We made it, Happy Friday!

I want to extend a huge welcome to all the new subscribers who’ve joined us in the last 24 hours. If you didn’t know, Sunland News is a free, daily newsletter that keeps you informed about what’s going on in 5 minutes or less.

In case you missed it, we had an amazing interview with Stoney’s BBQ yesterday. During the interview, he announced the new location for his restaurant and shared his future plans for taking what he’s started to new heights.

We also filmed a longer interview, which you can watch HERE.

— Ja'Min

What to Expect:

1. 🌐 What exactly is Bid Tampering: Fort Pierce City Manager arrested

2. 💳 Breeze Airways adding flights from West Palm Beach and Vero Beach 

3. 🎉 Week Events: Free family concert.

📚 Read Time: 4.78 Minutes

☁️ Weather Forecast

Weather TL;DR: "Joy and pain, sunshine and (maybe) rain." 🌞🌧️ The day will bring a mix of sun and clouds, so be ready for both. It’s going to be warm but not unbearably hot.

🌤️ Day: High 88°F
🌙 Night: Low 76°F
🌅 Sunrise: 6:52 AM
🌇 Sunset: 7:57 PM

⚠ Rip Current Advisory: Avoid swimming in areas with strong currents. Swim parallel to the shore if caught in one.

NEWS

💰🚧Fort Pierce City Manager arrested & What Bid Rigging Really Means

This story isn’t just about a headline; it’s an opportunity to understand how most things in a town or county are built—from parks to housing developments. When you hear terms like bid rigging or RFP (Request for Proposal), these aren't just random terms; they are the backbone of how our communities develop.

Imagine you’re a contractor, and the city is looking to develop a new park. They release what’s called an RFP, which is essentially an open invitation for companies like yours to bid (make an offer) on the project. The idea is to have a fair competition where the city can choose the best proposal based on criteria like cost, experience, and project vision. This process is supposed to be transparent and objective, ensuring the community gets the best value for its tax dollars.

But what happens when someone on the inside decides to tip the scales? That’s where bid rigging comes into play. In the case of Nick Mimms, the Fort Pierce City Manager, he allegedly manipulated the RFP process to favor a specific nonprofit, Lincoln Park Young Professionals (LPYP), which was co-founded by his niece. According to investigators, Mimms rigged the bid by providing non-public information to LPYP and influencing the criteria to ensure they would win the contract. This isn’t just unfair; it’s illegal.

Bid rigging erodes trust in our local government. It means that rather than the community benefiting from the best possible project, decisions are made based on personal connections and hidden agendas. This can lead to higher costs, lower quality, and missed opportunities for other businesses that play by the rules.

As someone who’s worked for a federal contractor, I know firsthand how critical it is to maintain integrity in the bidding process. The goal is to keep everything above board, where the best proposal wins based on merit, not manipulation. When this doesn’t happen, it’s not just a breach of law—it’s a betrayal of public trust.

So, what can we do? We need to stay informed and demand transparency from our local officials. Understand terms like RFPs, bid rigging, and why they matter. And second, let’s hold our leaders accountable, ensuring they act in the best interest of the community, not their personal connections.

This case serves as a reminder that our cities are built not just by bricks and mortar but by the integrity of the processes that guide their development.

🔔 Sunland Bulletin

🦀 Volunteers Needed: Angles of Hope’s Closet needs your help. 310 Inidian Hills Drive, Fort Pierce FL

🏢 A Community Job Fair by CareerSource Research Coast will be at MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.!

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📰Other News

🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE

🥽 Breeze Airways adding flights from West Palm Beach and Vero Beach: Breeze Airways is going all in on Connecticut. [More Info]

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

🏡 On Saturday, most real estate agents will be subject to new commission rules; Here’s what you should know [Read Here]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

2.9 billion records, including Social Security numbers, stolen in data hack: Don’t panic, here was you should know [Read More]

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📸This Is Saint Lucie

🗓️ Things To Do

🎷 Levitt AMP Fort Pierce and Jazz on Moore's Creek
🗓️ Friday, August 16, 2024
🕠 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 111 Orange Avenue, Lower Level, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Enjoy an evening of eclectic Neo-Pop, Funk, Hip-Hop, and R&B at this free family concert. Featuring performances by Kanise and Bradley Krist, plus food trucks, vendors, and more!

🌽 Downtown Fort Pierce Farmer's Market
🗓️ Saturday, August 17, 2024
🕗 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 101 Melody Ln, Fort Pierce, FL
Support local family businesses and enjoy fresh produce at the weekly Farmer's Market. A great way to kickstart your weekend!

🚗 Cars & Coffee Saint Lucie Lanes
🗓️ Saturday, August 17, 2024
🕙 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Saint Lucie Lanes, 6759 US-1, Port St. Lucie, FL
Car enthusiasts, grab your coffee and check out some of the coolest cars in the area at this casual meet-up.

🎹 Dueling Pianos
🗓️ Friday, August 16, 2024
🕖 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
📍 Hop Life Brewing, 679 NW Enterprise Dr STE 101, Port St. Lucie, FL
Enjoy a night of entertainment with live dueling pianos at Hop Life Brewing. A fun event for music lovers!

🍵 Afternoon Tea Lunch and Learn
🗓️ Sunday, August 18, 2024
🕛 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 LSO Jewelers & Repair, 906 SW St Lucie W Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL
Join for an afternoon of tea, learning, and community engagement. Perfect for those looking to relax and socialize on a Sunday.

🎤 Original Latin Fridays @ Don Marcos Cantina Nights
🗓️ Friday, August 16, 2024
🕖 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM
📍 Don Marcos Cantina, 8765 S U.S. Hwy 1, Port St. Lucie, FL
Dance the night away at Don Marcos Cantina with Latin music, delicious food, and drinks. A great way to start the weekend!

🕹️ Sunland Games