Good Morning, Sunland! It’s Monday!

This is Sunland News, the newsletter that's written by a local, for locals. Born, raised, and still here in the community. I started Sunland News as a personal project to stay more informed, and we recently passed 600 subscribers (627 last time I checked).

Welcome to all the newcomers to the Sunland News world – we love having you here! And to those who have been with us from the start, thank you! I’m always striving to improve the newsletter week by week, day by day. (P.S. Check out the new referral program below. Share with just 1 friend, and I’ll send you some free stickers)

Without further ado, let’s get into the news.

Ja’Min

Sunland News in 5 Seconds 📬

Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry This Week! 🍽️
Florida's Minimum Wage to Increase to $13 an Hour💰
Fort Pierce's New Housing Project Raises Concerns on Affordability 🏠

📚 Read Time: 5 Minutes
Also, did somebody forward you this? Reading online? if so, subscribe here to get this news straight to your inbox👉 Subscribe

How did you hear about Sunland?

Weather TL;DR: "Rain On Me" by Ashanti🎶
Cloudy skies with showers expected today. ☁️🌧️

🌞 Day: High of 90°F
🌜 Night: Low of 77°F
🌅 Sunrise: 7:12 AM
🌇 Sunset: 7:11 PM

🌧️ Rain: 80% chance during the day, 24% at night
💧 Humidity: Day - 80%, Night - 90%

Make sure to stay dry! ☔

Check Full Weather Report Here

🍽️ Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry This Week!

Starting Wednesday, October 2, the Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry will be open at Ilouis Ellis Park (1211 Avenue M, Fort Pierce) from 8 AM to 10 AM or until products run out. No pre-registration is needed, and this is a first-come, first-served event. Please remain in your vehicle and have your trunk cleared for easy loading. Learn More

🎓 College Fair Coming Up!

A College Fair will take place this Thursday, October 3, at 6 PM at John Carroll Catholic High School, 3402 Delaware Ave, Fort Pierce, FL. Over 30+ colleges will be in attendance, making it a great chance for students and parents to connect with schools and learn more about higher education options! Learn More

🎃 Help Needed for Pumpkin Unloading at First Congregational Church!

Sunland Reader Margit needs your help! The First Congregational Church at 2401 SE Sidonia St., Port St. Lucie, FL 34953 is in need of volunteers to help unload pumpkins on Friday, October 4, around 4 PM. If you'd like to lend a hand, your help would be greatly appreciated! For more information, you can contact Margit at 772-341-6851.

🚗Check the current traffic situation via Google.

🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE

Florida's Minimum Wage to Increase to $13 an Hour💰
Starting today, Florida's minimum wage will rise to $13 an hour as part of the ongoing implementation of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2020. This gradual increase aims to reach $15 an hour by September 30, 2026. Tipped employees will also see their wages increase to $9.98 an hour.

[Read More]

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

South Florida Universities Climb in U.S. News College Rankings 📈
South Florida's three major universities saw a significant rise in this year's U.S. News & World Report's college rankings. The University of Miami moved up to 63rd, Florida International University soared to 98th, and Florida Atlantic University jumped to 189th.

In contrast, the state's highest-ranked schools, the University of Florida and Florida State University, dipped slightly, now ranking at 30th and 54th, respectively.

Notably, FIU was also named the top school for social mobility in the nation, highlighting its success in supporting disadvantaged students.

Check out the full rankings here.

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

Northern Students Flocking to Southern Colleges 🏈
More Northerners are heading south for college, with an 84% increase over the past two decades and a 30% jump from 2018 to 2022, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. The allure? Better weather, cheaper tuition, and SEC football apparently.

Ole Miss saw its Northeastern freshman numbers rise from just 11 in 2002 to over 200 in 2022, while Tennessee and Alabama experienced similar surges. The Southern college experience is clearly catching on…

What do you think is driving the trend? Let me know!

Affordable Housing…

Fort Pierce is set to add a new affordable housing complex, but there’s a twist. The Sound Meadows development, located at 4000 S. U.S. 1, is coming in as part of the state’s Live Local Act, which fast-tracks multi-family projects like this one without needing the typical municipal board approval. Basically, it’s moving forward without much local say-so.

The project will consist of nine 24-unit buildings and one 18-unit building, totaling around 234 units spread across roughly 15.87 acres. Sounds pretty normal… But here’s where it gets interesting: the rental rates will be based on the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Service Area, which includes both St. Lucie and Martin counties. This means the “affordable” rates might actually end up looking more like regular market rates rather than genuinely budget-friendly options for Fort Pierce residents.

City Commissioner Michael Broderick pointed out that by using the income levels of the wider Metropolitan Service Area, the rents are likely going to be higher than what a lot of folks in Fort Pierce can actually afford.

And if you’re wondering whether the City Commission has any power to change this, the answer is pretty much no. The Live Local Act is a state law signed into place, meaning they have to approve the project as long as it meets basic city requirements.

At the end of the day, it looks like Sound Meadows will be an example of “affordable” housing that might not actually be affordable for the people who need it most. But this project does spark an important conversation: Are these developments really serving the communities they claim to help? Only time will tell, but it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

📸 This is Sunland!

Got a chance to hit the island with my brother yesterday! Snapped this amazing picture! He was definitely setting the mood out there. Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow!

With love,
Ja’Min

🎣 Hooked: Fish & Friends - Rescheduled for Monday

🗓️ Date: September 30, 2024 | 5 PM - 7 PM
📍 Location: 802 S. 6th Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Join Framed for an evening art show celebrating the beauty of fishing and the ocean. Enjoy paintings, carvings, and community vibes. Drinks and light appetizers will be provided. Don’t miss out!

[Read More]

🏛️ Port St. Lucie Update Luncheon

🗓️ Date: October 1, 2024 | 11:30 AM
📍 Location: MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 SE Civic Center Place, Port St. Lucie, FL
Get informed with City Manager Jesus Merejo at the luncheon sponsored by the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce. Check-in starts at 11:30 AM, and lunch is at noon.

[Read More]

🚗 Car and Truck Show

🗓️ Date: October 5, 2024 | 1 PM to Sundown
📍 Location: 506 South Market Ave, Fort Pierce, FL
Show off your cars and trucks at the new Mad Mac Motorsports shop! Enjoy food trucks, raffles, and more while connecting with fellow car enthusiasts.

[Read More]