Good Morning, Sunland
It's Monday! And thank you all for the support on the podcast. This week's episode is live where we talk about data centers, updates on some Florida bills, and more. Check it out!
💜 Wayne Peppers became a supporter! Thank you so much for the support! I appreciate you joining People Pass. If you want to join, support here.
🌦️ Weather Update: Scattered thunderstorms developing.
☀️ Day: High of 86°F | Mixed clouds and sun this morning.
🌙 Night: Low of 54°F | Cloudy. Winds W at 10-20 mph. 24% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:29 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:30 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 6:00 AM | 🌚 Moonset: 5:21 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "The Glamorous Life" — Sheila E (but the Prince version).
Ja’Min Devon
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Fort Pierce union standoff over pay goes to impasse meeting Thursday
The City of Fort Pierce will meet Thursday at 9am to resolve a wage standoff with Teamsters Local 769, the union representing Public Works employees and other city staff. The meeting is scheduled during work hours, preventing many affected workers from attending.
The wage gap:
City offers: 5% or $1.20 per hour, whichever is greater
Union wants: 5% or $1.60 per hour, whichever is greater, retroactive to October 2025
Current contract: 5% or $1.50 per hour (city reduced the dollar floor by 30 cents)
Who this affects: Teamsters Local 769 represents sanitation workers, heavy equipment operators, park attendants, crime scene investigators, code enforcement officers, billing department staff, and non-sworn police department employees. Most Public Works employees earn between $17 and $24 per hour.
The revenue hole: Crabby's Dockside closed in February owing $215,000 in back rent and property taxes. The lease runs through 2040, creating a potential $3.1 million revenue loss without a new tenant. City Manager Richard Chess had budgeted for a Property Manager position to prevent such oversights. The commission cut it.
By the numbers: Fort Pierce's median household income is $50,583, compared to the national median of $79,466. Municipal wages generally run lower than Treasure Coast averages.
What's next: Thursday 9am at City Hall, 100 North US 1. Public comment permitted, three minutes per person.
Reporting by Robin Cartwright, Martin County Press
Press Round: Food Trucks, Music, & Land
🚚 Indian River County Delays Food Truck Rules
Indian River County pushed off voting on food truck rules until April after commissioners raised concerns about where trucks can operate and parking. The current code basically bans food trucks everywhere except special events and the Gifford Farmers Market, with the proposed rules allowing them in commercial zones of at least 3 acres.
👉 Read more (WQCS)
🎵 Okeechobee Music Festival Back After Two Years
Four days of music returns to Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee after a two-year break, with headliners like The Lumineers, LCD Soundsystem and Cage the Elephant. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday with camping, art installations and activities like goat yoga, sound baths and a corn hole tournament.
👉 Read more (CBS12)
⚡ Indiantown Approves FPL Land Use Change
Indiantown Village Council approved changing 5,722 acres of FPL-owned land to light industrial use after the utility annexed the property in January. Residents raised concerns about a potential data center during the meeting, but council members said no data center proposal is currently under review and any future project would require separate rezoning approval with additional public hearings.
👉 Read more (Hometown News)
🎉 Weekdayer: Mar 16 - Mar 20
Monday, March 16
⚾ Spring Training: Mets vs. Nationals – MLB Spring Training at Clover Park, Port St. Lucie. | Get Tickets
Tuesday, March 17
🎹 Dueling Pianos – St. Paddy's Day Edition – High-energy interactive show at Hop Life Brewing Company, Port St. Lucie. | 7–10 PM | Details
☘️ St. Patrick's Day Bash – ALL DAY – Corned beef, green beer, specialty cocktails, and live music by Wonderama & Super DJ Jay-Dee at Meating Street Steak & Seafood, Port St. Lucie. | Starts 2 PM | Event Info
Wednesday, March 18
🍺 Bingo & Beer! – Weekly bingo night with 23 draft beers and local gift card prizes at Hop Life Brewing Company, Port St. Lucie. | 7–9 PM | 21+ | Details
Thursday, March 19
🎶 Meating Street Thursday LIVE – Weekly live musical guest in a sophisticated dining setting at Meating Street Steak & Seafood, Port St. Lucie. | 6–9 PM | Details
Friday, March 20
🎵 Friday Bites & Beats – Food trucks, live music, and vendors every third Friday at Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie. | 5–9 PM | Free | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
💧 The Last Drop: This Week's Public Meetings
🏛️ PSL City Council workshop Monday 4pm – Council will discuss the Marshall Parkway and I-95 interchange project. Traffic study supports need for new interchange to handle growth in Southwest annexation area and Southern Grove development (where Costco is buying land). FDOT requires an Interchange Justification Report and PD&E Study before approving the project. Council will also review the city's debt portfolio. PSL workshop
🏛️ Fort Pierce Commission meets Monday 5:05pm – Commission will decide next steps on Crabby's Dockside after receiving title search results. Options include initiating lease termination, pursuing recovery of $215,000 owed, and issuing RFP for new marina tenant. Title report received March 12 shows no additional encumbrances on the property. Fort Pierce meeting
🏛️ St. Lucie County Commission meets Tuesday 6pm – Commissioners will vote on $758,128 settlement with the Bessemers for property at 1103 Tilton Road, plus separate $35,000 settlement with the Kanes at 1101 Tilton Road. Also voting to advertise reauthorization of Local Option Fuel Tax (public hearing April 7). County meeting
🏃 This is Sunland: Slate Rocks 5K is happening March 28!
It's going to be pretty fun. It's over off of Seaway Drive. And this is the second one started last year by my lovely cousin Iman and her sisters Tori, Riley, and Reagan. The goal is to educate the community on colon cancer as March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. And my late great uncle and their father, Darren Slaterock, unfortunately passed away of colon cancer. And he's also a big reason as to why we started Sunland News. Well, I should say why I started Sunland News is to fill in the gap that he left in the community, especially in the community of Sunland. So if you can make it out, that would be great. Thank you so very much. Register here.
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja'Min
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