open and expired building permits
HB 447 – Provides requirements related to open and expired permits.
HB 447 – Provides requirements related to open and expired permits.
Current status: Passed by the Commerce Committee on a 22 – 0 vote. Now heads to House floor. SB 902 – Companion bill to HB 447. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Assignment of benefits (AOB)
SB 122 – Attorney Fee Awards Under Insurance Policies and Contracts. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 7065 – companion bill to SB 122. Current status: Passed by the House on a 96-20 vote. Awaiting Senate action on SB 122.
SB 122 – Attorney Fee Awards Under Insurance Policies and Contracts. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 7065 – companion bill to SB 122. Current status: Passed by the House on a 96-20 vote. Awaiting Senate action on SB 122.
Online remote notariesHB 409 – Authorizes online notarizations. Current status: On Judiciary Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 1:30 p.m. SB 548 – Companion bill to HB 409. Current status: Passed Government Oversight and Accountability Committee on a 5-0 vote. On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Emotional support animals
HB 721 – Provides that individual with disability who has emotional support animal is entitled to access to housing accommodation. Current status: On Judiciary Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 1:30 p.m. SB 1128 – Companion bill to HB 721. Current status: On second reading in the Senate.
HB 721 – Provides that individual with disability who has emotional support animal is entitled to access to housing accommodation. Current status: On Judiciary Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 1:30 p.m. SB 1128 – Companion bill to HB 721. Current status: On second reading in the Senate.
Taxation
HB 7123 – House tax cut bill that includes a reduction of the Business Rent Tax. Current status: On Appropriations Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 10:00 a.m. SB 1112 – Senate tax bill that includes a reduction of the Business Rent Tax. Current status: On Finance and Tax Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 1:00 p.m.
HB 7123 – House tax cut bill that includes a reduction of the Business Rent Tax. Current status: On Appropriations Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 10:00 a.m. SB 1112 – Senate tax bill that includes a reduction of the Business Rent Tax. Current status: On Finance and Tax Committee agenda for 4/16/2019 at 1:00 p.m.
Other bills of interest
Deregulation of professions and occupations
HB 27 – Removes regulations on specified DBPR professions. Current status: On second reading on the House floor. SB 1640 – Companion bill to HB 27. Current status: In Appropriations Committee waiting to be placed on agenda.
HB 27 – Removes regulations on specified DBPR professions. Current status: On second reading on the House floor. SB 1640 – Companion bill to HB 27. Current status: In Appropriations Committee waiting to be placed on agenda.
Growth managementSB 728 – Authorizing sufficiently contiguous lands located within the county or municipality which a petitioner anticipates adding to the boundaries of a new community development district to also be identified in a petition to establish the new district under certain circumstances. Current status: In Rules Committee waiting to be placed on the agenda. HB 437 – Companion bill to SB 728. Current status: Placed on the special order calendar for 4/17/2019.
Homeowners' insurance policy disclosures
SB 380 – Revising circumstances under which insurers issuing homeowners' insurance policies must include a specified statement relating to flood insurance with the policy documents at initial issuance and renewals. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 617 – Companion bill to SB 380. Current status: Placed on special order calendar.
SB 380 – Revising circumstances under which insurers issuing homeowners' insurance policies must include a specified statement relating to flood insurance with the policy documents at initial issuance and renewals. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 617 – Companion bill to SB 380. Current status: Placed on special order calendar.
Local tax referenda
SB 336 – Providing that a referendum to adopt or amend a local discretionary sales surtax must be held at a general election. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 5 – Companion bill to SB 336. Current status: Passed House on a 69-44 vote.
SB 336 – Providing that a referendum to adopt or amend a local discretionary sales surtax must be held at a general election. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 5 – Companion bill to SB 336. Current status: Passed House on a 69-44 vote.
Property development
HB 7103 – Prohibits local governments from imposing certain requirements relating to affordable housing. Current status: Committee substitute text filed. SB 1730 – Companion bill to HB 7103. Current status: In Rules Committee waiting to be placed on agenda.
HB 7103 – Prohibits local governments from imposing certain requirements relating to affordable housing. Current status: Committee substitute text filed. SB 1730 – Companion bill to HB 7103. Current status: In Rules Committee waiting to be placed on agenda.
Military affairs
SB 620 – Prohibiting a landlord from requiring a prospective tenant who is a service member to deposit or advance more than a certain amount of funds. Current status: In Rules Committee waiting to be placed on agenda. HB 891 – Similar bill to SB 620. Current status: In State Affairs Committee waiting to be placed on agenda.
SB 620 – Prohibiting a landlord from requiring a prospective tenant who is a service member to deposit or advance more than a certain amount of funds. Current status: In Rules Committee waiting to be placed on agenda. HB 891 – Similar bill to SB 620. Current status: In State Affairs Committee waiting to be placed on agenda.
Insurance
HB 891 – Citing this act as "Omnibus Prime"; increasing the required reimbursement of loss adjustment expenses in reimbursement contracts between the State Board of Administration and property insurers under the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 301 – Similar bill to SB 714. Current status: Placed on special order calendar.
HB 891 – Citing this act as "Omnibus Prime"; increasing the required reimbursement of loss adjustment expenses in reimbursement contracts between the State Board of Administration and property insurers under the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Current status: On Rules Committee agenda for 4/17/2019 at 2:00 p.m. HB 301 – Similar bill to SB 714. Current status: Placed on special order calendar.
All of the bills that the Public Policy Office is tracking can be found on our Legislative Tracker.
Danielle Scoggins is interim vice president of public policy for Florida Realtors
© 2019 Florida Realtors®
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