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It’s Wednesday! Let’s jump right in!
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🌦️ Weather Update: Showers possible.
☀️ Day: High of 86°F | Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. Winds ESE at 5-10 mph. 40% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 70°F | Partly cloudy. Winds light and variable. 21% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:25 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:45 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 8:23 AM | 🌚 Moonset: 7:16 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "You Make Me Feel Brand New" — The Stylistics
Ja’Min Devon
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Treasure Coast Reality Group wants to guide you in purchasing a home! Finding affordable housing in St. Lucie County? Treasure Coast Realty Group is giving you a free buyer’s guide covering property search, financing, pre-qualification, and pre-approval process.
⚽ Main Squeeze: Port St. Lucie Approves Soccer Stadium Deal with Major Protections
What's Going On: Port St. Lucie City Council gave preliminary approval October 20th to a 50-year operating agreement for a professional soccer stadium at Walton & One, with built-in safeguards designed to avoid past public-private partnership failures. Many residents are worried about the cost to taxpayers, so City Council held a special meeting to address those concerns and provide clarity on how the deal is structured.
By the Numbers:
$80 million: Current estimated stadium cost (up from $55 million)
$27.5 million: Maximum city reimbursement over 20 years
6,000 seats in a 6-acre stadium
2027: Target opening for USL League One team
24 guaranteed city event days per year (~20 home games)
120% performance bond required
Money, Money, Money: The city will reimburse Ebenezer Stadium LLC up to $27.5 million starting one year after opening, paid over 20 years from CRA tax increment financing funds. This is not coming from the general fund or new taxes. Each annual payment requires City Council approval. The reimbursement cap stays at $27.5 million despite costs rising from $55 million to $80 million. The hope is that the property values in the CRA increase as projected. Otherwise
Where the money comes from: Mayor Shannon Martin emphasized the reimbursement comes from existing CRA tax increment financing funds, not new taxes. "It's an existing CRA. It's not something new that we are creating for the benefit of this stadium, whatsoever. It's been in existence for a very long time." Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo added that property owners outside the CRA will not pay for the reimbursement.
The safeguards: "Our history allowed us to anticipate worst-case scenarios and really ensure that the city is either neutral or wins in every scenario," Councilman Anthony Bonna said.
Key protections:
120% performance bond: If construction starts but doesn't finish, city can call the bond to complete it
No liens against city land
No general fund money for construction
Ebenezer pays all taxes, parking, traffic and safety plans
Land reverts to city if not purchased
The revenue split:
Naming/sponsorship rights: Split between Ebenezer and city
City events: 100% to city
Ebenezer events: 100% to Ebenezer
City gets suite, 10 field-level tickets, parking passes for games
What's next: November 4th second vote on operating agreement, plus votes on non-relocation agreement and development/funding agreement. If approved, stadium targets 2027 opening at Walton & One development.
💭 Your take: Is this a good deal for Port St. Lucie? Do the protections adequately guard against past problems? Share your thoughts here.
🍊 Press Round: Connection and Help Wanted Needed…
💰 Sheriff and Commissioners Remain Deadlocked After Budget Meeting
Indian River County commissioners held firm on their $6.8 million budget increase for Sheriff Eric Flowers at Monday's special meeting, despite hearing from deputies and staff about salary needs and jail operations funding. Flowers, who originally requested $14.6 million then lowered it to $12.2 million, says the meeting doesn't end his lawsuit alleging commissioners violated state law by not properly discussing budget line-item cuts.
🛣️ $447M Project Would Connect I-95 and Turnpike for First Time
FDOT unveiled plans for a massive interchange near Bridge Road in Hobe Sound featuring four elevated ramps across 233 acres designed to carry 26,000 vehicles daily by 2050. The project faces opposition from Hobe Sound Farms owner Zach Gazza, whose 126-acre property would be impacted despite state officials claiming no homes or businesses are being taken, with the plan also affecting 77 acres of wetlands.
📚 St. Lucie Schools Desperately Need 22 Bilingual Teachers
The district is hosting a hiring event October 30th to fill urgent vacancies for 17 Haitian Creole and five Spanish-speaking ESOL professionals to help the 7,800 English language learners who make up 15% of students. ESOL Coordinator Aleida Trinidad says "our babies are struggling" as English-learning enrollment jumped 10% since September 2024, with starting salaries ranging from $24,556 to $42,156 plus teacher benefits and summers off.
👉 Read more (TCPalm subscription required)
🎉 The Weekender: 7 Events to Check Out This Weekend!
Friday, Oct 24
🎬 Horror Movie Double Feature – Halloween (1978) + Sinister back-to-back at the drive-in with concessions and spooky vibes. | 7:30 PM | $19 per vehicle | Details
Saturday, Oct 25
🎃 Night of the Thirsty Dead – Downtown Fort Pierce pub crawl with 5 venues, live music, DJs, and $5,000 costume contest. Includes wristband and 5 drink tickets. 21+. | 7 PM–Midnight | $40 pre-sale, $45 day of | Details
🎬 Corpse Bride Drive-In – Halloween edition family movie night at Treasure Coast Park and Watch. | 7:30 PM | $14 per vehicle | Details
🍛 7th Annual Treasure Coast Caribbean Food & Music Festival – Cultural celebration with Caribbean food, music, and community vibes in Port St. Lucie. | Check time (8 hrs) | Check pricing | Details
🎃 iL Mercato Fall-O-Ween – Fall photo booth, face painting, trick-or-treating, bounce houses, local vendors, and food trucks at Tradition Square. | 1–7 PM | Free | Details
Sunday, Oct 26
📸 This is Sunland: Photo Finish!
Photo by J’Qwan
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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