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Jeff Brandes - page 54

Jeff Brandes proposes major red light camera reform

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State Sen. Jeff Brandes has proposed a series of amendments to an omnibus transportation bill that could have a drastic effect on red light cameras throughout the state. The amendments to Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles’ SB 1184 would reserve red light cameras as a last- resort safety measure at intersections prone to traffic accidents. “These cameras were initially proposed as programs designed to improve safety, but they’ve turned into nothing more than a back-door tax increase on Florida drivers,” Brandes said. “These…

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Brandes-Fitzenhagen gun bill passes committees with limited opposition

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A matching pair of proposals to allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permitduring certain emergency situations passed committees in both legislative chambers on Wednesday. First up was Ft. Myers Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen‘s HB 493, which passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee by a vote of 9-2, with Democratic Reps. Clovis Watson and Randolph Bracy dissenting. Before the vote Fitzenhagen amended her bill to create a 48-hour time limit on the bill’s exemption to concealed-carry statutes during evacuations, with a provision that allows the governor…

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2015 Legislative Session Preview: Will Airbnb make itself at home in Florida?

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What does it mean to own property? Are app-based lodging and transportation services showing the way toward an enlightened age of the Sharing Economy or simply enabling a kindler, gentler gentrification? Can I crash at your parents’ house in Boca for 70 bucks a night? As Airbnb expands its presence in Florida, such are the stakes in the looming fracas over short term rentals. Since 2008 Airbnb has hosted listings for individuals with spare rooms — or even, controversially, spare residences — to rent…

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Mitch Perry Report for 2.27.15 — Tampa City Council District 6 race just got a bit naughty

in Apolitical/The Bay and the 'Burg by

The 2015 Tampa Mayoral/City Council campaign has been a veritable snooze fest so far, but it’s starting to heat up as we approach the final weekend before Election Day on Tuesday. In an extremely personal attack, District 6 challenger Tommy Castellano Thursday night issued a vitriolic statement against Jackie Toledo, calling her and her campaign “an embarrassment.” Does Castellano think he needed something desperate to make it into the run-off? Will it hurt Toledo further, who has been the recipient of horrible news coverage during the…

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Jeff Brandes files bill to amend civil forfeiture law in Florida

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Six weeks after he said he was considering filing such legislation, St. Petersburg Republican state Senator Jeff Brandes today filed a bill that prohibits law enforcement agencies from retaining property and assets seized from individuals who are not convicted of a crime. Civil forfeiture is a controversial legal process in which police take assets from persons suspected of involvement with crime or illegal activity without necessarily charging the owners with wrongdoing. The legislation amends the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act to prevent law…

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Jeff Brandes bill would reduce local choice of representation on Hillsborough County PTC

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St. Petersburg GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes has filed legislation that would allow share-riding companies Uber and Lyft to operate legally in Florida, and would also change the current composition of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission — an agency that Brandes tried to kill in proposed legislation a year ago. The Brandes bill on the ride-sharing companies is similar to its companion in the House filed last week by Fort Walton Beach Republican Matt Gaetz in many respects. They both impose state…

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HD-52 candidate Jeff Brandes draws 150 to campaign kick-off

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

If state Rep. Bill Heller isn’t worried yet, he didn’t see what I saw Thursday night at Jeff Brandes’ campaign kick-off at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.  What I saw was 150 or so mostly young, but all politically active District 52 voters, including St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and Ed Montanari.  What I saw was a hungry, well-funded, well-organized candidate who is not on vacation in North Carolina, like certain incumbent state representatives.  What I saw was a hard-working…

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