January 6, 2021
On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 3 pm, a group of twenty individuals, representing scores more voters and activists, met via Zoom with newly seated Florida District Five state senator Jennifer Bradley to discuss their legislative agenda. Bradley represents Levy, Clay, Bradford, Union, Baker, Colombia, Suwannee, Lafayette, Gilchrist, and Dixie counties.
The event was initiated by members of Indivisible Clay and Unitarian Universalist congregations. Sandra Goldman, of Indivisible Clay County, and David Johnson, of Indivisible and Unitarian Universalist congregations, orchestrated the meeting. They were joined by representatives of the Sierra Club, Cedar Keys Audubon, Citizens for an Engaged Electorate, Cedar Key News, Clay County Democratic Executive Committee, the Levy county Democratic Committee, the Action Coalition of Cedar Key, and other interested progressive groups.
In their efforts to hold legislators responsible, and supporting legislation reflective of their values, Goldman and Johnson articulated the meeting’s fourfold purpose: to present their Legislative Agenda, to hear Bradley’s legislative priorities, to determine common ground, and to engage in a question period.
The focus of Indivisible’s Legislative Agenda, provided to Bradley beforehand, related directly to Bradley’s Senate committee assignments; hence, no pauses occurred in the meeting. Bradley’s committee assignments include: Community Affairs, Chair; Agriculture, Vice Chair; Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Education; and Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
The twenty individuals, led by Goldman and Johnson focused their questions on their agenda. When asked about the poor pandemic response and vaccination unpreparedness, Bradley responded that both “were slower than they should be.” She noted that the system would “ramp up for a week” and in two weeks, “be in a new place.” When asked what other legislation she is considering for COVID assistance, her response was, “Everything is on the table.”
When asked about MCORES, Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance, she said she would not support legislation to halt the toll road extensions.
When asked about the proposed new legislation that would expand the current “stand your ground” law to further justify people using force against one another over criminal acts during protests, like looting, she responded that she had not yet read the bill.
One participant shared the polluted state of the St. Johns River and suggested that Bradley strongly consider SB 1720, Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, and 1654, Biosolids Management, as starting points for her legislation.
The question of Kindergarten through Grade Twelve standardized testing in the year of COVID-19 was proffered. Bradley stated that she would support year-end testing to assess how far behind children had fallen. She was encouraged to hold students harmless.
Bradley supported raising new teachers’ salaries but does not support raising veteran teachers’ pay.
Goldman, Johnson, and Bradley ended the call at 3:50 pm expressing hopes of future meetings.
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