🌅🏛️ Fort Pierce’s Half-Cent Tax

Good Morning, Sunland

It’s Wednesday! We are half way there! Let’s jump straight in!

🎡 Excited For: The St. Lucie County Fair kicks off soon, but Martin County’s fair is happening now—might have to make the drive! 🚗🎠 Check out the schedule here: Details

🌡️ Weather Update: A warm February day with a full moon glow

☀️ Day: High of 87°F | 🌫️ Areas of fog early, becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon
🌙 Night: Low of 67°F | 🌤️ A few passing clouds, with SSE winds at 5-10 mph.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:00 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:11 PM
🌕 Full Moon Alert! Moonrise at 6:28 PM | Moonset at 7:11 AM
🎵 Sounds like: “Before I Let Go” by Maze feat. Frankie Beverly 🎶

🗳 Poll Question: What’s the most important infrastructure fix Fort Pierce should prioritize?

🍋 The Main Squeeze:💰 What Fort Pierce’s Half-Cent Tax Could Fix

📌 The Story Here:

The City of Fort Pierce is proposing a half-cent sales tax (Read Here) to tackle a $1.2 billion backlog of road, water quality, and public safety projects. From street resurfacing to sidewalk construction, the plan focuses on fixing long-overdue infrastructure issues across the city.

If approved, Fort Pierce’s share of the tax revenue would help fund 13 major projects, many of which have been stuck in limbo due to lack of funding.

🚧 What’s on the List:

🏙️ 13th & 17th Street Revitalization: New sidewalks, drainage, and streetlights for safer, more walkable roads in underserved neighborhoods.
🛣️ Street Resurfacing: 42 miles of roads are rated “poor” and need repaving—without funding, some will require full reconstruction.
🚸 Sidewalk Safety: Emil Avenue and Avenue I projects aim to provide safer routes for pedestrians, especially students near Lincoln Park Academy.
🌊 Water Quality Fixes: Moore’s Creek and Georgia Avenue stormwater projects to reduce pollution in the Indian River Lagoon.

❓ Why It Matters:

• Fixing Neglected Neighborhoods: Many of these projects impact historically underserved areas, bringing long-overdue improvements.

• Public Safety First: Crumbling roads, failing bridges, and missing sidewalks pose risks to drivers and pedestrians.

• Economic Growth: Better infrastructure attracts businesses and improves quality of life.

⏳ What’s Next:

• City leaders are making their case for the tax now—expect discussions to ramp up.

• If approved, the tax would provide long-term funding, but there’s no guarantee all projects will be fully covered.

📢 Your Turn:

What do you think—should the city move forward with this tax? Leave your thoughts here.

🍊 The Press Round: Final Interview!

🏖️ Frederick Douglass Beach Reopens Ahead of Schedule

St. Lucie County’s only equestrian-access beach will reopen on Friday, Feb. 14, months ahead of schedule. The park underwent road paving, parking upgrades, and drainage improvements, with horseback riding tours returning the same day.

👉 Read more

🏡 St. Lucie Commission Approves More Oak Ridge Ranches Development

Two more residential pods, totaling 1,280 units, were approved for the Oak Ridge Ranches development near Glades Cut Off and Range Line roads. While commissioners debated public park requirements, the project moves forward with a mix of townhomes and age-restricted communities.

👉 Read More

🏛️ Fort Pierce Finalists for City Manager Announced

Seven candidates will interview next week to replace City Manager Nick Mimms, who is set to be officially terminated. The finalists include local government leaders, military veterans, and private sector executives, with interviews scheduled for Feb. 18-19.

👉 Read about the finalists

🍹The Refill: 💌 The Woman Who Changed Black Women’s Healthcare

Presented by Anley Cardiovascular

💡 Byllye Avery: The Florida Activist Who Fought for Black Women’s Health
When Byllye Avery saw how Black women’s health concerns were overlooked, she took action. Born and raised in DeLand, Florida, Avery made it her mission to improve healthcare access, education, and advocacy for Black women—founding the National Black Women’s Health Project in 1983.

💬 Why It Matters: Black women face higher risks for heart disease, pregnancy complications, and other serious health conditions—often due to systemic barriers in care. Avery’s work empowered Black women to take control of their health and demand better treatment.

🔑 The Takeaway: Your health is your power. Anley Cardiovascular is carrying on the legacy of leaders like Avery by offering expert heart screenings and prevention resources to the community.

❤️ Stay informed. Stay empowered. Follow @AnleyCardiovascular for heart health tips that matter.

🎉 Weekend Events: Taste of Italy Fest This Week!

🗓️ Friday, February 14

🇮🇹 Taste of Little Italy Festival at Tradition Square
Port St. Lucie. A weekend-long celebration of Italian culture with food, music, and art. | 4 PM–8 PM | Details

🎡 Martin County Fair & Youth Livestock Show
Stuart. Rides, fair food, live music, and family-friendly fun at the county fair. | 5 PM–12 AM | Details

🎤 Autumn Soul Karaoke at Westside VFW
Fort Pierce. Sing your heart out in this fun, laid-back karaoke night. | 5:30 PM–8:30 PM | Details

🌠 Daughter of the Stars at Hallstrom Planetarium
Fort Pierce. A unique star-gazing show exploring Native American celestial stories. | 7 PM | $7 | Details

🗓️ Saturday, February 15

🌿 Olive Branch GreenMarket
Port St. Lucie. A community-based outdoor market featuring local farmers, artisans, and small businesses. | 10 AM–2 PM | Details

👶 Gather & Grow at SusieDoos' Playhouse
Port St. Lucie. A networking event for parents while kids enjoy supervised playtime. | 10 AM–12 PM | $5/kid | Details

🍹 Brunch Beats & Live DJ at Berry Forkin’ Good
Port St. Lucie. Brunch with a side of live DJ beats and good vibes. | 11 AM–2 PM | Details

🎬 Saturday Drive-In Movie Night: Wicked
Fort Pierce. Enjoy a magical drive-in screening of Wicked under the stars. | 7 PM | Details

🗓️ Sunday, February 16

🛍️ Port St. Lucie Green Markets
Port St. Lucie. An open-air market with local vendors, food, and live entertainment. | 9 AM–2 PM | Details

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop: Museums to Visit!

1. 🏛️ Treasure Coast Museums
   TC Palm just dropped a list of 30 must-visit museums in the area. See the List

2. 🏡 Rate Relief in Florida
   Mortgage buydowns helped lower interest rates last year, especially for new homes. With rates still high, will this trend continue? Read More

3. St. Lucie County School District
   Is expanding career education to start as early as kindergarten. Partnering with the Economic Development Council Read More

📸 This is Sunland: Photo for the Road!

With Valentine’s Day coming up, one thing I regret this week is not writing a love letter—to the city, to the people of Sunland News.

I just want to say thank you for the grace and patience you’ve shown since this newsletter began. It’s what keeps me going and improving along the way. And trust me—it only gets better from here!

Alright, see you tomorrow. With love,
Ja’Min

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