Good Morning, Sunland
Itās Friday! And itās my last newsletter until March 24th. My birthday is on Monday, March 17th, so as a gift to myself, Iām taking a bit of a break.
Iāve been writing this newsletter for the last nine months and havenāt missed a day (outside of holidays), so a little reset wouldnāt hurt. While I wonāt be writing every day, Iāll be using this time to catch up on some projects for the newsletter and come back strongāready to keep growing and keeping everyone informed in St. Lucie County.
Thank you for being here! Alrightā¦
š“ Want to Try? R&S Patties ā Jamaican beef patties, coco bread, oxtail, curry goat, jerk chicken, and more. Looks like itās worth a shot!
š”ļø Weather Update: A golden day with a full moon glow š
āļø Day: High of 79Ā°F | ā
Sunshine and clouds mixed,
š Night: Low of 67Ā°F | š¤ļø Partly cloudy
š
Sunrise: 7:31 AM | š Sunset: 7:29 PM
šµ Sounds like: āMoonbeam Levelsā by Prince šš
JaāMin Devon
š The Main Squeeze: Parking Continuedā¦
Catch Up: The City of Fort Pierce has officially responded to community concerns about its plan to introduce paid parking at Jetty Park, Jaycee Park, and South Causeway Park. Their latest statement emphasizes that this pilot program is meant to fund park maintenance, beach improvements, and public safety.
What the City is Saying:
š° Paid parking revenue will go toward park upkeep, infrastructure, and beach maintenance.
š The move is also meant to increase parking turnover on South Hutchinson Island, where businesses have raised concerns about limited availability.
šļø The city acknowledges the backlash and says itās working to implement the plan with residentsā best interests in mind.
But Hereās the Issue:
Locals arenāt sold. Many feel they shouldnāt have to pay for parking at their own parksāespecially when theyāre already paying taxes.
š¬ What Some of You Are Saying:
āFREE for locals!!!ā
āWe already pay for cops. Why canāt they enforce parking instead?ā
āIf I have to pay for parking, Iām hanging up my volunteer T-shirt.ā
Whatās Next: The final contract with PCI Municipal Services is still in the works, but itās clear the city has a communications battle ahead.
š The Press Round: $15 Parking
šļø New $40M Business Park Approved in Stuart
Stuart City Commission unanimously approved the Baron Business Park project on Willoughby Blvd, bringing 135 units for small businesses and a new traffic signal near Martin County High School. Construction is set to begin this summer and finish in 18 months.
š Read more
š St. Lucie County Has the Highest Property Tax Rate in Florida
St. Lucie County homeowners are paying the highest property tax rate in the state, according to Florida TaxWatch. While the average tax bill is around $2,000, residents say the financial burden is growing. County officials link the high millage rate to lower home values compared to wealthier counties.
š Read More
š St. Lucie County Opens Public Housing WaitlistāBut Not Section 8
For the first time since June 2022, St. Lucie Countyās public housing waitlist is open until April 10. However, Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) remains closed. The average wait time for public housing here is 48 months, with 774 families currently living in public housing across Martin and St. Lucie counties.
š Read more
š Top Events: The Top Clicked Events This Week
Saturday, March 15
šāāļø Slate Rockās 5K ā Honor Darin Slaterās legacy with this meaningful run spreading awareness for Colon Cancer. | 7:30 AMā11 AM | Register Online
šØĀ Peacock Arts Market ā A weekend-long event showcasing local artists and vendors. | 9 AMā3 PM (March 15-16)
š„Ā Saturday Drive-In Movie Night: Transformers ONE ā Watch the latest Transformers movie under the stars. | 7:45 PM | Tickets Required
Sunday, March 16
š¾ St. Pattyās Celebration Pot Oā Gold & Pet ParadeĀ ā A fun-filled market with a pet parade, pony rides, live music, and a karaoke session. | 9 AMā2 PM
Monday, March 17
š St. Pattyās Pot of Gold Search at SusieDoosā Playhouse ā A fun gold coin hunt for kids with special prizes. | 10 AMā12 PM
If you have an event, send it to me here
š§ The Last Drop: 3 Things For The Road!
š Fort Pierce Adds 4 New Pickleball Courts at Pinewood Park
Pinewood Park is back open after an $83K renovation, featuring new pickleball courts, a resurfaced tennis court, and upgraded playground equipment. Some locals are still pushing for a name change to honor Bonny Dunn. š Read more
š¢ Fort Pierce is Hiring!
The City of Fort Pierce is looking to fill multiple positions, including Administrative Assistant, Project Engineer, and more. If youāre looking for a local job š Apply here: Link
š Florida Ranks No. 1 for Business Relocations
Florida led the nation in business moves for the 30th year, gaining 503 new businesses in 2023 and seeing a surge in startups. š More details
šø This is Sunland: See You Soon!
Iām not sure why Iām feeling so reflective about taking this break, but the words I write here donāt quite do justice to how grateful I feel to create this newsletter. I love improving it slowly but surely, and I appreciate you all for being on this journey with me.
See you soon! With love,
JaāMin
š Thanks For Reading: How was todayās newsletter?
šš§šā
š Thanks for reading! If you found it useful, consider sharing it with a friend.
š± Keep up with the Sunland News: Send comments & suggestions to [email protected] Follow us on, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube
šāāļø Did someone forward you this? Subscribe Below!
