A Message from the SSDC President - Sept., 2023
Whew! We lucked out as Hurricane Idalia missed Tampa. It has been an unusually hot summer.
But we persevered. And for those of us who believe climate change is here and now, this WILL be the new norm.
But politics is divisive so we must convince our politicians to enact laws that deal with climate change before it is ‘too late’.
On August 28th our nation celebrated the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech at the march on Washington for jobs and freedom in 1963. Dr King’s speech included the following: “ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.”
We need to be mindful of what Martin Luther King believed, and at this point in time 60 years later with all the civil rights advancements our country through the has done a 180, our civil liberties are sliding backward, not only for African-Americans, but for all people, including all minorities and women.
Democracy is fragile, and as we have witnessed through our state and national politics the Republican Party, which is controlled by far-right extremists, wants to make America a White Christian country.
This is the time for all of us to stand up and fight.
We, as members of the South Shore Democratic Club, will continue to use all our volunteer efforts to take back Florida, re-elect Biden, win a majority in the House and increase our majority in the Senate. Democracy will survive, and this is not hyperbole.
We call upon all of you to get involved. Our club and precinct captains will guide you on the ongoing campaigns for phone banking and emailing registered democrats to remind democrats to re-apply in order to receive a mail in ballot.
The state legislature has passed laws to suppress registration of voters through third-party groups.
We will launch a new voter registration campaign using digital technology to help voters to register.
Fran Bodman
South Shore Democratic Club Monthly Meeting
Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023
In Person or On Zoom

MARIELLA SMITH, a long-time advocate for smart growth management, transportation solutions and environmental protection, has filed to run for election to the Hillsborough County Commission, in District 6, which is countywide. The at-large seat is being vacated next year by Commissioner Pat Kemp due to term limits. Mariella Smith previously served as a countywide commissioner from 2018 to 2022.
During her term she worked to curb sprawl and to force developers to pay more of their fair share of roads, schools, and other infrastructure needed for growth. She has made county government more transparent and accessible to residents, and spearheaded changes to give people more input into development decisions that affect their neighborhoods.
Mix N' Mingle: 1:00 PM
Meeting: 1:30 PM
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Social Hall
1239 Del Webb Blvd. West
Sun City Center, Fl 33573
Light refreshments will be served
Registration is optional if you plan to attend in person, but we encourage you to register, so we will know to expect you. You must register if you plan to attend on zoom.
Valencia Lakes Friends of Democracy Club Special Event


Watch Florida Supreme Court hearing on abortion ban
This video is anything but boring!
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Streamed live on Sep 8, 2023 - First Coast News
The arguments are over a 15-week abortion ban, but if the state Supreme Court overturns the right to abortion, the 6-week trigger ban will take effect.
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Watch the Florida Supreme Court Abortion Ban Hearing
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Read 'Here is how we save American democracy'
by Robert Reich
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"The next 14 months will be critical to the survival of the American system of democracy, and that individual action is essential."
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View an extremely timely documentary by PBS / NPR
Listen to the Podcast Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News
Long before Governor Ron DeSantis declared a new war on wokeness, Florida lawmakers in the 1950s and 60s tried going after the NAACP, suspected communists and gay people in Florida schools and universities. The lawmakers upended life for countless numbers of their fellow Floridians before being upended themselves by their own zeal for the cause. Now that DeSantis is bringing this playbook to a presidential campaign, Rachel Maddow and Isaac-Davy Aronson ask what we can learn from the last time Florida went down this path. - Apple Podcasts Preview

Are you enrolled for Vote by Mail ?
You will need to re-enroll for Vote By Mail every 2 years (every election cycle) going forward because of new laws in Florida.
Call or e-mail the office of the Supervisor of Elections the day after you vote so that you’ll be set for the next election.
Call: (813) 612-4180
Email: voter@votehillsborough.gov
On Line: Supervisor of Elections
South Shore Democratic Club Sept., 2023 Monthly Meeting

Rocky Brancato, Chief Operations Officer of the Hillsborough County Public Defends Office, speaks at the SSDC Sept. Monthly meeting.
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Anti-Immigrant Law. Criminalizes businesses who employ immigrant workers, threatens deportation and forces families to flee Florida.
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Permitless Carry. Makes it easier to carry a loaded gun in public without a permit or background check.
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Abortion Ban. Bans abortion after 6 weeks with unworkable exceptions, requires two in-person appointments before being eligible for care.
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Don't Say Gay Expansion. Promotes book bans, limits curriculum and prohibits use of preferred pronouns in schools.
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Death Penalty. Reduces the threshold for the death penalty from unanimous vote to 8 out of 12 jurors.
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Rent Control Ban. Loosens regulations on rent increases, caps on security deposits and lease terminations.
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Operating on Religion. Gives doctor's license to deny life-saving care on the basis of religious beliefs.
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Concealing Corruption. Changes Sunshine Laws to allow Governor DeSantis to avoid public disclosure and hide travel records.
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Censoring Academic Freedom. Silences educators and stops public colleges and universities from using public funds for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
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Union Busting. Targets public workers and cripples unions, stops union fees from being deducted from pay checks.
Bad Florida Bills Going into Effect
Please take a moment to view this extremely important message from the Hillsborough County Democratic Party