Page 9 - Boca Exposure - July '20
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Boca Exposure, Page 9
       Mayor’s Update:



       Unity In Boca Raton And Pride In Our Public Safety



       Scott  Singer  is  the  35th                      senior staff, the entire city council, and many resident   had already implemented all of them long before recent
       Mayor of Boca Raton.  A                           advocates all marching together in opposition to bigotry   tragic events, as part of an ongoing commitment to best
       South Florida native,                             and  hate.  Hundreds  of  residents,  representatives,  and   practices. Our department has earned full accreditation
       attorney, mediator and small                      public safety officers all stood together against racism   from  national  and  standard  boards,  and  continually
       business owner, Scott and his                     and wrongful force.                               reviews  its  policies  and  procedures  to  ensure  the  best
       wife, Bella, live in Broken                          Thanks  to  many,  including  Pastor  Ronald  Brown   service to our community.
       Sound with their two young                        of  Ebenezer  Missionary  Baptist  Church  and  Minister      As  part  of  the  accreditation  processes,  our  public
       children.                                         Charles Cocklin of Breaking Chains, for organizing the   safety  officers  receive  enhanced  training  far  above
          The nation was outraged                        meaningful event. It was only the beginning of what we   state requirements. Our enhanced public safety training
       by the senseless and brutal                       will do in our city to foster greater understanding and   includes  the  areas  of  mental  health,  PTSD,  autism,
       killing  of  George  Floyd.                       action to ensure that the promise of America is realized for   protection orders, and fair and impartial policing. We have
       As a few cities saw great                         all residents. We all are listening and committed to greater   a fully staffed Community Outreach Unit, with officers
       conflict between some residents and their police forces,   dialogue, partnership, and action. Our shared value of the   dealing with neighborhoods, homeless outreach, college
       we  are  fortunate  to  have  seen  the  opposite  in  Boca   promise of this nation means a greater commitment to   liaisons, and crime prevention. In addition, we have 27
       Raton. So many residents continue to be proud of our   ensuring that promise for all people.        certified crisis intervention officers to ensure people with
       Boca  Raton  Police  Services  Department.  Our  officers      As of this writing in late June, many peaceful protests   mental health issues get the assistance they need.
       are brave, caring, and respectful and the opposite of what   have  taken  place  in  Boca  Raton  in  recent  weeks,  and      With Boca’s first responders, we are fortunate to have
       happened with Floyd’s death. Our brave men and women   thankfully,  without  violence,  injury,  or  arrests.  The   the safety we need, the high standards we deserve, and
       in uniform are an important part of the community and   peaceful nature is a good sign of the respect our residents   the community partnership we want from professionals
       how we continue to progress as a safer, more livable city.  have for each other.                    we can trust. Together, may we all rise to the challenges
          On June 6, Boca Raton was the site of a powerful Unity      Nationally,  a  movement  emerged  this  month  to   our  nation  faces  with  greater  understanding,  empathy,
       Walk, which included our Pearl City community leaders   establish a set of policies on the use of force called   communication, partnership and kindness.
       and residents, interfaith clergy, our police department’s   #8CantWait.  I  am  pleased  to  share  that  Boca  Police
      Council Corner: Working To Help You During COVID-19




      B y  B oca Rat on Ci t y                              Given these realities, here are some ways in which      Summer Camps.  As  Florida  slowly  began  its
      Councilman Andy Thomson,                           my office has been working to help those in need:  reopening process, many folks began returning to work.
      who was first elected during                          COVID-19 Testing. Early on in the pandemic, there   For some, this was a welcomed change. But for working
      the  special  city  council                        was  no  public  COVID-19  testing  site  in  South  Palm   parents with young children, another problem arose: the
      election  in  2018,  and  re-                      Beach County. This absence was especially concerning   unavailability of safe child care. Normally parents could
      elected without opposition to                      given our area’s large elderly population and proximity   rely on summer camps, but many camps were canceled
      the council.                                       to Broward County. As a result, Representative Emily   this  summer,  and  those  that  were  opened  had  limited
         The   CO V ID -19                               Slosberg and I pushed for a public testing site at the South   capacity  due  to  limited  space  and  the  need  for  social
      pandemic has  had  an                              County Civic Center, which Palm Beach County and the   distancing. I worked with local summer camps to find
      enormous impact  on                                governor approved and opened in early April. Another   additional space (like available office space) so that more
      everybody. The human toll                          public testing site was opened at FAU in May.     parents could return to work knowing that their kids were
      has been terrible, with over                          Small Business Relief.  In March, Congress passed   in a safe (and socially distant) camp setting.
      100,000  Floridians  becoming  infected  and  over  3,000   and the president signed the CARES Act, which provided      Local Government Reimbursement. The COVID-19
      passing away from the virus. From the outset, the city of   much-needed relief to the U.S. economy. One portion of   pandemic has had a significant impact on municipal
      Boca Raton was quick to take steps to stop the spread.   the CARES Act disbursed billions of dollars to state and   governments,  which  have  been  at  the  forefront  of  the
      Early on, we declared a state of emergency and ordered   large local governments. Palm Beach County, as one of   response effort. The city of Boca Raton has so far spent
      the closing of places where large gatherings are likely.   those large local governments, received $261 million in   over  $2  million  of  our  tax  dollars  on  such  necessary
      Palm Beach County and the state of Florida followed suit   CARES Act funding in early May. I advocated for a swift   COVID-related  items  as  safety  supplies,  personal
      several days later. We will continue to work with our state   allocation and deployment of those relief funds, particularly   protective equipment, overtime and sick leave. As noted
      and county partners to protect the safety of our residents,   in the area of small business relief. The Palm Beach County   above,  Palm  Beach  County  received  $261  million  in
      which is our highest priority.                     Commission agreed,  ultimately allocating $60  million   relief from Congress under the CARES Act, and Congress
         The  economic  toll  has  likewise  been  staggering.   (and eventually  more) to  help  businesses impacted  by   intended  for  counties  (like  Palm  Beach  County)  to
      Over 800,000 Floridians lost their jobs. Thousands of   COVID-19. The City of Boca Raton established its own   reimburse the municipalities within their jurisdiction (like
      businesses closed, never to reopen, while many continue   small business relief program and has been providing   Boca Raton) for COVID-related expenditures. Governor
      to struggle to survive.                            forgivable loans to Boca-based businesses.        DeSantis confirmed this expectation in an announcement
                                                                                                           on June 10. However, Palm Beach County has thus far not
                                                                                                           reimbursed Boca Raton for these expenses. I organized
                                                                                                           our members of Congress and other municipal elected
                                                                                                           officials  to  push  Palm  Beach  County  to  begin  these
                                                                                                           reimbursements as directed by the Governor and intended
                                                                                                           by Congress, which will save our residents millions in
                                                                                                           tax dollars.
                                                                                                              I recognize that times are tough and folks are

            Stylish Modern Atmosphere     Make Reservations                       happy hour               struggling. If you need anything, please let me know. I
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                                                                                 every Day 3 - 6 pm             I pray that you all stay safe and healthy.
                                                                                                              athomson@myboca.us
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