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Who’s the Boss, the State or Cities?

Forum | Discussion | Event

The scope of local authority is becoming a hot topic as the Florida Legislature introduces laws that would overrule, or preempt, municipal and county rules.

TAMPA BAY – One of the big issues in the recently completed legislative session was home rule.

State legislators proposed several bills that cities said preempted, or usurped, their home rule powers. As the Florida League of Cities said in one position paper: “Local self-government has been described as a ‘keystone of American democracy.’ It is the most fundamental embodiment of the right of the people to govern themselves and have their issues addressed by the level of government that is closest to them. … The [proposed] bills would seize control from local citizens and put their affairs in the hands of a centralized state power, located far away from where they live and work.”

Advocates of local control, such as the Campaign to Defend Local Solutions, sees state preemption as a threat to civil rights.

“State preemption laws threaten local wages, jobs, equality and anti-discrimination laws, and our environment,” the group says.

The Campaign to Defend Local Solutions in partnership with Equality Florida, the League of Women Voters of St. Petersburg Area, and St. Petersburg College, is hosting a forum about the issue.

The discussion, A Threat to Civil Rights: A Community Discussion on Preemption, is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 24 at St. Petersburg College’s Midtown Center, 1300 22nd St. S. It will feature a panel discussion with community leaders on how to defend local protections for civil rights, the local economy, and community values. The panel will feature Kate Bradshaw, political editor of Creative Loafing Tampa as moderator, and a keynote welcome delivered by St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman.

For information or to register, go to eventbrite.com.

Campaign to Defend Local Solutions | #DefendLocal | Preemption | Home Rule | Events | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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